Civil Engineer

Job Highlight

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to climate change adaptation and community resilience in Afghanistan. The position offers a leadership role in a dynamic project team, exposure to diverse engineering challenges, and the chance to make a tangible impact on vulnerable communities.

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

The Civil Engineer (Team Lead) will lead site identification and site assessment, and oversee a team of design and construction management engineers in undertaking market research, survey, digital terrain modelling, hydrological, hydraulic and structural design, specification, preparing BoQs, market research, contributing information for development of tender documents, engineering analysis, construction monitoring, coordination of the day-to-day construction activities across all projects under the engagement, and related engineering activities.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Coordination, delivery and performance
• Lead and supervise the engineering team of the project.
• Determine, review and establish the local and international policies, standards and specifications required for the construction and refurbishment of the identified works in Afghanistan.
• Liaise with the stakeholders to identify their needs so that the design will incorporate their requirements to the extent it is feasible and practicable.
• Provide input and review technical work and designs carried out by external consultants/contractors for the works to be constructed under AFCO program.
• Oversee the inspections of the works constructed, in consultation with all stakeholders.
• Lead and contribute to the preparation of detailed engineering design documentation including drawings, specifications and scope of work reports to be included in construction tender documents.
• Lead the development of quality control and quality assurance documentation related to proposed works.
• Preparation specifications and BoQs and support the Senior Project Manager and Procurement Officer in the preparation of bidding documents for new projects.
• Supervise on-site work carried out by contractors closely to ensure quality of the work is monitored and controlled as per specification requirements.
• Provide expert advice to AFCO staff, project staff, contractors, clients and donor agencies on project engineering works related works where required.
• Work with the Design Review team to revise and finalize the design package, specifications, BoQ and construction drawings.
• Perform any other tasks as may be assigned.
• Monitoring and reporting
• Plan and coordinate monthly, weekly and daily construction activities, including monitoring site safety and construction quality.
• Oversee the monitoring of the contractor work schedule and provide the best technical advice to speed up the project progress and meet the project deadline, while the contractor is behind the schedule.
• Check drawings, specifications, and other construction design documents to ensure accuracy and soundness of design.
• Monitor all project activities in relation to the respective project work plans and take corrective action, when necessary, to ensure the timely and cost-effective delivery of project outputs.
• Oversee the monitoring of contractors’ onsite work to ensure delivery is maintained at the required level to meet project quality, time and cost targets.
• Ensure regular site meetings with staff and contractors and review progress reports for all sub-projects and works.
• Ensure the collection and documentation of site information in relation to contractor’s work including information on the contractor’s workforce, labor, weather, Risk register, issues register and progress of work and any other related information.
• Ensure Quality Assurance and Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) measures are implemented within construction activities.
• Ensure timely delivery of the project activities are within the project schedule.
• Ensure all materials delivered to the project site meet the specification requirements and oversee corrective action where the quality of materials delivered does not meet the project technical specification requirements; prepare detailed reports on deliveries made to sites.
• Ensure contractors maintain and implement HSSE protocols and measures and that standards are met.
• Verify the contractor payment.
• Prepare project progress reports and project briefs.
• Ensure the preparation and manage project documentation systematically, especially assuring the tidiness of the contractors’ site registers.
• Assist the Senior Project Manager in the handover and closing of the project.
• Hold ownership to UNOPS’ Asset at the construction site.
• Knowledge Building and Sharing
• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for development planning and knowledge building.
• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice, actively interact with other Engineers and the Engineering community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices on the Knowledge System.
• Collaborate with technical team members, including but not limited to architects, engineers, project managers and quantity surveyors.
• Conducting on-site training for the contractors' technical staff to improve the technical knowledge of the engineers.
  
  

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Water Engineering or equivalent professional qualification with 4 years of relevant experience.
  
  

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
  
  

• Minimum of 4 years relevant experience in water engineering works, with a focus on water retention structures.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in water infrastructure design, with a focus on small dams, canals, and water retention structures. Ability to produce engineering construction drawings and design documentation using AutoCAD or similar software.
  
  

• Knowledge of UNOPS/UN rules and regulations.