Architectural Healthcare Planner - Retainer

UNOPS Hub in Amman

The UNOPS Hub in Amman implements projects in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen, in partnership with bilateral donors, national governments, and other UN agencies.  With an established presence across the region, the office runs operations including large-scale procurement, project development, and technical management, and provides financial, human resources, and infrastructure-related services. The functional objective of UNOPS Hub in Amman is to deliver its projects in an efficient and effective manner and in line with the principles, rules and regulations of UNOPS, in order to support the response to the current needs and national priorities in the region. 

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

Project Background

In an effort to support improved access to public health services, UNOPS is embarking on a project that aims to enhance the absorption capacity of the public health systems in different countries across the hub. The projects will entail a component that aims to design, furnish and equip the targeted health facilities. 

The primary objective of this consultancy is to engage highly experienced Architect Who specializes in healthcare planning, to support the design and layout of health facilities, ensuring optimal facility design in terms of departmental and functional distribution of zones and spaces,  medical equipment and furniture distribution, and strict adherence to medical codes and standards.

1) Healthcare Facility Design:

• Collaborate with the design team to ensure health facilities are designed to accommodate the optimal distribution of medical equipment. As per the recommendation of the medical equipment planner, as well as to meet beneficiary operational requirements and in accordance with healthcare architectural and planning codes and standards.

• Provide expertise in the layout and spatial design of medical units within healthcare facilities and apply the required architectural design measures to ensure that the facility is designed architecturally in accordance with the architectural best practice in terms of dimensions, maneuvering, flow, slab openings and dimensions, and coordinated with MEP services. 

• Under the guidance of the Project Manager, embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, as well as Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental (HSSE) aspects into the project during the design and construction/rehabilitation phases.

• Ensure PSEA measures (Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse )are implemented throughout the project implementation, as per the country PSEA action plan.

• Preparing/Reviewing the design (from its concept stage to its final detailed drawings) of the healthcare architectural planning, to include space program, departmental and zoning distribution based on medical function, relations between different zones according to international codes and applying the basis of IPC (Infection Prevention Control) and determining the medical and non medical furniture needs per room in full coordination with the biomedical engineering planner.

2) Coordination of Medical Equipment Planning:

• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of medical equipment needs for each designated area within health facilities based on the medical equipment planner,and beneficiary requirements.

• Contribute to the tender process by contributing to finalize the solicitation documents, reviewing and evaluating offers  as and when  needed.

3) Compliance with Medical Codes and Standards:

• Support the project team in reviewing the design from a medical planning and architectural perspective, review the design layout and ensure strict compliance with relevant architectural and medical planning codes, standards, and regulations in the design and planning of health facilities.

• Ensure that all designs are based on FGI, NFPA, AIA, and local codes where required.

• Stay updated on industry advancements and changes in medical equipment standards to ensure continuous compliance.

4) Quality Assurance:

• Support the project team in developing and implementing quality assurance protocols for the installation and functioning of medical equipment from a medical planning perspective.

• Work with the project team and Conduct regular inspections to verify compliance with established standards.

5) Capacity Building:

• Contribute to capacity building and support the project team in training and guidance to relevant stakeholders, including facility management staff as needed on maintenance and operational relevant matters.

• Support the project team in sharing knowledge to enhance the understanding of biomedical engineering planning principles among relevant personnel.

• Keep files and records of the design processes.

• Assist in scheduling requested tasks related to medical works.

• Contribute to the establishment of solid  working relationships with the project team and colleagues from different units.

• Participation in the meetings with the Project team and work closely with their respective medical consultants during the workshop drawings for the medical equipment (identify the proper layout, exact Locations and dimensions for the equipment).

• Perform any other tasks relevant to design activity as assigned.

• Contribute in preparing/reviewing the monthly progress reports based on the established schedules and plans, encountered problems, solutions, planning of activities, etc.

• Maintaining, accurate, quality and completion documentation as identified in responsibilities above.

• Master's Degree in Architectural Engineering or Biomedical Engineering (supported by a proven practical experience in healthcare architectural planning) from an accredited academic institution is required. Other engineering studies are accepted if substantiated with proven practical experience.

• Bachelor's Degree in the same areas with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master's Degree. 

• At least 5 years (or more depending on academic credentials) of experience in architectural engineering specialized in healthcare planning for medium to large scale health care facilities is required.

• Good knowledge in medical equipment and furniture covering different health care types including general and specialized health facilities is required . 

• Familiarity with the requirements and sizes of the different medical equipment needed in different health facilities is required. 

• Demonstrated knowledge in international codes and standards which are relevant to healthcare planning is required.

• Extensive knowledge of healthcare facility planning design, medical equipment planning, and compliance with medical codes and standards is required.

• Familiarity with the latest advancements in healthcare planning best practices, biomedical engineering and medical equipment technology is required.

• Experience in computer drafting software, particularly “AutoCAD” is desired. 

• Experience working with developing and international  nations and/or large global donors is an advantage.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills is desired.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills is desired.

• Full proficiency in Arabic and English is required.

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)
Contract level: Local ICA Specialist-10
Contract duration: Retainer - 12 months

• 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.

• This position is stationed in Amman, Jordan which is a family duty station.

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. 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.