Agricultural Engineer (Retainer)

Job categories Environment

Vacancy code VA/2024/B5333/29171

Department/office AFR, HAMCO, Horn of Africa MCO

Duty station Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Contract type Local ICA Specialist

Contract level LICA Specialist-8

Duration One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability'

Application period 31-Oct-2024 to 06-Nov-2024

Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.

This vacancy is closed.

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Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS ETMCO is recruiting for this position: Agricultural Engineer- Retainer based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply.

This is a local position, and is hence open to Ethiopian nationals only.

UNOPS strategy for Ethiopia Multi Country Office is aimed at providing support to the Government and people of Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti through the delivery of projects and services in line with the governments’ own priorities and under the UN Delivery as One initiative. The UNOPS Ethiopia Multi Country Office (ETMCO) has been established as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been appointed as the implementation agency. At present, UNOPS ETMCO is implementing and negotiating a number of projects in a range of sectors including infrastructure development, Procurement Support to Government Ministries and other UN agencies and HR support to UN agencies. The functional objective of UNOPS ETMCO is to deliver projects in an efficient and effective manner, to achieve the development outcomes sought by the Government of Ethiopia and the donor community, where capacity building is always considered and encouraged.

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) in Ethiopia is implementing projects in the Procurement and Delivery of Agricultural machinery and related accessories and services that require technical expertise in agricultural engineering. An Agricultural Engineer is needed on a retainer basis for the design & development of specification and taking part on the bid evaluation as a technical expertise. Furthermore, the engineer will inspect the final delivery of the equipment delivered as part of various projects before handing it over to the partner/ministry.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Procurement Specialist, the Agricultural En...

Under the overall supervision of the Procurement Specialist, the Agricultural Engineer will be responsible for the following substantive tasks. The tasks would involve the following but not limited to:

Develop technical specifications, support the preparation and issuance of various EOIs, RFPs and RFQs and formulate minimum quality standards compliant with national and international requirements and best practices and with UNOPS quality assurance policy.
Provide necessary technical support for various bid evaluations as Technical Expert to the bid evaluation team, to ensure technical compliance with UNOPS/Ministry of Agriculture and Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) needs and cost effective purchase of goods and services
Assist in developing standard operating procedures to ensure best practices for procurement of agricultural machineries and related inputs;
Assist in the coordination of timely readiness of goods for the pickup and pre-delivery inspection (If required) with the supplier to initiate the timely delivery as per the delivery schedule mentioned in the contract;
Provide, and oversee, inspection activity for the procured machineries and related accessories.
Prepare and conduct training for the client personne when required

Technical tasks:

Review specifications for the procurement of Agricultural Machinery and related accessories and services.
Assist in preparation of cost estimate and conduct market research
Review health and safety requirements of the Products to be procured.
Provide support during the tender processing time, including clarification responses to bidders' queries
Take part in the technical evaluation of the tender as technical expertise
Conduct inspection of the products (as and when required) before handing over to the partner in line with the contract agreement made with the supplier
Ensure that all the products meet the agreed quality standards as per the specification and requirement of the tender.
Provide technical direction and support to end users on how to use and operate the products received including training (if needed)

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education: ...

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and enc...

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) Contract level: ...

Additional Information

Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. Applic...

Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

This vacancy is closed.

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APPLICATION TIPS

How to send a good application:

TOGETHER, WE BUILD THE FUTURE

UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.

Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

We are proud of our people. The UNOPS family brings together approximately 160 nationalities, represented by over 5,000 UNOPS personnel as well as some 7,800 personnel recruited on behalf on our partners. Spread across 80 countries, our workforce is rich in diversity and culture – with inclusion at its core.

We understand the importance of balancing professional and personal demands and offer several flexible working options.

Explore what we offer here.

Education:	Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Science, Mechanical Engineering, Agriculture, or related fields is required. A Professional Diploma in relevant discipline with relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience of 4 years may be accepted in lieu of the university education.
Experience:	At least two (2) years of relevant working experience in agriculture development environment is required. A minimum of one (1) year experience developing technical specifications for agricultural machineries is required. Experience in providing technical assistance to institutions in the area of agricultural mechanization is highly desirable. Experience working with and training end users in machinery operation for agricultural productivity or a related field is an advantage. Field experience is an asset.
Language:	Fluency in spoken, reading and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN Official Language is an asset.