Job: LEAD HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES ENGINEER (INTERNATIONAL)

Location : Baku, AZERBAIJAN

Application Deadline : 19-Sep-13

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : International Consultant

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 25-Sep-2013

Background

The project aims to reduce vulnerability of the mountain communities of the Greater Caucasus region of Azerbaijan to climate change induced water stress and flood hazards by improved water and flood management through addressing the management framework at the legislative and policy level, strengthening institutional capacity by introducing new non- structural methods and providing training and empowering communities to actively participate in water and flood management.

Azerbaijan already has considerable experience of structural measures and therefore the proposed project focuses on non-structural measures. These measures mainly address institutional and management challenges, as well as improving public understanding of the problems and potential solutions, developing both organizational and community involvement in the process and pilot actions to improve micro-watershed management practices with a direct engagement of affected communities. The project proposes to sensitize water management policies and practices to the long term risks of, and adaptation to, climate change. Other aspects of flood mitigation and reduction of water stress, such as improved land use management and flood zoning, also require the sensitization of both government and civil society and these tend to have become very much secondary considerations in water management.

Project has following Components:

• Water and Flood management policy and regulatory frameworks to respond to climate change risks;
• Technical capacities to improve climate risk management in the Greater Caucasus;
• Water and Flood management practices demonstrated to lead to community resilience.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake condition survey/assessment of integrity of existing flood defences and hydraulic structures;
• Undertake feasibility studies and design appropriate structural intervention methods for the study rivers (must include climate change considerations);
• Assessment of structural options for flood mitigation and selection of preferred option(s) with regard to technical, environmental and economic criteria;
• Design of flood defences and hydraulic structures, including preparation of tender documents;
• Design new water supply/distribution structures/systems identified by the project;
• Overall guidance and advice on development of costs and concepts for flood defences, water storage and supply systems, including procurement and programming;
• Oversee the identification of long-list of all structural options;
• Identify short-list of flood mitigation options and select preferred option(s) having regard to technical, environmental and economic criteria;
• Supervise the preparation of costs for scheme options;
• Development of conceptual outlines for selected options including programming;
• Review and identify preferred procurement options for the selected schemes;
• Detailed design of preferred options;
• Produce Hydraulic structures design guidance;
• Contribute to guidance for undertaking field surveys for the design of hydraulic structures;
• Contribute to Guidance on the feasibility studies and design methods for FRM structures, water storage, and supply and distribution structures;
• Design and deliver training programme in hydraulic structures design;
• Undertake condition Inspection of existing hydraulic structures and make recommendations for rehabilitation/removal/re-design options for inclusion on options assessment;
• Other tasks requested by UNDP.

Competencies

• The candidate should have good understanding of developments in international flood defence design and construction;
• Chartership/accreditation with relevant institution will be desirable;
• Familiarity with UNDP and UN systems desirable;
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Capability to work under deadline pressure and to take on a range of tasks;
• Ability to work in a team, to motivate other team members, and to balance the inputs and work of team members;
• Self-motivation and ability to recommend options for resolutions of issues;
• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP's mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Minimum Master of Sciences in Civil Engineering.

Experience:

• He/she should have a minimum of 10 years of experience in the design of flood defence structures;
• Excellent computer skills, including full working knowledge of standard word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software packages;
• Experience with international organizations/projects/programs.

Language:

• Full working knowledge of spoken and written English, including the ability to draft and edit project documents.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

More Info and Application