Job Identification : 14188

Locations : Dili, Timor-Leste

Posting Date : 10/17/2023, 04:38 AM

Apply Before : 10/31/2023, 02:59 PM

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNDP

Grade : NPSA-8

Vacancy Type : National Personnel Service Agreement

Practice Area : Nature, Climate and Energy

Bureau : Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific

Contract Duration : 1 Year

Education & Work Experience : Master’s Degree

Other Criteria : Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of experience

Required Languages : English and Tetum

Vacancy Timeline

2 Weeks

Mobility required/no mobility

no mobility required

Job Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

There is a strong correlation between poverty and access to basic services and amenities. While around 65 percent of non-poor households in Timor-Leste have access to improved sanitation facilities, nearly half of the poor do not. According to the SDG 6 based analysis of the WASH data by WHO and UNICEF 2021, sanitation is particularly challenging as 43% of the total population are deprived of access to basic sanitation and 14% of the total population are deprived of basic drinking water, a problem that is higher (19%) for rural populations. Employment opportunities are very limited as the public sector is the biggest employer and private sector is very constrained, and the economy is not diversified.

In response to this, UNDP has initiated the ‘Community Infrastructure for Resilience Project (CIReP)’ to safeguarded rural communities in the targeted four Municipalities. This project will focus on constructing a total of 40 infrastructure units that include water systems, public toilets, bridges, maternity health centre, rainwater harvesting systems, gabion/retaining wall, and community centres. Having better access to community infrastructures will enable them to have enhanced access to various services. The project will benefit a total of 16000 households, 75000 (47% women) individuals in 4 Municipalities. Moreover, the Project seeks to strengthen the Resilience of the communities in the most vulnerable areas such as Bobonaro, Ermera, Liquica and Oecuse. The interventions will include:

•  Output 1. New community infrastructures are constructed, or old/damaged community infrastructure rehabilitated based on communities’ needs and priorities.
•  Output 2. Men and women in the communities are meaningfully engaged in the process and obtain short-term employment through the construction works in the communities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the National Project Manager (NPM) and the International Engineer Specialist, and in coordination with the national and field engineers, the National Civil Engineer will perform the following roles and responsibilities

Management of Civil Works: Monitoring and Reporting of Civil Works:

•  Conduct on-site assessments, measurements, prepare technical report and designs;
•  In coordination with the project’s engineers and counterparts, develop detailed designs, drawings, Bill of Quantity (BOQs), and Technical Specification documents for the 40-community infrastructure in the targeted municipality under Output #1 and Output #2 of the project.
•  Prepare Quality Assurance System Guideline and instructions for the project monitoring to be done by both CIReP project team and Government counterparts;
•  Monitor construction works as per the contractual provisions and design specifications, and in accordance with established procedures including community Climate-Resilient infrastructures, gender-inclusion approaches, accessibility, and sustainability;
•  Verify construction works and conduct materials testing to ensure they are consistent with the project technical specifications, and inform the International Engineer and Project Manager of any deviations that might arise;
•  Supervise the overall implementation of works to ensure they are completed on time, within budget, and to a high-quality standard, including taking timely action to prevent potential delays and/or cost overruns that can be avoided;
•  Ensure that health & safety measures are adopted and followed to the full extent and with no deviation, and if needed instruct additional safety measures.
•  Support in preparing periodic progress reports, site monitoring reports and minutes, stakeholder meetings minutes, engineer’s instructions and variation orders, contractor’s bill review reports, certifications, etc.;
•  Take pictures and collate operational documents in digital formats for the contract records and duly maintain an electronic library of photos/documents of the progress of the works, and ensure that the daily records are kept in the site workbook;
•  Report and verify the quantities of works prepared by the contractor – review each payments certificate of the contractors and assist in the verification of the quantities;
•  Collate all documentations for the payment requests for each statement;
•  Guide and supervise the field engineers in performing their roles on a daily basis;
•  Monitor the workplans and inform the International Engineer and Project Manager for any deviation;
•  Provide regular feedback to the International Engineer and the National Project Manager of any problem which may arise with the Contractor;
•  Support in the preparation of inspection for the substantial completion of the construction;
•  Conduct monitoring and reporting of the construction work after the retention period before last payment;
•  Support in the preparation of the completion/handover/close-out reports, events, and technical site visits.

Support Procurement of Civil Works: Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing on engineering monitoring and evaluation:

•  Support the project’s Procurement Team with technical assistance in preparation of tender documentation and bid analysis as required;
•  Strictly follow UNDP procurement terms and conditions of recruitment and payment disbursement procedures.
•  Ensure that all tendering and contracting is performed in accordance with stated procedures.
•  Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for development planning and knowledge building, including those on gender-sensitive approaches, accessibility, and Climate -resilient infrastructures;
•  Assist in providing training to national personnel and contractor’s personnel, and advice on good construction practices, good environmental management practices, and appropriate health and safety standards during construction;
•  Collaborate and coordinate with government counterparts, and other stakeholders on engineering issues, as well as conduct joint monitoring to strengthen cooperation and coordination.

The Civil Engineer will be based in Dili with frequent travel to the project sites to conduct assessment and monitoring of civil works.

Competencies

Core competencies:

•  Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
•  Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
•  Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
•  Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
•  Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
•  Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
•  Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: Business Direction and Strategy

•  Business Acumen: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely lead to a good outcome; Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.

Business Development

•  Knowledge facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Business Management

•  Resource management: Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity

Ethics

•  Financial Disclosure and conflict of interest: Analyze and eliminate or mitigate potential and actual conflicts of interest disclosed in the annual financial disclosure programme

Operations: Administration and Operations

•  Documents and records management: Overall document (hard and electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving
•  Travel policy and procedures : Knowledge of travel policy and procedures; ability to interpret travel policy, the staff rules, administrative circulars and financial regulations and rules on travel-related matters

Operations: Finance

•  Budget Management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•  Advance university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Architecture, construction management, environment/natural science, natural resources management, or other closely related fields is required.
•  A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Civil Engineering, Architecture, construction management, environment/natural science, natural resources management, or other closely related fields in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience

•  Up to 2 years (with Master´s degree) or minimum 2 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of relevant working experience with UNDP infrastructure project or any international agency in the field of engineering, infrastructures activities, engineering management, etc.
•  Proficiency in AutoCAD or other design software’s and applications associated in infrastructure design;
•  Experience drafting BOQs, conducting field assessments, and monitoring of infrastructure is an asset;
•  Knowledge of Timor-Leste’s Building Codes and Guidelines;
•  Knowledge of climate proofing infrastructure standards for design and construction;
•  Experience in handling of tender documents for sizeable engineering works, including technical inputs/specifications for the procurement of services using the conditions of international lending/funding agencies is an asset;
•  Use of project management-related software (e.g., MS Project and Excel)
•  Knowledge of UNDP construction and procurement procedure is an asset.
•  Experience working with government counterparts, international organizations including UN agencies.
•  Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiating skills.
•  Experience in civil construction work with local communities and community-based infrastructure.

Required Languages:

•  Fluency in English and Tetum is required.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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