Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

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

Working with us

We are proud of our people. With a wealth of knowledge and skills in various disciplines – engineering, finance, human resources, ICT, leadership, project management, procurement, and more – they help tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time. Their work around the world supports progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


At UNOPS, we offer a range of short- and long-term opportunities in various environments and duty stations – from Denmark and Kenya to Mexico, Switzerland, Myanmar, Senegal, Uganda, and many more.

Diversity

With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labor force — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We continually strive to maintain our gender-balanced workplace. We encourage qualified underrepresented groups as per UNOPS Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy to apply for our vacancies.

 Background Information - Afghanistan

Afghanistan

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the people of Afghanistan through the delivery of projects and services that improve the lives of people in need. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency.  At present, UNOPS AFCO activities cover a range of sectors including humanitarian, basic human needs, cash for work, infrastructure, development, procurement and HR services. 

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to improving the lives of girls, boys, men and women living in Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the humanitarian response and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve the lives of Afghans in need. 

 

Project Information

The UNFPA country office in Afghanistan owns office premises and guesthouse accommodation located within the UNOCA Compound in Kabul. As a result of significant growth in the country programme and the staff population, both the office premises and guesthouse accommodation have become inadequate.

UNFPA plans to redevelop both Office and Accommodation through construction of a new 2 storey office annex, with basement, along with remodeling and refurbishment of the existing single storey office building and construction of two new 2 storey accommodation blocks, with basement(s), along with remodeling and refurbishment of the existing 2-storey guesthouse block. 

 Background Information - Job-specific

Reporting directly to the Project Manager, the Quality Engineer is expected to perform the following duties and responsibilities:

 Functional Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions  

1. Quality assurance and quality control

2. Monitoring and Sites supervision

3. As-built documentation and control

1. Quality assurance and quality control

• Prepare QA/QC plans for new construction and refurbishment work.

• Ensure the establishment of quality procedures including time limits for inspection, sampling and testing of works and other QA/QC requirements.

• Oversee and manage quality assessment of materials through regular and rigid laboratory tests.

• Ensure specific quality standards are constantly met at all levels of construction projects.

• Review all standard test forms to be used during laboratory tests, QA testing schedules and procedures and evaluate results as appropriate.

• Review contractor practices and conventional methodologies and make recommendations where remedial action is required.

• Conduct initial survey queries on sources to materials, ensuring quality and quantity is of economic value to the project.

• Undertake verification of construction workmanship and materials. Responsible for the quality assessment of materials, by witnessing and/or conducting frequent laboratory tests.

• Review and contribute to the Contractor's Quality Health and Safety, Social and Environment plans and ensure its compliance.

• Arrange, organize and document regular site meetings.

• Provide UNOPS with photographic (before, ongoing, after) and reports including lessons learned

• Assist and subsequent oversight of project QA/QC plans and protocols for construction, construction equipment and materials.

• Keep record of all documentation regarding QA/QC.

• Track and Report all non-conformances to the Project Manager.

• Maintain close relationship with UNOPS QA/QC Office.

2. Monitoring and Sites Supervision

• Provide required technical advice and inputs to internal reports.

• Ensure that works performed on site correspond to the design and technical solutions.

• Assist in organizing and participating in substantial acceptance tests, inspections, proceedings, start-up, etc. and handover proceedings.

• Assist in the start-up of project operation in adjusting, balancing, identifying deficiencies and assisting in obtaining corrections, and performing inspections prior to the end of the project defect notification period.

• Implementation and monitoring of quality assessments.

• Monthly QA/QC report to the Project Manager on project QA/QC activities.

3. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice, actively interact with other Engineers and the Engineering community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practice on the Knowledge System.

• Collaborate with technical team members including but not limited to architects, engineers, project managers and quantity surveyors.

4. Impact of Results

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Quality Assurance Engineer directly impacts the successful delivery of the ongoing projects on time, budget and quality according to 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

a. Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management or related field from an accredited university with additional two (2) years of relevant work experience is required. 

• A master's degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management or related fields is an added advantage.

• Relevant certificates or training related to civil engineering will be an added advantage.

b. Work experience 

• Minimum of 2 years (With a Bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in construction work with emphasis on materials testing, quality control and assurance, laboratory testing and a firm understanding of requirements and specifications of testing and materials. A Master’s degree will be considered in lieu of the required work experience. 

• Knowledge of procurement practices is an advantage.

• Knowledge of UN/UNOPS rules and regulations is highly advantageous.

c. Languages

• Proficiency in English is required.

• Fluency in Pashto and Dari languages is desired.

Please click on the below link for actual vacancy announcement to see the complete details and submission guideline as this is only an attempt for attracting female applicants for gender parity in organization. Please make sure you fill your profile/application properly with all relevant details in order to be considered for the next stage of recruitment/selection.

https://jobs.unops.org/pages/viewvacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=29313