Engineering Consultant (Building Accessibility)

WFP is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at global.inclusion@wfp.org. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

JOB TITLE: Engineering Consultant (Building Accessibility)

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Regular Consultant II

UNIT/DIVISION: Regional Bureau Dakar, Management Services (MS – Administration)

DUTY STATION (City, Country): Dakar Diamniadio, Senegal

DURATION: Until 31 December 2024 with possible extension

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 14 June 2024

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to end global hunger. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

WFP is fully engaged in supporting the implementation of the Secretary-General’s 2019 United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) and WFP’s obligations more broadly regarding disability inclusion. A barrier-free environment is fundamental to WFP becoming an organization that is inclusive of persons with disabilities. Barriers to participation can exist in the form of physical barriers of the built environment, virtual and social barriers to accessing information, communications and technologies, and services and assistance, as well as attitudinal barriers that are manifested through stigma and discrimination. Breaking down these barriers, which fall under the responsibility of numerous areas of work, requires a systematic and sustained whole-of-organization approach.

Accessibility of the built environment is a pre-condition. WFP is committed to improving physical accessibility by applying universal design principles to ensure that all staff, visitors and beneficiaries, including those with disabilities, have adequate levels of comfort and mobility within inclusive WFP premises. The Building Accessibility Team (BAT) in the Management Service Division, Infrastructure and Facilities Management Branch, located in Rome HQ, is responsible for the global roll-out of those procedures and standards and for providing support to the field offices, in collaboration and coordination with Regional Bureaus.

WFP has developed its Procedures and Standards for the Inclusive Accessibility of the Built Environment (WFP Guidelines). Starting with the Regional Bureaux of Dakar, the Building Accessibility Team (BAT) in the Management Services Division is promoting the opportunity for firsthand experience in implementing WFP’s mission in a diverse and challenging environment. This practical experience and exposure to local knowledge and environment will contribute to the refinement and adaptation to local contexts while ensuring that WFP premises are universally accessible.

JOB PURPOSE

With the technical reporting line to the Head of Landmark HQ team and reporting to the RB Head of Management Services (MS – Administration), the incumbent is expected to support the implementation of the WFP Guidelines on the Accessibility of the Built Environment with particular focus assigned areas of the field in line with the general objective of achieving 50% of WFP staff working in an accessible work environment by 2025.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Collaborate with field offices, Regional Bureau, HQ divisions, global DI network and external partners to achieve the Accessibility of the Built Environment according to WFP Guidelines and corporate objectives. Consult with Organizations of People with Disabilities.
2. Work cross-functionally with internal (i.e., Facility Management, WFP Engineering, Security, IT, HR, Legal, Procurement, Insurance, etc) and external ( A/E firms, contractors, and other UN entities) stakeholders to ensure cohesive delivery of services.
3. ENGAGE: Engage with Country Offices (COs) in the Region to prepare and update plans for accessibility improvements, providing technical advice and training for the implementation of WFP Guidelines, policies, standards, norms, and practices to ensure that outputs meet the established quality standards.
4. ASSESS: Run Accessibility Assessments of existing buildings and design packages through missions, site visits, remote support and desk work. Support the preparation and revise Accessibility Assessments prepared by field offices.
5. PLAN: Prepare improvement plans of existing buildings or validate the ones prepared by field offices. Provide technical solutions to accessibility shortcomings, including design drawings and bills of quantities.
6. IMPROVE: Support COs in implementing accessibility improvements (procurement, supervision of works, final verification).
7. Update Archibus data on accessibility.
8. Prepare progress reports on Regional and Country accessibility plans and business cases for the financial support of accessibility improvements.
9. Collaborate with WFP Engineering and WFP Facilities on new construction and refurbishment projects, providing inputs about accessibility requirements.
10. Perform the accessibility review of buildings for new leases providing inputs to Business Cases for the lease of new WFP premises.
11. Collaborate to improve the accessibility of programme and emergency-related buildings.
12. Travel to field offices as required, including possible duty travel outside the Regional Bureaux and to HQ for induction, coordination meetings etc.
13. Promote Disability Inclusion and Accessibility culture in the organization.
14. Other as required.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

Education: First Level Degree in Architecture or Civil Engineering.

Qualification in health and safety in the construction field.

Experience:

• 5 years’ experience in construction projects in a variety of projects type including commercial, corporate, hospitality, entertainment, institutional, higher education, government, mixed-use and multi-family residential.
• Proven experience in assessing accessibility conditions at existing facilities.
• Proven experience in design review of new construction and alterations.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• Good knowledge of ISO 21542 and other international standards of accessibility.
• Advanced level of Microsoft Office including (Word, Excel and PowerPoint); AutoCAD; Adobe Photoshop.
• Working knowledge of Archibus would be an asset.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and French

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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.