Quality Engineer - Restoration and conservation laboratory specialist Retainer

Entry Mid Engineering Logistics & Procurement

Overview

Ensure technical oversight and quality assurance in restoration and conservation laboratory.

You have:

• A Master’s Degree in Conservation Engineering, Restoration Engineering, Materials Science, Archaeological/Heritage Engineering, or a closely related field is required.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in the above-mentioned areas or related field with an additional two (2) years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a master’s degree.
• A minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in restoration and conservation of antiquities is required.
• Proven expertise in heritage conservation industry standards and practices (UNESCO, ICOMOS, ICCROM, etc.) is required.
• Demonstrated experience in reviewing laboratory designs and validating technical specifications for conservation tools and equipment is required.
• Strong track record in QA/QC processes for procurement, inspection, and installation of specialized equipment is required.
• Experience with conservation laboratory tools and technologies, including calibration and operational readiness is required.
• Excellent documentation, reporting, and communication skills is desired.
• Excellent presentation, report writing, fluency and communication skills in English and Arabic are required.

Contract

This is a LICA Specialist-9 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 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA Specialist-9 contracts.

Background Information - Job-specific

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information - UNOPS Hub in Amman

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The incumbent will work on a large-scale procurement project which will include the procurement of furniture, equipment, vehicles and other services for the health, education, tourism and public finance sectors in Jordan. The 5-year project is expected to increase the capacity and commitment of the Government of Jordan to boost health outcomes of families and communities, improve learning outcomes for school-aged children, and enhance the preservation and protection of the primary protected areas and heritage sites in Jordan.

The team consists of around 5-7 full-time personnel as well as part time consultants who will support the delivery of this project. Objective of the Assignment

The main objective of this assignment is to ensure technical oversight and quality assurance in the establishment of the restoration and conservation laboratory by:

• Reviewing and validating the design of the laboratory,
• Reviewing and validating the technical specifications of laboratory equipment and tools,
• Conducting quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) during receipt, inspection, and installation of equipment supplied.
• Liaising with suppliers to ensure compliance with technical and operational requirements

Functional Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the project manager, and in collaboration with the project team, the Engineer will:

Design Review & Validation - Review and validate architectural and engineering designs of the restoration laboratory, ensuring functionality, safety, and compliance with international conservation standards. - Advise on optimal laboratory layout to support efficient workflow, equipment placement, and safe handling of antiquities

Specification Review - Review and validate technical specifications for conservation and restoration laboratory equipment and tools. - Ensure specifications are aligned with professional restoration needs and international heritage conservation standards. - Recommend improvements, upgrades, or alternative solutions where necessary.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control (QA/QC) - Develop and implement QA/QC procedures for the inspection, testing, and acceptance of laboratory equipment. - Verify that all delivered equipment matches approved specifications and conservation requirements. - Supervise installation and calibration of equipment to ensure operational readiness and safety. - Produce QA/QC reports, identifying compliance and deficiencies.

Interface with Suppliers - Coordinate with suppliers during procurement, delivery and installation phases. - Witness and document testing and commissioning activities to verify compliance with specifications - Provide feedback to project manager regarding suppliers performance. - Ensure that supplier manuals, warranties and training are received, verified and documented.

Advisory & Capacity Support - Provide technical guidance to the project team and stakeholders on best practices for conservation laboratory setup. - Advise on preventive maintenance, equipment handling, and safety protocols in line with conservation practices.

Reporting - Prepare technical notes, validation reports, and QA/QC documentation. - Contribute to progress updates and provide a final report summarizing findings, validations, and recommendations.

Deliverables

• Review and validation report on the laboratory design assuring that it fulfills the needs and requirements of the beneficiary..
• Validated equipment list and technical specifications.
• QA/QC inspection and acceptance reports for delivered equipment.
• Recommendations for corrective measures or improvements.
• Final technical report on laboratory establishment and QA/QC outcomes.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• A Master’s Degree in Conservation Engineering, Restoration Engineering, Materials Science, Archaeological/Heritage Engineering, or a closely related field is required.

• A Bachelor’s Degree in the above-mentioned areas or related field with an additional two (2) years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a master’s degree.

  Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in restoration and conservation of antiquities is required.

• Proven expertise in heritage conservation industry standards and practices (UNESCO, ICOMOS, ICCROM, etc.) is required.
• Demonstrated experience in reviewing laboratory designs and validating technical specifications for conservation tools and equipment is required.
• Strong track record in QA/QC processes for procurement, inspection, and installation of specialized equipment is required.
• Experience with conservation laboratory tools and technologies, including calibration and operational readiness is required.
• Excellent documentation, reporting, and communication skills is desired.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent presentation, report writing, fluency and communication skills in English and Arabic are required.

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: Local Individual Contractual Agreement - Retainer Contract level: LICA 9 Contract duration: 9 months until June 2026 - 10 days per month

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.

• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 8 months ago - Updated 8 months ago - Source: jobs.unops.org