Contracts Manager, P-4, Kabul, Afghanistan

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 134,636 USD and 173,585 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Clean Water

Afghanistan is one of the most poorly served countries in the world in terms of WASH services, with more than one-third of people without access to improved drinking water. Nearly 60 per cent of the same population lacks access to improved latrines. Studies also show contamination of water services both at source and household level is significantly high in both urban and rural areas. Safe hygiene practices, such as hand washing, are very low across the country, especially in rural areas. According to UNICEF’s Water Security for All report, 93% of children in Afghanistan (15.6 million children) live in areas of high, or extremely high, water vulnerability. Groundwater overextraction for agriculture and cash crops like poppies is exacerbating water scarcity. Even before taking into consideration the escalating security situation, and rapid collapse of the government during August, the 2021 HRP estimated that a total of about 8.8 million people would need safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities and services. Meanwhile the drought has compelled people to temporarily move their families from their places of origin to other nearby communities in order to seek access to water. Furthermore, the recent escalation in conflict with the resulting upheaval and seizing of power by the de facto authority has further exacerbated the high needs for critical WASH services in urban centers, where a significant number of people moved to in order to seek safe haven and escape possible clashes. This has placed increased pressure on existing WASH services and on the host communities as they accommodate new arrivals. There are early signs of a ‘brain drain’ occurring in the country, amongst trained WASH experts and officials following the takeover of power and this is already impacting the maintenance of existing WASH systems and services which collapse soon as a result leaving millions in cities, towns and rural communities without water and sanitation services.

The impact of these multifaceted issues is illustrated by the current outbreak of AWD/Cholera, which began on the 12th of September, less than one month after the regime change. These early warnings that existing WASH systems and utilities may soon collapse particularly in urban areas serving large, overcrowded populations, requires urgent action to stabilize the sector and ensure continuity of safe WASH services. Meanwhile hard to reach areas, which have already been underserved for many years, are now accessible and as a result of drought, returnees and malnutrition there is a significant potential that AWD/Cholera and other communicable disease outbreaks will occur. At the same time, it is critical that existing health facilities and schools do not become point sources of infection for communicable diseases given the high vulnerability of the population at this time and improving their WASH infrastructure and providing IPC training and materials are critical to mitigate communicable disease outbreaks.

The Contract Manager (P4) is required in Afghanistan Country Office (CO) where the WASH Programme is a major component of the Country Programme and needs to significantly scale up WASH infrastructure activities, particularly through the private sector contracts. The Contracts Manager reports to the Chief of Supply in Supply Division, but also has a dotted line to the WASH section, particularly the WASH Specialist (P3) responsible for Operations as well as WASH managers for Sanitation/Institutions, Water Supply and Emergency.

How can you make a difference?

The Specialist supports the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the water and sanitation related contracts within the country programme. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes, to facilitate the administration and achievement of the WASH-related output results in the country programme.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Primary functions on support towards overall project engineering cycle

The candidate will ensure that all 12 below project cycle steps are achieved smoothly, timely and without responsibility gaps. This candidate needs to be strong in: (a) knowledge of WASH engineering project cycle, (b) application of conditions of contract and (c) the role of Engineer (including the UNICEF Construction Engineer' , but also engineers from Government, private sector or NGOs).

• Pre-feasibility and high-level costing based on per capita estimates; including long term impact, sustainability, potential for clustering of towns, Multi Village Schemes (MVSs) and villages for economy of scale and skills base and potential for delegation of ring fenced services to community groups and/or private enterprise.
• Identification of funding sources for (a) advocacy, (b) feasibility study, (c) design, (d) implementation and (e) post construction support including defects liability period.
• Coordination with the ‘Engineer’ responsible for project delivery and to look after the interests of both the client (eventual owner of the assets) and the contractors in a fair and equitable way.
• Advocacy and formative research to (a) get buy-in from the eventual owners of the assets, (b) identify those responsible for utility regulation and (c) leverage involvement of, and ‘symbolic ownership’ by, the target beneficiaries.
• Feasibility study including site investigation; operational systems including appropriate technology and draft utility and delegated performance agreements; financial, economic and environmental sustainability analysis; cost estimates based on outline BoQs; financing risk (inflation, escalation, foreign exchange rates); standard conditions of contract to be used; materials specification; materials sourcing; full risk assessment including conflict and flood and mitigation planning.
• Finance agreement, including cost and time risk contingency.
• Detailed design and costing including design report, ESIA, detailed specifications, conditions of contract, contract packaging, BoQs and pre-tender cost estimates.
• Tendering
• Financial adjustments, negotiation and award of contract(s)
• Contract(s) supervision
• Handover of assets to the owner and handover of operations to the mandated utility
• Defect liability period

2. Programme development and planning

• Keep abreast of WASH sector development trends related to construction, for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in programme design, management and implementation.
• Participate in strategic WASH programme planning discussions.
• Review the development of WASH donor proposals from a construction and contracting perspective, ensuring alignment with
• UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global WASH strategy and the Country programme, as well as government plans and priorities, and the role of other external support agencies.
• Assist the WASH section in the formulation of the WASH outcome and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification.
• Prepare contract/construction related documentation for programme reviews.
• Work with WASH colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies for the achievement of WASH output results in the country programme.
• Provide contract and construction related technical and operational support to WASH section throughout all stages of programming processes.
• Ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of WASH with other UNICEF sectors, for the achievement of the WASH output results, with a particular focus on water and sanitation related contracting and construction.
• Contribute to the drafting of assigned sections of the WASH annual work plan, in close cooperation with government and other counterparts.
• Initiation of WASH feasibility and design studies in coordination with WASH section, and review of design documents related to water supply and sanitation projects (including BOQ, drawings, illustrations, proposals, and bidding documents) draft progress reports, TORs, and specifications for procurement of WASH supplies, service contracts, and civil work construction contracts.
• Development of project terms of reference for WASH tenders including specifications for civil and electro-mechanical components
• Liaise with WASH program staff and supply team within UNICEF on a day-to-day basis to monitor procurement / supply orders, service contracts implementation timeliness and provide updates to WASH section as needed.
• Liaise with WASH section to improve overall contracting processes and standard operating procedures. Liaise with and support national and regional level sector to improve overall enabling environment for private sector involvement, contracting and related systems strengthening.

3. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Participate in WASH section monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and provide input on results for required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management.
• Assess WASH section monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in construction programmes and management of contracts, identify and document lessons learned.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) in relation to WASH contracts and construction.
• Verify compliance of contracts and construction work under approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity.
• Report on WASH related contractual and construction issues identified to enable timely resolution by management/stakeholders.
• Provide contract and construction related input into WASH sectoral progress reports for management, donors and partners.
• Maintain a central role in ensuring proper day to day WASH related contract administration, streamlining contract correspondence, project budget and timeline control, contract management tracking against donor funding requirements, payment processing and liaising with clients, government partners and contractors as per UNICEF’s requirements, and as per national and international standards to ensure quality, cost, and time controls of all deliverables.
• Provide overall supervision of WASH contracts and maintaining the master work plan, in order to monitor all task order internal and client deadlines, and assess how corporate, internal and external resources are managed to support the smooth implementation of each contract and task order with an overall system of corporate procedures and resources.

4. Technical and operational support for programme implementation

• Actively monitor UNICEF-supported activities related to WASH infrastructure through field visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners, to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely interventions.
• Provide technical and operational support as required to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices in WASH, to support programme implementation.
• Plan for use of technical experts from the Regional Office and HQ, as and where appropriate in relation to the contract management aspect of WASH programmes, through remote support and on-site visits.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic materials in relation to WASH contracts for use by management, donors, UNICEF regional offices and headquarters.
• Elicit environmental social impact assessments where necessary and review and provide technical advice on received ESIA.
• Participate in tendering process observation and carrying out evaluations for different WASH engineering design, construction or materials supply bids.
• Supervise and coordinate appropriate technical backstopping services to implementing partners, supervision firm and private contractors as needed to resolve administrative, technical, and contract issues as they arise.
• Liaise with external stake holders such as government, INGOs and consulting firms and private contractors to oversee the contracts mechanisms, ensuring that all contract processes are implemented in an open, transparent and efficient manner to keep them on schedule (including program implementation, spending and reporting) and within the parameters sets out in the contracts.
• Conduct quality assurance of civil and construction works, installation of electromechanical equipment, and materials.
• Extend contractual management support to UNICEF field office staff.
• Provide timely and quality technical advice to regional and local authorities, UNICEF, and other involved partners on different WASH issues as requested.
• Ensure contracts are in line with UNICEF cross-cutting guidelines such as protection against sexual exploitation and abuse, accessibility, gender conflict sensitivity and social cohesion

5. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

• Prepare requisitions for supplies, services, long-term agreements and partnership agreements to ensure UNICEF is prepared to deliver on its commitments for WASH in case of an emergency.

6. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain close working partnerships with WASH section and government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of WASH section to achieve WASH output results.
• Support with the preparation of materials related to contracting and construction for WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund-raising.

7. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Lead the development, implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH action research and innovation related to contracting and construction (technical or systems).
• Support development of green energy initiatives in construction work.
• Support the preparation of learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices around contracting and construction management, to support overall WASH sector development.
• Support the creation and deliver learning opportunities for UNICEF WASH staff, in relation to contracting and construction management.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

Impact of Results

• The support provided by the WASH specialist will help to enable the country office to achieve the WASH-related output results of the country programme. This, in turn, will contribute to the achievement of the outcome results of the country programme document. When done effectively, the achievement of the outcome results will improve child survival, growth and development and reduce inequalities in the country.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in civil engineering, other relevant engineering or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience in managing complex WASH-infrastructure contracts and programmes for developing countries is required as well as an understanding of development and humanitarian work.
• Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree is a strong asset.
• Knowledge of FIDIC and its conditions of contract.
• Infrastructure contract management and administration including latest developments.
• Overseas experience working with country counterparts, institutions, private sector and contractors in the areas of contract management and administration is highly desirable.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

* Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

* Kindly note that this is a non-family duty station.

* Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

* Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offer of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.