Job Description
General Background of Project / Assignment:
UNOPS strategy for Afghanistan is aimed at providing maximum support to the Government and people of Afghanistan though the delivery of projects and services in line with the government's own priorities. The UNOPS Afghanistan Operation Center (AGOC) has been established as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency. At present, UNOPS AGOC is implementing a number of projects in a range of sectors including infrastructure development, capacity building, and environmental protection, among others, on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan and the international donor community.
The functional objective of UNOPS/AGOC is to deliver its projects in an efficient and effective manner so as to achieve development outcomes sought by the Government of Afghanistan and the donor community. Capacity building is always considered and encouraged. The aim of UNOPS AGOC is to provide implementation services to the Government of Afghanistan, the donor community and partner agencies in the reconstruction and development of the country. In doing so, UNOPS aims to exceed client expectations in the delivery of quality services throughout the country.
UNOPS will be undertaking a substantial roads construction project in the Northern Region of Afghanistan with the objectives of implementing quality construction that reduces maintenance and road user cost, concurrently promoting improved accessibility and economic growth. The way to approach this is not only by ensuring control of construction materials, but by forward thinking that the application of quality services encompasses broader aspects making certain that the end product is a road with desired level of serviceability. UNOPS believes that focus on quality should not only be on construction alone, but on the implied needs of the client and the project, and this can be satisfied by an overall quality management.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the direct supervision of the Team Leader and working closely with the project team, the Project Manager is expected to perform the following duties and responsibilities, but not be limited to:
- Ensure that contractors are granted possession of site in accordance with the agreed programs.
- Establish the schedule, methods and procedures in consultation with the Team Leader for the review of detailed engineering design and construction drawings of the civil works, submitted by the contractor.
- Review and verify submitted documents in accordance with design standards, criteria and conceptual design as stipulated in the Contract. Ensure the hydrological and hydraulic studies are carried out in accordance with AASTO and such investigations are carried out for all drainage structures along the road sections.
- Oversee and ensure that the contractor performs a detailed analysis of all embankments of height greater than 6 meters, and that the design of embankments includes the requirements for protection works and traffic safety features.
- Ensure that the sections with geometric deficiencies, if any, are identified; and that suitable measures for improvement have been suggested for implementation.
- Oversee and ensure that specific aspects relevant to hill regions like terrain and topographic conditions, weather, and altitude effects, etc., have been considered the contractor during pavement design, and the same have been suitably incorporated into the design to ensure proper performance for design traffic and service life.
- Ensure that the contractor, during the design stage, has considered the effects of various factors such as heavy rainfall, frost action, intensive snow and avalanche activity, thermal stresses due to temperature difference, and damage by vehicles during snow clearance operations, etc.
- Ensure that the technical specifications in the Bid Documents have been duly accounted for in the documents submitted by the Contractor.
- Provide periodic status reports on the design and review activities as measured against the approved schedule; identify any problems and difficulties encountered and propose solutions.
- Liaise with the appropriate authorities to ensure that all affected utility services are promptly relocated.
- Carry out checks on the Contractors' setting-out, and ensuring that the works are carried out in accordance to drawings and other design details.
- Monitor laboratory tests performed by the contractor and perform independent tests as required.
- Ensure that works are executed in accordance to the provisions of the contract, including those relating to standards of workmanship, safety requirements and environmental protection requirements.
- Measure the works, agree and certify interim and final payment certificates for submission to the employer in consultation with the Team Leader; and assisting the Employer in preparing loan withdrawal documentations to the stakeholder.
- Support the Team leader in administering, assessing, and - where appropriate - making recommendations on applications for extension of time, claims for additional payment and other contractual disputes in consultation with the Team Leader.
- Maintain regular cost estimates up to completion time.
- Maintain full and detailed permanent site records, including site correspondences, survey data, quality acceptance data, site diaries, measurement and certification, minutes of meetings and records of all other relevant matters.
- Review and verify the Contractors' proposed program and technical recourses for routine, emergency and winter maintenance; and provide training to government counterparts who will take over quality control and administration of maintenance contracts.
- Support land acquisition and resettlement activities being undertaken by the Government and provincial authorities, and prepare activity reports for incorporation into the monthly progress reports.
- Support client and other authorities in the administration of resettlement activities, if any, including arranging consultation with local people, preparation and serving of notices, liaising, and ensuring that any communication and grievances raised by the affected people are promptly passed onto the relevant authorities.
- With the assistance of the Environmental Specialist, ensure that the construction methods as proposed by the contractor for carrying out the works are satisfactory, with particular reference to the technical requirements of sound environmental standards on the basis of Stakeholder's environmental guidelines for selected infrastructure development project (Highways and Roads) inspection of contractors' equipment , safety of the works, property, personal and the general public; and the recommendations of the initial environmental examination (IEE) and summary IEE.
- With the assistance of the Environmental Specialist, prepare environmental monitoring and annual reports of plan implementation as part of the Project Implementation Report; and carry out environmental management seminars for contractors and government counterparts.
- Monitor the implementation of health and safety programs at the camp site including information and education campaign on sexually-transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS as required by the civil works contracts.
- Perform other tasks as may be assigned by the Team Leader.
Required Selection Criteria:
Competencies
- A good team player, capable of working with others in a participatory and capacity-building manner.
- A thorough understanding of the relationship between manuals and field practices.
- Knowledge of MS Office including MS Word, Excel, Access and as well engineering programs/software.
- Fluent in written and oral English. Knowledge of Dari, Pashtu or other regional languages is an advantage.
- Excellent writing skills
Education/Experience/Language
Education:
- Advanced University Degree in Civil Engineering preferably PG in Highways. Certificate in Project Management or Construction Management highly advantageous.
Experience:
- Minimum 11 years of relevant work experience on road construction projects, with a minimum of 5 years experience on similar projects at the supervisory of managerial capacity involving design review and supervision on pavement road construction projects.
- Experience on civil work projects funded by ADB/WB or other similar international organizations an advantage.
- Work experience in Afghanistan in similar field is highly desirable.
Language:
- Strong written and oral English a must.
Submission of Applications:
Qualified candidates may submit their application, including a letter of interest and an updated United Nations Personal History Form () (available on our website) via e-mail to .
Email applications must include the Vacancy Code and the Post Title in the subject line when applying.
Additional Considerations:
- - Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- - Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
- - A written test and/or interview may be held for this position.
- - Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
- - UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post.
For more information, please visit the UNOPS website at .
