Mechanical Engineer

The Asia Pacific Regional Office, based in Bangkok, Thailand, provides strategic leadership and oversight for UNOPS operations across 17 countries, ensuring high performance, operational excellence, and alignment with organizational goals. Operations currently span Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands. Across these countries, we work closely with key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and maximize impact through five main operating units: Afghanistan (AFCO), Myanmar (MMCO), South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO), and the Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC). Through these entities, we provide agile, client-focused service delivery across diverse sectors - including infrastructure, health, procurement, and project management - supporting the implementation of sustainable development solutions across the region.

Established in 1996, UNOPS Myanmar is a key partner in the country’s humanitarian and development efforts, with a strong, long-standing presence on the ground. UNOPS supports both chronic and sudden-onset needs across Myanmar, offering flexible and responsive solutions. UNOPS manages several major development funds, including the Livelihoods and Food Security Fund, the Access to Health Fund, and the Joint Peace Fund. Through the Asia Regional Health Cluster, UNOPS also serves as the Principal Recipient for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and implements the Regional Artemisinin-Resistance Initiative Towards Elimination of Malaria (RAI3E) programme. UNOPS Myanmar's core strengths lie in fund and programme management, infrastructure, and procurement, delivering tailored, high-impact solutions to support the priorities of government and development partners.

The UNOPS Myanmar 3PI Team is dedicated to building essential infrastructure, including WASH facilities, shelters, and health facilities in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Our interventions also encompass renewable energy solutions aimed at addressing gender and protection issues for marginalised populations in IDP camps. Additionally, the 3PI Team has procured and distributed medical supplies, essential non-food items (NFIs), and hygiene kits to remote hard-to-reach regions and areas in Myanmar. The 3PI Team is also implementing a program designed to assist displaced populations. The program focuses on fostering resilience and self-reliance among internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities.

** IMPORTANT INFORMATION **

This Vacancy Announcement is to establish a roster of qualified retainers available for potential short-term assignments within the UNOPS Myanmar Multi-Country Office (MMCO). Retainer positions are not full-time positions. They constitute a contract under which the Retainer may be requested to provide a specific output/deliverable on short notice within a specified period. When holding a retainer contract, individuals may receive ad hoc requests from UNOPS project teams, and the number of requests will vary depending on current needs. UNOPS shall have no obligation to obtain any minimum quantity of services from the Individual Contractor during the duration of the retainer ICA.

While the contract modality for this Vacancy Announcement is an ICA retainer contract on project or assignment basis, UNOPS may offer on a need basis a full-time employment for a specified consecutive period of time (up to one year maximum) - with the possibility to go back and forth between the two contract modalities, pending acceptance of the incumbent of the assignments proposed to him/her.

This is a local position. Only nationals of Myanmar or persons in Myanmar with a residence and work permit are eligible.

The Mechanical Engineer shall work under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager or their assignees. The Mechanical Engineer will provide technical expertise as required to manage and coordinate the assigned Mechanical Engineering disciplines (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, related Solar, Electrical, and Plumbing, motors and pumps, and general Piping), supervision, commissioning, and preparation of related documentation. They are responsible for ensuring high-quality design documentation, effectiveness, transparency, and integrity and assisting in ensuring that the assigned project works are carried out on time and on or within budget, utilising specialised Mechanical Engineering Software and applications (HAP or similar for HVAC, CADWorx Plant Professional or M4 PLANT, or similar for Plumbing, etc.).

• 1. Design and Documentation Support:

  • Assist in preparing the design briefs, design reports, comprehensive design documentation, calculations, drawings, specifications, schedules, Bills of Quantities, Cost Estimations, related reports and other project documents for mechanical/electromechanical engineering for projects utilizing research, development, relevant international standards and codes and good engineering practices and according to the client's design requirement, UNOPS design manual, project requirements and budget;

  • Review Mechanical designs for Infrastructure and facilities projects in terms of accuracy, suitability to overall design requirements, including identifying improvements in the designs, and participate in proposing practical solutions.

  • Respond, through the supervisor, to the queries raised by stakeholders and UNOPS Design Review Team during final review of completed package;

• 2. Works Execution:

  • Perform assessment and survey of existing Mechanical Systems in Buildings and Facilities; Identify and apply the international standards to be adopted for each category of designs.

  • Conduct mechanical and electromechanical systems assessment of facilities, and produce reports and corresponding estimates;

  • Assist in coordinating testing, commissioning, training and handover of systems deliverables to clients;

  • Design and review Mechanical Systems in Buildings and Facilities utilising specialised Mechanical Engineering Software and applications (HAP or similar for HVAC, CADWorx Plant Professional or M4 PLANT, or similar for Plumbing, etc);

  • Provide the Senior Programme Manager and their assignees with all information to execute the project on time and within the budget allocated;

  • Assist in the preparation of Project Schedules, and assist in performing periodic updates and revisions of the schedules to meet the targets.

  • Produce high-quality Auto CAD drawings;

  • Assist in carrying out technical reviews, conduct site inspections, assessments, and quantity surveying and prepare reports as required. 

  • Embed sustainability dimensions, including social and gender inclusion, as well as Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental (HSSE) aspects, into the project during the design and renovation phases.

• 3. Governance, Monitoring and Reporting

  • Maintain records for all site memos and instructions, inspections and testing, shop drawings reviews, measured quantities of work and material on site, photos, etc.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering or related fields with 2 years of relevant experience OR Master’s degree (or equivalent) in the above or related field with 0 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• A globally or nationally recognised professional certificate in Project Management is an asset.

Required

• Relevant experience is a minimum of 2 (two) years of work in some or all of the following: 

  • 1) Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning for buildings and facilities, 

  • 2 ) Plumbing and water networks for buildings and facilities, 

  • 3) Utility water distribution networks( transmission, distribution, water treatment, storage, pumping stations).

• Professional experience in preparing design documents (drawings, technical specifications, bills of quantities, cost estimates, etc.) is required.

Desired

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organisations in Myanmar is highly desirable. 

• Experience in computer design software, particularly “AutoCAD” (latest Version) is highly desirable.

• Demonstrated computer ability in using specialised Mechanical Engineering design software and applications (HAP or similar for HVAC, CADWorx Plant Professional or M4 PLANT, or for Plumbing, etc.) is highly desirable.

• Demonstrated computer ability in using MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) is highly desirable. 

• Experience with computer scheduling software, e.g., MS Project, is an asset.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. 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.

• 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. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click 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.