Civil Engineer

Provide technical expertise and management in civil engineering projects

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UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services

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Application deadline 3 years ago: Monday 5 Jun 2023 at 23:59 UTC

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Overview

Provide technical expertise and management in civil engineering projects

You have:

  • An advanced university degree (equivalent to a Master's degree) in Civil Engineering or related field is required.
  • A university degree (equivalent to a Bachelor's degree) will be accepted, provided a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience is accredited.
  • Minimum 2 years of experience in supervisory and/or contractual management and/or design review roles as a Civil Engineer in infrastructure projects.
  • Knowledge in quality control of materials is required.
  • Experience in elaboration and implementation of quality control plans is required.
  • Experience in FIDIC contract management is desirable.
  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Fluency in Spanish is desirable.
  • Fluency in another UN official language is desirable.

Contract

This is a IICA-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's an external contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about IICA-1 contracts.

Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS in Panama, Costa Rica and the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean develops initiatives in strategic sectors such as road infrastructure, water and sanitation infrastructure projects, vertical infrastructure, procurement projects, among others, providing its capabilities in the management of complex projects, technical advice and procurement, with a focus on sustainability and resilience; in all cases, applying a human rights and gender perspectiv

Functional Responsibilities

Depending on the business needs, this position could be International ICA or Local ICA. If a local position is defined, the salary scale will be determined in line with UNOPS HR policies.

The Civil Engineer provides assistance and technical expertise in terms of design adjustments, construction, supervision and coordination in the field, ensuring high quality and consistency of work. In the project team, the Civil Engineer may supervise a diverse results-oriented technical team, including quality laboratory, surveying, and field inspectors. He/she could also provide guidance to other team members ensuring knowledge transfer for capacity building. The Civil Engineer will perform his/her duties at the construction site and will be supervised by the Project Manager.

Duties and responsibilities:

1. Management of design adjustments.

2. General construction

3. Construction supervision

4. Contract management

5. Knowledge management

a) Design Adjustment Management

  • Support the Project Manager in the identification of omissions, defects and/or possibilities for optimization of the design of the works.
  • Support the Project Manager in the elaboration of proposals for design adjustments, based on what is indicated in the first point of this section.

b) General construction

  • Support the Project Manager in the control, management and monitoring of the approved contract with the construction company.
  • Ensure a permanent UNOPS presence on site throughout the construction phase.

(c) Construction Supervision

  • Review the UNOPS Construction Stage Quality Management Plan. He/she shall propose appropriate adjustments to the Project Manager if omissions, shortcomings and/or opportunities for optimization of the UNOPS Quality Management Plan are identified,
  • Develop the necessary templates and procedures to ensure the proper implementation of the UNOPS Construction Stage Quality Management Plan.

(d) Contract Management

  • Ensure that UNOPS contracts based on those of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) are properly managed.
  • Under the supervision of the Project Manager act as a negotiator between stakeholders to manage and propose solutions within the contractual framework to operational and non-performance issues.

e) Knowledge management

  • Contribute to the project evaluation process, highlight project related challenges and provide constructive feedback in a continuous cycle of improvement.
  • Provide training and transfer of technological know-how to national and contractor staff, advice on good construction and environmental management practices, and appropriate health and safety standards during construction.

To access the full list of roles and responsibilities, please download the terms of references attached to the announcement.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

a. Education

  • An advanced university degree (equivalent to a Master's degree) is required, preferably in one of the following disciplines: Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and/or related areas.
  • A university degree (equivalent to a Bachelor's degree) will be accepted, preferably in one of the following disciplines: Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and/or related areas, provided that a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience is accredited.

    ***Please upload your academic diplomas or academic certifications to your application***

b. Work Experience

  • Minimum 2 years of experience (or more depending on academic credentials) fulfilling supervisory and/or contractual management and/or design review roles as a Civil Engineer in infrastructure projects.
  • Knowledge in quality control of materials is required.
  • Experience in elaboration and implementation of quality control plans is required.
  • Experience in FIDIC contract management is desirable

c. Language Requirements

  • Fluency in English is required
  • Fluency in Spanish is desirable.
  • Fluency in another UN official language is desirable.

UNOPS is an inclusive employer, so we invite women and men to apply regardless of their ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. We are committed to promoting equitable representation. We appreciate that people who self-determine themselves as Afro-descendants, indigenous as well as people with disabilities, members of the LGTBIQ+ communities and/or other underrepresented groups in national contexts, voluntarily indicate so in the motivation letter when applying for this vacancy.

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.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement

Contract level: ICS 9 equivalent to IICA 1 International ICA and Local ICA 9.

Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance. This contract is established in the Regular Monthly Contract modality; continuous service provision is required during the contract period; the payments associated with the contract will be processed at the end of each calendar month.

This vacancy is to filled a position located in Barbados and other various Caribbean and English-speaking countries as needed. ***The UNOPS Office is looking for international/candidates and/or nationals in Barbados or within the Caribbean and English-speaking countries.***** **Work life harmonization: UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options.

UNOPS is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. We encourage female candidates to apply.

UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate with special needs upon request

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.

Additional information

Potential interview questions

Can you tell us about a challenging project you supervised and how you handled the challenges? This question investigates your problem-solving and leadership abilities in difficult situations. Describe the project, the specific challenges faced, and the steps taken to overcome them.
How do you ensure quality control during the construction phase? The interviewer wants to understand your knowledge of quality management practices. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you give an example of a time you had to adjust project designs? What was the outcome? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a time when you had to negotiate a contract issue. What was your approach? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you promote knowledge transfer within your team? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.unops.org