Senior Engineer

1. Background

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable communities, towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat has been a partner with the number of ministries at national and provincial level, development partners, civil society organizations and academia.

 UN-Habitat is implementing a project in the five cities (Haripur, Kohat, Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta) with Afghan refugee’s concentration to empower and support both communities in selected settlements by promoting  inclusive and sustainable urban development that prioritizes issues relating to housing and overcrowding, tenure insecurity, infrastructure, basic services and living conditions, economic opportunities, social cohesion and integration and improved living conditions, including preventing gender-based violence.

As part of much broader slum upgrading agenda with a broad array of activities, the project will realise between 15-20 infrastructure projects with an average value of $ 150,000 – 200,000 through competitively selected contractors in Karachi. The coordination of the project is through a Chief Technical Adviser and a Deputy Programme Manager based in Islamabad, and the Karachi Provincial Coordinator. This Senior Engineer will report to the Karachi Provincial Coordinator for all issues of work planning and coordination. For technical approvals (engineering and procurement), the Senior Engineer will be overseen by the Deputy Programme Manager. One or more field engineer support the Senior Engineer. Consulting Engineers may be contracted for specific projects.

Expected Results of the assignment

The Senior Engineer shall coordinate and deliver technical support to the Karachi provincial office team, supporting the satisfactory delivery of project results through sound engineering advice and effective work planning.

The Senior Engineer will support the planning and delivery of all infrastructure works required for the Karachi project area, i.e. the delivery of infrastructure design, supervision of architecture-related projects, civil works, ensuring disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, environmental sustainability.

The Senior Engineer will offer technical assistance and guidance to field engineers in assessment, planning, design, implementation, and monitoring to the project team, implementing partners, and commercial contractors in the target settlements.

The Senior Engineer will ensure compliance to project requirements, standards, laws and bylaws of all infrastructure and building works produced under the project and will ensure that non-compliant engineering documents and works are rejected or corrected, under the supervision of the DPM.

B. Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of Chief Technical Advisor and supervision of Deputy Programme Manager (DPM) the incumbent will have the following duties and responsibilities:

• Draft and monitor adequate, rolling work planning for the required engineering services needed for the provincial project implementation programme.
• Reverify the technical viability of the Strategic Settlement Plans (SSP) and translate them into the engineering project to improve connectivity, environment, access to green public spaces and community infrastructures and identify opportunities for improved connectivity and service delivery.
• Assess basic services, housing, and community infrastructures, to identify challenges and opportunities for improvement, including the potential for improved connectivity and service delivery quality. Support the participatory mapping process of targeted slum settlements,
• Prepare, review, and monitor works-specific work plans, project schedules, and technical deliverables to ensure timely and quality implementation of activities, while continuously analyzing progress, identifying technical issues, and implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Coordinate the preparations of all scope of works documents for infrastructure work planning, in view of coherence and compliance to settlement plans, necessary laws, bylaws and standards, conditions of statutory approvals, and internal standards and budgets.
• Oversee the production of required engineering packages through all inhouse capacity and recruited consultants, as required.
• Coordinate the preparation and verification of designs, drawings, cost estimates, and Bills of Quantities (BoQs) for construction, or rehabilitation, ensuring that quantities, estimates, and specifications are accurate and comply with applicable standards.
• Coordinate with design consultants, architects and engineering teams working with UN-Habitat, implementing partners including contractors and provide advice and guidance to work toward achieving the project objectives.
• Ensure final internal approvals as per project SOP of all relevant documents.
• Coordinate and support the bidding process, review tender documents, and evaluate contractors’ capacity for work.
• Establish systems to monitor and supervise construction and rehabilitation activities, preparing Interim/final Payment Certificated of contractors, processing   variation orders or adjustments necessitated by site conditions. Issues substantial completion and taking over certificates.
• Supervise field implementation, ensuring adherence to approved designs, drawings, and quality standards; verify material testing and compliance with construction specifications.
• Oversee environmental and occupational safety measures at worksites, including safe disposal of waste and enforcement of safety practices for workers.
• Provide feedback to the provincial manager and the supervisor on complaints, grievances, and other matters of feedback and concerns from stakeholders.
• Provide detailed inputs in the required projects reports.

• Engage and coordinate closely with city- and provincial-government line departments and public utility companies regarding the extension of public services (water, waste management, gas, electricity, roads, drainage and sanitation infrastructure) to slum communities, and support efforts to improve access and quality for these communities.

• Organize and conduct training sessions and workshops; and provide backstopping for integrated implementation of project activities.
• Represent UN-Habitat in relevant coordination meetings and technical forums.
• Undertake field travel as required and perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

1. C.       Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

q  Promotes UN’s values and ethical standards (tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation, impartiality)

q  Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Knowledge Management and Learning

q  Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development.

q  Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (written and oral)

q  Ability to work under pressure and difficult conditions and to work with minimal supervision

q  Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners,

q  Respectful and helpful relations with all UN staff

D.　Required Qualifications

Education and qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from HEC recognized institution
• Proof of registration with Pakistan Engineering Council as a registered or professional engineer

Experience:

• Minimum six (6) years relevant work experience in construction management, WASH, Solid Waste Management, emergency, and post-disaster work.
• Should have a good command on AutoCAD and other relevant tools/software and knowledge on construction material and workmanship quality control.
• Knowledge of Government systems and familiar with government construction guidelines and standards are advantage.
• Experience in managing, monitoring and evaluating projects and training of local human resources.

Language:

• Fluency in English as well as the national language of the country (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Other skills:

• Commitment to beneficiary accountability and humanitarian ethics.
• Knowledge of UN rules and regulations is an advantage.
• Proficient in basic applications such as Word, Excel, Email, Internet, Microsoft Teams, etc.