Job: International Environmental Engineer, Colombo with regular travelling to field offices in Sri Lanka and occasional travelling to other countries of operation in South Asia

Deadline: Monday, 28 October 2013 

Description
UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need. Working in some of the world's most challenging environments, our vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.
UNOPS provides services in sustainable infrastructure, sustainable procurement and sustainable project management, with projects ranging from building schools, roads, bridges and hospitals to procuring goods and services and training local personnel.
By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.
We employ more than 6,000 personnel annually and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of regional and country offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.
UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.
Background Information - Job-specific
UNOPS Operational Hub in Sri Lanka (LKOH) provides technical, operational and administrative support to 6 countries in the South Asia region: Sri Lanka, Maldives,Nepal, Bhutan, India, and Bangladesh. UNOPS' work in this region focuses on the construction and operation of high quality sustainable infrastructure, timely provision of services, and the use of most relevant technologies. Such projects provide social and economic benefits to vulnerable populations across the country, and contribute to poverty eradication. This includes construction of schools, hospitals, water networks,urban sewerage and drainage facilities, harbours and anchorages, waste management facilities, climate change mitigation, etc.
Globally, UNOPS is putting on stronger focus on sustainability. This is translated in UNOPS Strategic Framework through the strengthening of key contribution goals such as Sustainable Infrastructure and Sustainable Procurement, taking into consideration cross cutting dimensions of national capacity building, social,economic and environmental sustainability. Within rapidly evolving local and international contexts, increasing national capacities and shifting needs identified in the region, UNOPS is steering its intervention strategy towards an agenda focusing on environmental issues, climate change, resilient infrastructure, and disaster risk reduction.
UNOPS operateswithin the overall framework of the UN Development Assistance Framework in all the above mentioned countries, and has developed a number of partnerships over the years, with governments, other UN agencies, donor agencies and the private sector. In Sri Lanka, UNOPS is chairing UNDAF Pillar 4 (Environment/CC/DRR); in Maldives, UNOPS is leading several innovative initiatives on Climate change.
Within this context, UNOPS is recruiting for a new post of Environmental Engineer. The post is expected to focus 50% on Sri Lanka, and 50% on the other countries supported by the operational hub. The post will entail a strong strategic focus for UNOPS development in the region, as well as a technical support function.
The Environmental Engineer will have a direct reporting line to the Director/Representative of UNOPS Sri Lanka (OCD). The Environmental Engineer will be leading LKOH Sustainable Environment Practice in Colombo and will be liaising extensively with several technical practices in UNOPS HQ in Copenhagen.
Functional Responsibilities
Overall
To support the overall design, development and implementation of UNOPS strategy focusing on environmental engineering programmes.
Specific
Support the development of UNOPS LKOH Environmental Engineering Porto folio: This includes building up on existing projects in Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives, as well as identifying new opportunities in Bangladesh and Nepal, in the following fields: climate resilient infrastructure, energy effective building, alternative energies, solid waste management, drainage and sewerage, water networks, disaster risk reduction, anti-seismic retro-fitting, sustainable procurement of civil works, etc. The incumbent is also expected to actively contribute to the preparation of new proposals, in cooperation with other staff. Depending on the context, the projects may focus on hard infrastructure construction, or on technical advisory services to government counterparts.
As the local Practice Leader in Environment, support and guide project managers implementing activities related to environment, CC, DRR: the fields of intervention include energy efficient infrastructure, water harvesting, waste management (Maldives), solid waste management, drainage and sewerage works, greening of industrial zones (Sri Lanka), anti seismic construction (Bhutan/Nepal). This support will consider all phases of the projects, from stakeholders engagement, to design and design review, monitoring of quality assurance, ensuring that UNOPS framework for sustainable infrastructure are followed.
Support the OCD in engaging with the government counterparts and UN counterparts involved in environment/CC/DRR. Provide relevant technical advice, and develop active partnership with the relevant ministries. S/he will ensure that policy/strategy debates and issues are disseminated to relevant project managers.
Engage with UNOPS HQ on Sustainability strategy and tools: The Incumbent will liaise regularly with several practice groups at HQ (including Infrastructure, Project Management, DRR) to contribute to the global efforts on strengthening UNOPS Sustainability objectives, more specifically in relation to environmental issues. When relevant, the incumbent will support the piloting of such efforts in selected UNOPS projects in Sri Lanka and in the region. S/he will ensure that new policies developed by UNOPS related to the subject are disseminated to the teams in Colombo and in the fields, and implemented accordingly.
Participate in relevant forums, workshops, conferences on the relevant topics, to promote UNOPS activities and value added, and to maintain a high level of knowledge within UNOPS Operational Hub.
Competencies
  • Solid technical understanding of the 3 fields of work of the position (environment, DRR, climate change) and proven work experience in at least one of the fields;
  • Good understanding and proven experience of multiple stakeholders engagement;
  • Good verbal and written communication skills;
  • Ability to develop good inter-personal relations, build and guide team spirit ;
  • Ability to manage tight deadlines and work under pressure;
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education:
  • Master's Degree in Civil Engineering or in Environmental Engineering, or other related fields of study and with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience in environmental work, disaster risk reduction, climate change, or
  • Bachelor's Degree on similar fields of study as above, with 11 years of relevant experience out of which at least 5 years in international workExperience:
  • It is imperative that the incumbent has both a relevant field experience and the skills and capacities to work on environmental issues at a more strategic level;
  • Minimum of 9 years of relevant experience in environmental work, disaster risk reduction, climate change
Language requirements: Good verbal and written communication skills in English.
CertificationsCertification in PRINCE2/Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent project management methodology/approach is desirable. Contract type, level and durationContract type: IICA Contract level: IICA 3 Contract duration: One year renewable For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: http://www.unops.org/ENGLISH/WHOWENEED/CONTRACT-TYPES/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements-ICAs.aspx
Additional Considerations
  • Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
  • Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
  • Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
  • Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
  • For staff positions UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
  • The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

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