Construction Specialist, NOC at UNICEF

Job Number: 526414
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Work Type: Temporary Appointment

Summary of Key Functions/Accountabilities

• Under the direct supervision of the Operations Manager and general guidance and advise of the Chief of Field Office as well as the Chief of Supply & Procurement in the country office, Construction Specialist will be responsible for developing and implementing a plan for the quality assurance and control of various school and other construction projects in the state of Borno and Yobe states of North-East Nigeria
• The incumbent will lead a unit of 2 national Construction Engineers. The position will be based in Maiduguri (Nigeria) with travel to Borno and Yobe states for monitoring of the projects.
• The Construction Specialist will plan, organize, and direct all construction activities within the timeline specified for each project including detailed design and documentation, tendering, construction and supervision/quality assurance.

Key Expected Results
Emergency Response:

• Assist program and operations sections to respond emergency construction needs.
• Establish Emergency Response Procedures for every project. Guide and assist contractors in implementing procedures.
• Provide inputs to requests for Emergency structures, ensuring quick turnaround on construction activities.
• Prepare budgets, identify which resources are available and have contingency plans in place to make up for any deficiencies.

Project Focal Point / Project Management:

• Oversee and coordinate all project activities, resources, equipment and information and be able to provide requests for information or project updates at any time.
• Act as the point of contact for clients, stakeholders, government, contractors and subcontractors and manage and maintain good working relationships with all.
• Work with all stakeholders and departments to coordinate projects to ensure all operations are completed in accordance with contract standards, industry specifications, to the project timeline and to budget.
• Monitor and track project's overall progress, keep satisfactory project monitoring documentation and file communications for all works.
• Advise UNICEF on and manage any issues that arise.

Contract Management:

• Oversee and coordinate all project contracts (design, construction, supervision and goods supply) across entire project scope.
• Draft project contracts ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations.
• Brief all contractors and ensure all are in full understanding of contract conditions, standards, specifications and scope of works. Act as focal point for all contract enquiries.
• Verify all payments and ensure deliverables have been met across all project related contracts for services and goods.

Tender Bids and Evaluations:

• Provide technical inputs by working closely with Program, operations and implementing partners to ensure that the bidding process, technical & financial evaluations, negotiations (if any) and contracts awarded are in accordance with UNICEF standards, rules and policy.
• For all Bids, ensure that evaluations are per the technical, financial and institutional standing as per the contract conditions and scope of works.
• Assist the Project Management team in the drafting and issuance of project proposals, RFP's, tenders, budgets, cash flows and preliminary schedules.
• Attend all meetings and be highly involved in the technical and financial bid evaluations, ensuring compliance with UNICEF procurement regulations at all times.

Project Monitoring and Reporting:

• At the beginning of the project determine appropriate project reporting tools, submission dates and reporting strategies.
• Ensure detailed records are kept contributing to the preparation of official reports, including the donor reports, enabling real-time tracking of construction progress.
• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation, plans and reports and respond to project progress queries at any given time.
• Use project management tools to monitor working hours, budget, plans and money spent for all contractors and project staff.
• Advise UNICEF on any potential risks, and propose corrective measures regarding project timeline, project budget and quality of the works.
• Assist with drafting construction sections of donor, annual and other reports, as required.
• Attend all project meetings as required and represent UNICEF at all times.

Quality Design Outcomes:

• Always ensure High quality design is achieved throughout all project phases.
• Advise on the design of structures taking into consideration appropriateness of design, materials and environmental conditions for the context.
• Help prepare project proposals, timeframes, schedules, specifications and cost estimates as required.
• Approve draft and final submissions for all design components and associated documentation, always ensuring high quality design standards are being achieved.

Quality Assurance and Onsite Supervision:

• Approve contractor's quality monitoring tools at the beginning of all works.
• Develop and implement quality control programs and ensure compliance.
• Coordinate construction efforts with all contractors for project completion by predetermined deadlines.
• Use project management tools to monitor working hours, budget, actual works completed. If any of the above-mentioned items are not being met, advise and propose mitigation measures necessary to correct and take appropriate action.
• Conduct regular site inspections as required.
• Ensure the Construction Officers monitor the onsite works, report on works and respond to their daily queries during construction as required.
• Conduct regular site inspections at all project sites to ensure UNICEF supervisory regulations are being upheld.

Client Relations:

• Maintain good working relations with the client at all times.
• Prepare progress reports for clients and submit client reporting tools as agreed upon.
• Make certain that clients needs are met as the project evolves.
• Attend client meetings and respond to clients queries throughout project duration.

Requirements
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A Master's Degree in Architecture, Engineering or a relevant technical discipline related to Design/Construction from a recognized University/Institution.
• A Bachelor's Degree in any of the above disciplines with eight years of relevant work experience is acceptable in lieu of a Master's Degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years experience working on construction projects in a project management and coordination capacity
• Experience of working in the North-East Nigeria and context is highly desirable.
• Experience of working with the UN systems in similar function is highly desirable.
• Proficiency with Autocad (or drafting equivalent software), GIS Software, Xcel and MS Word required, familiarity with other software programs is a plus.
• Ability to work productively in a multi-cultural environment; willingness to travel and live in locations with difficult conditions is highly desirable.
• A high level of interpersonal, management skills, integrity and ability to work with complex teams required.
• Proven ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines with minimum supervision required.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of the local language of the duty station is highly desirable.

Competencies Required
Core Competencies:

• Communication
• Working with people
• Drive for results

Functional Competencies:

• Leading and supervising
• Analyzing
• Planning & Organizing
• Deciding and Initiating action
• Applying technical expertise

For every Child, you demonstrate:

• UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
• View our competency framework at: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf