Infrastructure Advisor

Job Highlight

Reporting to the Country Director , the Infrastructure Advisor is responsible for facilitating effective planning, coordination, and management across the range of infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, and providing strategic guidance, partnership support, and technical oversight to the development of further such projects in the UNOPS Afghanistan portfolio.

The Infrastructure Advisor also supports project teams of experienced international and national technical, administrative and operational-support staff, and provides guidance and advice to the HoP and Project Managers, on the overall soundness, effectiveness and compliance of projects with technical standards and legal agreements.

About The Project Office

Since 1995, UNOPS has maintained an active presence in Afghanistan, delivering efficient, agile services in support of both humanitarian response and development efforts. Prior to August 2021, the Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) implemented projects across a broad range of sectors, including infrastructure, procurement, capacity building, and environmental protection. In response to evolving humanitarian needs, AFCO has shifted its focus to supporting life-saving initiatives and basic human needs. Current priorities include managing large-scale cash-for-work programmes, procuring emergency supplies, and providing inter-agency coordination, communication, and accountability support.

Role Purpose

In addition to responsibilities for Quality Assurance, Design and Procurement Oversight, Project and Programme Management, and Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) compliance, the Advisor - working closely with the Country Director, Head of Programme, and partnerships colleagues - provides strategic leadership for the identification and development of new infrastructure opportunities. This includes ensuring alignment with corporate, regional, and country strategies. A core function of the role is to deliver technical leadership and guidance on all new infrastructure proposals, ensuring they are technically sound, compliant with UNOPS requirements, responsive to stakeholder expectations, and appropriately resourced in terms of scope, schedule, budget, staffing, and quality management.

The Advisor also champions the mainstreaming of sustainable, resilient, and inclusive principles across all UNOPS infrastructure initiatives, coordinating closely with the Regional Infrastructure Advisor and the HQ Strategic Initiatives team to ensure coherence and impact.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Quality Assurance, Design, and Procurement Oversight
• Support the conduct of overall quality control of works and ensure compliance with UNOPS’ quality standards.
• Counter-sign all statements of works advancements issued by companies and undersigned by the project managers and site supervisors.
• Review product quality and ensure products are accepted.
• Specific support to design management, including design review, in order to manage risks related to quality, cost, and time.
• Specific support to the procurement of infrastructure-related activities, in order to manage risks related to quality, cost and time.
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of service providers.
• Project & Programme Management
• Ensure that projects are in line with UNOPS procedures and requirements defined by HQ and supported by the AFCO Programme Management Office (PMO).
• Provide surge capacity and temporarily take on the Project Manager role for infrastructure projects, should the PM and deputy be unavailable, including during project closure stages.
• Ensure approved project plans (including the establishment of milestones) remain within tolerances set by project boards.
• In conjunction with Project Managers, facilitate the production of required products, monitoring progress and use of resources and, in consultation with the HoP, initiating corrective action where necessary.
• Health, Safety, Social, and Environmental (HSSE)
• Monitor and support Health, Safety, Social, and Environmental aspects in UNOPS offices and projects, in liaison with the HQ HSE team, Regional office HSSE Specialist, and AFCO HSSE colleagues
• Strategic Alignment and Advisory
• Collaborate with HoP and partnerships team to ensure all proposals are aligned with AFCO strategy, as well as UNOPS requirements, partner expectations, and have sufficient resources and planning to be implemented effectively
• Provide technical evaluations and analysis to enable senior management and stakeholders to make informed decisions.
• Advise the HoP on all infrastructure related matters and any deviations from project/programme plans.
• Knowledge Management and Innovation
• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice.
• Actively interact with other PMs and the PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices on the Knowledge System.
• Strengthen AFCO knowledge and culture of UNOPS infrastructure approach through regular knowledge sharing events and platforms
• Contribute to regional knowledge sharing activities where appropriate
• Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies.
• Complete lessons learned as per reporting format, and take the lead on Lessons Learnt workshops related to infrastructure and infrastructure projects in AFCO.
  
  

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in civil, water, electrical, mechanical, structural or other applicable engineering disciplines with 9 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above with 7 years of relevant experience is required.
  
  

• Project management certification (e.g. PRINCE2, PMI, PEng, CEng, etc) is desired.
  
  

• Relevant experience is work in implementing and managing infrastructure projects (e.g. roads, dams, bridges, irrigation, health, windmills, solar power, ports, etc.), all or some in developing countries, post-conflict environments, or emergency contexts.
• Experience in defining technical and design requirements is required..
• Knowledge of infrastructure quality assurance methodologies and tools is required.
• Experience in managing infrastructure project risks in a multi-stakeholder context is required
  
  

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.
• Experience in contract management is desired.
• Experience in supporting the development of procurement strategies is desired.
• Knowledge of FIDIC contracts is desired.
• Experience of planning and applying health and safety procedures is desired