Architect/Space Planning Consultant

Result of Service Completion of all assignments.

Work Location Bangkok, Thailand (ESCAP premises)

Expected duration 1 June 2023 to 30 May-2024

Duties and Responsibilities The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote regional cooperation for inclusive economic and social development in the Asian and Pacific region. ESCAP's role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership, through its analytical, normative and technical cooperation, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region.

This position is located at the Seismic Mitigation Project (SMP) Project Management Office within Division of Administration (DA) the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Bangkok, Thailand. The Architect/Space Planning Consultant works under the direct supervision of the Project Manager of the SMP and overall supervision of the Director of Division of Administration

1. Provides substantive advice to project manager, considering industry and organizational best practice, on the implementation of open workspace and flexible workspace strategies;

2. Develop standards and guidelines for the effective utilization of space and the implementation of open workspace and flexible workspace for proposed and current office space at the UN ESCAP complex;

3. Meets with clients to establish a detailed analysis of their space requirements and coordinates client needs with design consultants;

4. Coordinates , analyses and advises on the planning, design and construction of all internal office space reconfiguration, related office moves as well as all space planning for the proposed and current office space at the UN ESCAP complex;

5. Reviews design proposals, drawings, presentations and other related documentation submitted by the design consultants to ensure compliance with project scope and contract compliance;

6. Determines space allocations for office space, and coordinates related relocation of furniture and equipment;

7. Review all floor plans and configurations developed by the design consultants to ensure compliance with client needs and contract specifications;

8. Contribute in all aspects of contract administration on design, construction and alterations and related contracts, which includes planning, preparing scope of work and estimating overall cost, reviewing requisitions, providing technical evaluation, monitoring contract compliance, and verifying invoices for payment;

9. Monitoring the performance of professional firms and construction contractors to assure completion of design and construction on time, within budget, at highest quality;

10. Review construction documents submitted by construction contractors;

11. Participate bi-weekly BIM meeting with construction administration consultant and construction contractor’s BIM team and keep track of BIM deliverables progress;

12. Ensure integration of COBie with the existing Building Management System (BMS);

13. Coordinate with all furniture contracts focal points and provide weekly updates to the project manager;

14. Coordinates with all furniture contractor’s focal points and respond to furniture contractors’ inquiries;

15. Ensure furniture will be delivered and installed at the site on-time and at highest quality;

16. Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications/special skills Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in architecture and/or interior design or related field of engineering is required. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in architecture, office space planning and construction for a large multi-use complex, is required. Supervisory experience is required. Experience in contract/project management is required. Experience in Building Information Modeling (BIM) in construction project is required. Experience in integration of COBie with building management system during project handover phase is highly desirable. Experience in change management for large/complex projects is desirable. Previous experience working on a capital project in the UN is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of other UN official languages is an advantage. Thai language not essential although would be considered advantageous.

Consultants are not considered in any respect as staff members of the UN; they have the legal status of an independent contractor. They are not entitled to any benefit, payment, subsidy, compensation or entitlement, except as expressly provided in the agreement and will be personally responsible for any taxes which may be levied on their remuneration.

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8).

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.