Job Description

Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:

Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates)   

Tier 2: Staff holding UNDP temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts and Expert and Specialist UNVs with host entity UNDP

Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

The duty station of the position is Larkana, Pakistan

Background

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.

In Pakistan, UNDP is working with the Government of Pakistan, civil society, national partners, and the people of Pakistan to help find solutions to persistent development challenges. Its work derives from and contributes to four outcome areas of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2027) which include: governance; sustainable, inclusive and green economic transformation; climate change resilience and environment; and gender equality and women’s empowerment. Supported by enablers, UNDP uses a portfolio approach in Pakistan, triangulating structural transformation, leaving no one behind, and building resilience.

UNDP's country programme document for Pakistan envisions that all Pakistani people are educated and healthy, their well-being promoted and protected through economic opportunities, jobs and a climate-resilient future in a country where women and girls are safe and able to exercise their rights and to put their trust in and benefit from improved governance.

Through its Resilience, Environment and Climate Change Unit (RECCU), UNDP leads projects across the country that respond to the growing threat of climate change, mainstream environmental concerns into national development planning processes, and expand access to environmental and energy services for local communities. In particular, UNDP has sought to ensure that the poor have stronger capacities to manage, adapt, and monitor climate change.  Climate change is not only an environmental issue but also one of the most current pressing development challenges. Its impacts are escalating and disproportionately affecting the poorest and most vulnerable populations the most.

The 2022 floods in Pakistan have affected 33 million people, resulted in the loss of more than 1,700 lives, displaced around 9 million men, women, and children, and inundated almost one-third of productive agricultural land in Pakistan. These downstream challenges are compounded with institutional issues whereby the Government of Pakistan requires support for developing overarching frameworks to structure its flood response activities and technical expertise to set up and develop bankable projects, establish standardized mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation, and enhance strategic communications for public outreach.

UNDP has responded to the challenge by developing and launching a flagship Flood Recovery Programme (FRP) to support the Government of Pakistan’s flood recovery and rehabilitation efforts. The Programme has four key objectives dealing with the following thematic areas:

• Restoration of housing and access to/revival of essential community services.
• Restoration of livelihoods and income-generating capacities.
• Enhanced governance and service delivery.
• Strengthened capacities for Disaster Risk Management.
   

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Engineering Analyst will work under the overall guidance of the FRP Programme Manager and under day-to-day management of Project Engineer Specialist. He/She will be based in Larkana, Pakistan.

The Project Engineering Analyst will be responsible for planning, designing, implementing, and monitoring civil works projects for the Flood Recovery Programme (FRP). This includes conducting feasibility studies, preparing designs, Bills of Quantities (BoQs) and cost estimates, supporting procurement of civil works, overseeing construction and ensuring quality standards. She/he will lead communication with key stakeholders in the construction projects, reviewing the information on the progress and completion of civil works (e.g. interim payment certificates) and monitor the quality and timeliness of the works in progress. The Project Engineering Analyst will also be responsible for overseeing and managing FRP’s third-party monitoring and supervision engineering firm(s), providing leadership, guidance, and technical expertise as needed. This includes assigning tasks, ensuring adherence to engineering standards and project timelines, resolving field-related issues, and complying with UNDP rules and regulations. The incumbent will also be responsible for supporting technical knowledge sharing and learning of team members, fostering a collaborative work environment, and maintaining effective communication with project stakeholders.

Support in the civil works and infrastructure projects planning, assessment and design preparation:

• Contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and updating of the project plans and strategies to ensure delivery according to the project scope, budget and time.
• Support in planning and design of civil/solar works and infrastructure projects in accordance with UNDP Pakistan Country Offices processes, UNDP Civil Works Policy, and FRP’s Delegation of Authority for construction works.
• Conduct and supervise field assessments of targeted sites where/when applicable, including desk review of reports of conducted assessments.
• Coordinate and quality assure preparation and/or finalisation of site-assessment reports to inform procurement and M&E activities.
• Prepare and/or quality assure project feasibility studies, analysing pros and cons, benefits, budgets, risks and constraints, recommending on best options and solutions. Analyse field data to determine technical and financial viability of proposed works, identifying key construction related risks and mitigation strategies
• Develop the concept, plan and preliminary or detailed designs for proposed civil/solar works (including preparing, writing and assembling drawings, schematics, masterplans, design calculations and reports, and technical specifications) in line with market conditions and comprehensive detailed understanding of local standards and codes.
• Contribute to and/or conduct environmental, occupational and safety assessments for the proposed works, developing risks mitigation strategies and management plans as required.
• Develop the project budgets and detailed cost estimations for implementing civil, structural, electrical, mechanical, solar or special systems within the projects.

Facilitate and contribute to the timely procurement of goods, equipment and civil works services:

• Prepare high-quality Terms of Reference for consultants/contractors, specification documents, Bills of Quantities, scope of works, and any similar documents in compliance with UNDP procurement policies and procedures.
• Prepare technical documentation with regard to bidding processes for construction or design services, including evaluation methodologies, quality assurance and contract management mechanisms, risk management plans, etc.
• Liaise with the UNDP CO procurement unit and the pertinent FRP team members to facilitate elaboration and finalisation of the bidding documents to solicit proposals for consultancy services, supply of goods, equipment and civil works.
• Conduct timely evaluation of the bids and technical proposals by participating in the relevant evaluation committees.

Oversee civil works contract management, monitoring and supervision of the construction works:

• Manage contractors and contract execution to ensure delivery according to project scope, budget and time and in compliance with the technical documentation.
• Manage and follow-up with contractors at sites to ensure that the preparation and execution of the works are in accordance with the approved bill(s) of quantities and within the established time frame.
• Provide real-time, on-site data to the FRP core team, enabling them to conduct timely and well-informed site visits, anticipate challenges and issues, and take timely correction action
• Ensure full compliance with the DoA for construction works, including designing the ToRs and procuring the services of a third-party engineering firm to supervise the civil works.
• Ensure adherence to project safeguards and other relevant instruments. Ensure full compliance with project’s relevant technical, social and environmental assessments and management plans as required by UNDP and/or donor guidelines.
• Overseeing the work of a third-party engineering firm supervising the construction/civil works; 
• Develop the variation orders and alterations to the scope of the contracts for civil works (if any).
• Verify and quality assure the accuracy of the variation orders.
• Support processing the contract amendments for civil works by drafting the respective Note to Files and other documentation.
• Conduct construction inspection, including inspection of materials, equipment’s to be installed.
• Check and certify the progress/completion of works presented by the contractor. 
• During the defect liability period, intervene as required and liaise with the contractor to fix issues that arise and are covered by the defect liability period in a timely manner.

Ensure certification of invoices and verification of civil works project completion:

• Review contractor invoices for accuracy and completeness against the contract terms, delivered work, and approved variations.
• Ensure invoices reflect the actual quantity and quality of work completed.
• Certify invoices only after verification that all contractual requirements have been met.
• Conduct and/or coordinate final inspections and prepare project completion reports.
• Provide post-construction support as required.

Facilitate knowledge management, reporting and archiving:

• Ensure the highest standards of knowledge management and complete archiving of civil works project related files and documentation.
• Provide inputs for the periodic and final reports to inform donors and the key stakeholders on project progress.
• Collect, arrange and upload all site visits and monitoring reports and photos, etc. to FRP workspace at UNDP SharePoint
• Provide training and knowledge transfer to national personnel and contractor’s personnel, including advice on good construction 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.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Expected Outputs:

• Site assessments conducted and feasibility studies, designs, drawings, internal cost estimates, BoQs produced.
• In liaison with procurement, tender documents developed, advertised and qualified contractors selected and awarded respective contracts, with clear milestones and risk management frameworks defined.
• All FRP civil works projects implemented and completed on time and in compliance with the DoA for construction works.
• Effective, regular field visits to project sites, monitoring, and supervision of contractors conducted. Certification of all completed work duly undertaken.
• Timely production of relevant reports; monthly, quarterly, annual, as required by the donor.
• Site visits, monitoring, final acceptance, handover and all other relevant reports and photos collected, arranged and archived at UNDP SharePoint.
• Regular tracking, reporting and quality assurance of DOA recommendations.
   

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 & Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• Effective Decision Making: Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.

Business management

• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented
  effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Procurement 

• Contract management: Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
• Supplier/relationship management: Knowledge of supplier management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Architecture or related field or other relevant disciplines is required. OR.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

• Applicants with a master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. 
• Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national or international level in building construction and civil works project management is required.

Desired Skills:

• Strong computer skills and advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office is desired.
• Working Knowledge in computer aid design softwares (such as Auto CAD for precise 2D drafting and 3D modelling etc.) is desired.
• Experience in computer-aided design software is desired.
• Proven experience in managing and leading engineering teams is an asset.
• Experience in handling tender documents for sizeable engineering works, including technical inputs/specifications for the procurement of services is desired.
• Familiarity with UNDP Policies and Procedures and procurement rules and regulations is a strong asset.
• Experience in leading and directing project activities and the achievement of project targets and results is desired.
• Experience in supervision of construction activities is an asset.
• Experience in the Sindh region is preferred.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Urdu is required. Fluency in Sindhi will be an added advantage.

Professional Certificates:

• Certification in Project Management methodology by an accredited body (i.e. PMP, PRINCE2) is desirable

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

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