Agricultural Engineer Retainer - Trainer

Contract

This is a LICA Specialist-8 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA Specialist-8 contracts.

Background Information - Job-specific

Project Information: UNOPS is undertaking a project that aims at improving access to critical municipal services and increasing the resilience of the Beirut and Bourj Hammoud municipalities which were affected by the Beirut Port explosion, through the rehabilitation of damaged municipal infrastructure and assets as well as restoration of critical urban services, such as water and sanitation, roads, waste management, and energy, including renewable energy, in an integrated and gender-sensitive manner, contributing to improved quality of life as well as by creating local economic activities for all. Besides the improved public service delivery, the project entails undertaking accompanying tension-mitigation measures, extensive community engagement activities, and grants support to local CSO/NGOs that aims at reducing tensions in the targeted communities, enhancing community resilience, and helping rebuild the trust in the local authorities. UNOPS will support the municipalities in building their capacities to maintain the rehabilitated facilities, thereby complementing activities aimed at restoring access to municipal services. The capacity building effort will promote local ownership and sustainability by strengthening the resilience of the supported institutions.

The project has a duration of 48 months (including 12 months for the Defect Notification Period), and will be implemented in coordination with the governmental, municipal, and relevant community stakeholders in Lebanon, to ensure that projects activities are designed in consultation with relevant governmental authorities and to reflect community needs.

1. Purpose and Scope of Assignment lands

The purpose of this training programme comes in complementary to the overall objectives of the project. The training to be conducted shall provide public sector employees with comprehensive knowledge and skills in best practices related to Agricultural & landscaping operation and maintenance activities, including, but not limited to:

a. gardening activities: trimming, pruning/hedging, seasonal clean up, flower and mulch beds maintenance and detailing, plant and lawn protection and mowing;

b. selection and administration of fertilizers and nutrients, identification of common garden pests and their control measures, selection and application of environmentally friendly pesticides, integrated pest management practices, and maintaining healthy plants and soil for optimal plant growth;

c. To educate participants on plants species knowledge, construction and maintenance of decking and fencing structures;

d. watering, irrigation and water conservation,

e. methods for reducing maintenance requirements, and application of preventive maintenance methods;

f. identification and utilization of equipment needed to perform the operation and maintenance of gardens, their maintenance and safety considerations; and

g. other pertinent topics.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager and in close coordination with the Project Team, the Agricultural Engineer is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of the SIMA project in terms of the development, provision and rollout of training workshops which fall under the project’s capacity building component. Specifically, the incumbent will support with the following substantive tasks, including but not limited to:

• Development and delivery of the Training of Trainers Workshop for municipal staff and project partners, including:

  • Methodology which shall be participatory and interactive, including a combination of the following methods:

1. Lectures and presentations to provide theoretical knowledge and concepts.
2. Demonstrations and hands-on exercises to reinforce practical skills.
3. Group discussions and brainstorming sessions to encourage knowledge sharing and problem-solving.
4. Case studies and real-life examples to illustrate concepts and best practices.
5. Field visits or site inspections to observe and analyze landscaping projects and apply learned techniques; and
6. Question and answer sessions to address participants' queries and concerns.

• Preparation of Pre-training assessment to gauge participants' existing knowledge and expectations.
• Preparation of material for the training package (including presentations, handouts, workshop exercises, resources, and reference documents covering all the relevant topics, etc)..
• Organization and delivery of the Training workshops, including advising on logistics and support matters, as:

1. Training venue equipped with necessary facilities, including audiovisual equipment, if needed.
2. Identification and invitation of participants.
3. Administrative support for participant registration and logistical arrangements.
4. Access to necessary training materials, equipment, and resources.
5. Assistance in organizing field visits or site inspections, if required.

• Preparation of Training schedules and durations;

• Draft a follow up plan with needed indications about the maintenance of the landscaping, in terms of curing and irrigation or any other advice/suggestion considered relevant for the conservation and the sustainability of the landscaping.

• Identify gaps, risks, and challenges based on the delivery and rollout of the training, propose mitigation measures and recommended actions for subsequent rounds of training sessions.

• Support in the preparation of the capacity building evaluation, post-training evaluation to assess participants' knowledge gain and training effectiveness, documentation of follow-up measures including planning considerations for subsequent rounds of training sessions.
• Provide inputs to training reports, including recommendations and lessons learnt, in addition to related communication material.
• Perform additional tasks related to capacity building as requested by the SPM

Competencies

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.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education: - A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized University in Agricultural Engineering or any other related field is required. - A Master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering or any other related field from a recognized University is desired.

Experience: - At least 2 years of work experience in Agricultural assessment, design, planning and implementation is requested - Previous work experience in delivering Training of Trainers in Agricultural, Landscaping, or similar, activities is requested - ToT certification is desired - Work Experience with an international Organization and/or UN Agencies is highly desirable.. - Experience in working with the G-Suite platform including, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides is highly desired.

Language: Fluency in spoken and written English and Arabic is required.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local ICA Contractual modality (Retainer contract) Contract level: LICA8 Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Information

• 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. 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.