Lead Construction Management Engineer

Contract

This is a IICA-2 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 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about IICA-2 contracts.

Background Information - Job-specific

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organisations. With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

Background: AUMCO

The Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) was set up in August 2019 as a part of the UNOPS Europe & Central Asia Region (ECR). Specifically, AUMCO aims to enable achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through global programmes and tailored interventions in the Balkans, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, focused on:

Infrastructure

Procurement

Project Management (full service, back on track)

HR and Transactional Services

Grant Management

Technical and Advisory Services

Background: Project

UNOPS, through ECR AUMCO, is partnering with the Government of Albania and the European Union, as well as with the UN system, to facilitate the post-earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction of a large number of key cultural heritage sites, museums, and cultural hubs and to promote tourism and economic development of the sites.

On 26 November 2019, Albania was hit by its most deadly earthquake in a century. The earthquake measured 6.4 on the Richter scale and caused significant casualties and property damage, resulting in 51 deaths, over 1000 injured, and nearly 14,000 people displaced. To measure and assess the economic damage, a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) was conducted, estimating the total economic losses at nearly EUR 1Billion.

The PDNA documented the destruction of public and private infrastructure. Of particular concern was the destruction of cultural heritage monuments and property, as 53 cultural heritage properties were significantly damaged by the earthquake. This project seeks to remediate the effect of the earthquake on Albania’s cultural heritage through the rehabilitation of monuments, as well as contribute to Albania’s socio-economic recovery through the construction and upgrade of these sites. It will be important also to support improvements in the capacity of institutions responsible for the management of these cultural monuments and sites to better accommodate tourism. A final outcome of the project is the effective communication of project results to the wider public and developing and implementing an advocacy platform resulting in better recognition of the important role of culture in the social and economic well-being of Albanian citizens.

Functional Responsibilities

The Lead Construction Management Engineer is part of the UNOPS project team leading the supervision team and engineering across the infrastructure portfolio, he/she is required to manage and coordinate the day to day activities of contractors and report directly to the Project Manager. The Lead Construction Management Engineer will be expected to demonstrate to engineering and trades teams best practice techniques of key technical trades. The Lead Construction Management Engineer will therefore have extensive practical experience performing practical construction activities and supervising works to ensure UNOPS Quality Assurance requirements are being met, and that the Contractor carries out the Quality Control functions effectively. The Lead Construction Management Engineer should also have extensive skills in the management of occupational health & safety as well as environmental management standards on site.

The Lead Construction Management Engineer will be based on site full time and is expected to travel across all project sites as required through the role, with a regular reporting to the Project Manager.

General Construction Management

• Assist the Project Manager to monitor UNOPS Quality, Health & Safety and Environmental management systems;
• Where required assist the Contractor to manage, plan and coordinate monthly, weekly and daily construction activities including monitoring site safety and construction quality;
• Participate in construction approval and inspection activities, liaising closely with engineering and cultural heritage staff, ensuring engineering and accuracy of conservation actions within construction activities.
• Identify and solve construction and conservation issues in a timely fashion, keeping project manager, cultural heritage adviser and engineering staff informed.
• Manage and monitor, in close consultation with the Project Manager, the project activities including project implementation plans, work schedules, budgets, facility requirements, and staffing schedules;
• Supervise and plan for conservation requirements and detailing in close consultation with Project Manager and Cultural Heritage adviser
• Provide technical leadership, oversight, advice and guidance on all infrastructure work packages and work undertaken to communicate to stakeholders and other engineering project personnel;
• Assist the Project Manager with developing comprehensive project work plans clearly defining roles and responsibilities, inputs required, objectives, expected outputs, including milestone achievements and detailed work plans;
• Review surveys, field investigations, design submittals, drawings and specifications, recommending required changes needed to provide any more cost effective solutions;
• Ensure strict and consistent application of UNOPS rules and regulations and ensure the implementation of clear accountability mechanisms throughout the project portfolio;
• Monitor all project activities in relation to the respective project work plans and take corrective action, when necessary, to ensure the timely and cost-effective delivery of project outputs;
• Monitor contract obligations, develop management systems and accountabilities to ensure all contract obligations are tracked and met; Including UNOPS, contractors and clients/donor contract obligations;
• Ensure that work methods as proposed by contractors are satisfactory, with particular reference to the UNOPS management systems compliance to ISO 9001 ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 and technical requirements of sound quality, occupational health and safety and environmental standards;
• Make recommendations on applications for extensions of time, claims for additional payment and other contractual disputes between UNOPS and the contractors;
• Ensure the highest possible quality of delivery and devise strategies for increased project delivery and quality programming;
• Participating in business development and stakeholder relationship building, promoting a collaborative, client focused, quality and results-oriented approach in the Project Team.
• Participate in regular site meetings to report on relevant health & safety matters and to provide necessary advice.

Reporting

• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of progress and conditions on site through daily site records prepared and submitted by the engineering team.
• Prepare and submit to the Country Manager a monthly (or as requested) report within 5 days of month-end, summarizing progress of contractor activities, quality control issues, health & safety issues, environmental issues, resourcing and scheduling issues, and any other as relevant pertinent facts as required.
• Produce any appropriate documentation identified by the Country Manager in a professional and accurate manner
• Support in HSSE reporting and investigations follow- up with project teams to prepare reports on incidents (including near misses) and provide information for monthly HSSE reporting to the country coordinator and Country Manager.

Knowledge sharing

• Contribute to the project evaluation process; highlight challenges associated with the project and feedback into a continuous improvement cycle.
• Provide training and knowledge transfer to national/contractor personnel including advice on good construction and engineering practices, environmental management practices, and appropriate health and safety standards during construction.
• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for development planning and knowledge building.
• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice, actively interact with other PMs and the PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practice on the Knowledge System
• Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• The effective and successful achievement of results by the Lead Construction Management Engineer directly impacts the successful delivery of the project on time, budget and quality above the expectations of all stakeholders. This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• Master's Degree in Building Construction, Architectural Conservation, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related relevant discipline /field is required.
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree with 7 years of relevant professional experience may be considered.
• Applicants with Professional Diploma Certification in building construction, concreting, conservation plumbing and electrical engineering with 9 years of experience may be considered.
• Project Management Certification (for example PRINCE2®) or Project Management Professional (PMP®) is desirable.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years experience in construction management or similar, managing or supervising construction activities related to the project requirements on a range of large and diverse construction projects in a developed commercial/developing environment, requiring the coordination of multiple contractors and multiple trades simultaneously.
• Ability to deliver projects on time, within budget in a demanding cultural context with transitional government partners under challenging physical conditions and poor national infrastructure is desirable.
• Extensive experience implementing works under complex quality and safety plans is essential.
• Experience directing and mentoring technical trade personnel/staff is essential.
• Some experience in the UN system organizations and/or a developing country is desirable.

Language Skills

• Excellent (written and oral) English language skills are required.
• Knowledge of Albanian or Italian is preferred.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above) 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: Regular, International Individual Contract Agreement (IICA)

Contract level: ICS-10 / IICA-2

Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – 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 Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.