Job Description
Drive impactful infrastructure projects from conception to completion, setting the benchmark for excellence in quality, safety, and timely delivery.
Important note on duty stations
This recruitment covers multiple duty stations including Colombo within Sri Lanka. The final duty stations will be confirmed upon the launch of the relevant project.
The Construction Management Lead Engineer provides technical leadership across all stages of infrastructure delivery - from planning and design review to supervision, quality assurance and handover. The incumbent oversees engineering teams, contractors and consultants to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, to specification and in compliance with UNOPS’ quality and health, safety, social and environment (HSSE) standards.
Planning and Implementation
- Lead the planning and technical implementation of infrastructure activities in alignment with UNOPS standards and project objectives.
- Conduct and oversee site investigations, including topographic surveys, geotechnical assessments and feasibility studies.
- Review and validate design documentation, drawings, technical specifications and tender dossiers to ensure quality, constructability and compliance with regulations.
- Provide expert technical advice to the project manager and stakeholders on all engineering-related matters.
- Contribute to developing detailed project work plans, identifying dependencies, and defining clear milestones, deliverables and risk mitigation strategies.
Construction Supervision and Quality Management
- Lead and coordinate day-to-day supervision of contractors and consultants to ensure compliance with approved designs, contracts and technical specifications.
- Implement and monitor Quality Assurance/ Quality Control (QA/QC) systems and procedures. Conduct inspections and verify construction outputs.
- Ensure consistent application of UNOPS health, safety, social and environment (HSSE) standards across all project sites and immediately address any non-compliance.
- Oversee the preparation and execution of site safety plans, method statements and risk assessments.
- Monitor progress against construction schedules and budgets, proactively identifying risks, delays and potential cost overruns and implementing approved corrective measures.
- Support the project manager in the administration of contracts and ensure adherence to FIDIC or equivalent conditions of contract.
- Facilitate stakeholder and contractor coordination meetings to ensure alignment of plans, progress and resource allocation.
Monitoring, Progress Control and Contract Administration
- Track project implementation against approved work plans, performance targets, and contractual obligations.
- Conduct regular site visits to verify progress and quality. Ensure timely certification of work completed.
- Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including daily site records, inspection reports, test results and photographic evidence.
- Support the preparation and verification of Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs), variation orders, extensions of time, and claims.
- Report any deviations from plans and specifications, and propose technical and operational solutions.
- Ensure all contract obligations are documented, monitored and met by contractors, consultants and implementing partners.
Reporting and Documentation
- Prepare detailed and timely site progress reports, summarizing contractor performance, resource utilization, safety incidents, and mitigation actions.
- Submit monthly and ad-hoc progress reports to the project manager, providing analysis of risks, constraints and opportunities.
- Contribute to project close-out documentation, including handover reports, as-built documentation, and lessons-learned summaries.
- Support HSSE reporting and investigations. Compile incident reports and provide recommendations for preventive actions.
Capacity Building and Team Building
- Supervise junior engineers, site supervisors and other technical personnel to ensure consistent application of engineering best practices.
- Facilitate learning and capacity-building activities for UNOPS personnel, contractors and local authorities on construction supervision, HSSE and quality management.
- Foster adherence to the UNOPS Code of Conduct on-site, and ensure gender, inclusion, and sustainability principles are embedded in all project activities.
Knowledge Building and Sharing
- Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on project management and construction management.
- Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned.
- Conduct research on infrastructure- and project management-related topics and contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries and briefing notes.
