Background
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UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The Boko Haram insurgency in northeast Nigeria has had a considerable negative impact on the lives and general well-being of the local population. According to empirical evidence, thousands have died in the violence, and almost 2.5 million people have been internally displaced. Although the present conflict dynamics point to a decline in the level of violence and conflict in the area and an ascendancy for the Nigerian military, ensuring the safety and security of the local population remains a serious challenge. The prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence and other gross human rights violations recorded from the region show that the people of the northeast are still highly vulnerable to multifaceted risk factors.
In response to the conflict, UNDP established the Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) in the Lake Chad region in 2019 ‘as a financing mechanism to provide immediate stabilization to communities affected by the Boko Haram conflict in the Lake Chad Basin. The RSF is implemented to bring about the immediate stabilization of communities in the region impacted by the Boko Haram conflict. More specifically, the Nigeria Window of the RSF aims to achieve three outputs: 1) Community Safety and Security Improved; 2) Essential infrastructure and basic services functioning; and 3) Livelihood opportunities available for all households. The target communities include Banki, Damboa, Monguno (in Borno State), Gulak in Adamawa and Buni Yadi in Yobe State.
Under Output 2, Providing basic services through the construction/rehabilitation of community infrastructure is one of the programmes focuses of the integrated Recovery project, such as school and health facilities, water wells/systems, housing units, and shops/markets, among others. It is considered vital that the NE Sub-Office has a highly qualified technical team for implementing engineering work with sound quality and international standards, ensuring successful implementation of construction or rehabilitation of community infrastructures in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states in North-East Nigeria. To this end, UNDP is seeking to fill one position of Quantity Surveyor for RSF projects in NE.
Scope of Work
Under the guidance and direct supervision of Senior Civil Engineer in close collaboration with the Project teams in NE Sub-Office, the Certified Quantity Surveyor will perform the following tasks, focusing on ensuring quality and soundness of civil engineering work in close collaboration with the civil engineers and respective project teams:
- Actively support the assessment activities for infrastructure construction/rehabilitation activities in the targeted sites in BAY States;
- Actively support the preparation of technical documents of civil works projects and prepare detailed BOQs, specifications and internal cost estimate;
- Provide technical and civil engineering support for smooth procurement;
- Ensure the Management of civil works projects;
- Facilitate knowledge, capacity building and knowledge sharing.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Quantity Surveyor shall be responsible for the following detailed tasks and activities towards achieving key functions.
1. Actively support the assessment activities for infrastructure construction/rehabilitation activities in the targeted sites in BAY States:
- Conduct site visits to assess the need for civil works intervention in the JAP locations;
- Prepare an analysis of the civil works intervention and cost estimate.
2. Actively support the preparation of technical documents for the civil works projects and prepare detailed BOQs, specifications and internal cost estimates:
- Review and verify the designs of infrastructure facilities, such as police facilities, school buildings, toilet and WASH facilities, boreholes, housing units and others;
- Review and certify the government standard specifications, which are submitted by the respective authorities for civil works in BAY States. Recommend the necessary adjustments, if any;
- Prepare detailed BOQs, specifications and cost estimate of infrastructure facilities.
3. Provide technical and civil engineering support for smooth procurement:
- Work with the project team to produce project technical documents for the procurement unit for processing;
- Work closely with the procurement unit and support in advertising the civil works procurement cases, pre-bid meetings and bidders’ clarifications;
- Support technical evaluation process. prepare bids arithmetic check and Financial Analysis (FA) reports;
- Provide advice on any procurement-related issues;
- Support the project teams in the NE Sub-Office in verifying the Variation Orders (VO) (if required);
- Assist UNDP as an expert witness in litigation arising from the development or construction of the project and in bearings before various approving and regulatory agencies.
4. Ensures the Management of civil works projects:
- Conduct construction inspection including inspection of materials, samples, and equipment to be installed are meeting the UNDP Contract specifications and standards;
- Ensure that the Contractors maintain safety on the site and clean the site after the completion of the rehabilitation work;
- Support monitoring progress of infrastructure construction/rehabilitation activities particularly from an engineering point of view and promptly report any abnormality or risks to the respective UNDP project managers and project teams;
- Discuss site issues with the Contractor for construction/renovation of civil works projects and promptly report back to UNDP if a problem arises that requires UNDP input;
- Verify payments submitted by the contracts and prepare valuation of work implemented;
- Identify and report risks or abnormalities related to civil works to the Senior Civil Engineer and the engineering team as well as respective project managers in NE Sub-Office;
- Ensuring proper close-out of projects (site cleaning, payment of wages etc) by contractors before demobilization.
5. Facilitate knowledge, capacity building and knowledge sharing:
- Assist in organizing training, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia;
- Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners;
- Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues;
- Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.
Cross-functional & Technical competencies
Results-based Management:
- Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
Project Management:
- Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Communication:
- Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
Relationship Management:
- Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.
Advocacy Strategy & Implementation:
- Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies leading to impactful change.
System Thinking:
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Strategic Thinking:
- Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in the field of construction management, quantity surveying or closely related fields is required; or
- A first university degree (bachelor’s degree ) with a combination of additional two years of qualifying relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree;
- Member of the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN);
- Member Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors.
Experience:
- Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in quantity surveying for residential and public service infrastructures, including construction and renovation projects is required;
- Experience in project management is required;
- Experience in Civil Works Procurement is required;
- Experience in use of ERP Systems is required;
- Experience in using Word, Excel and MS project;
- Experience in handling of tender documents for turnkey contracts, including technical inputs/specifications for the procurement of services using the conditions of international lending/funding agencies is required;
- Proven ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams and liaison with authorities;
- Previous working experience with UNDP and other UN agencies is an asset;
- Experience in working in NE Nigeria at the BAY States is an asset;
- Experience working in a challenging security environment is an advantage;
- Proficiency in preparing bills of quantities (BOQs), and cost estimates for structural items is desired;
- Experience in managing quantity surveying aspects of large-scale housing projects, water boreholes, deep aquifers, and solar power projects;
- Experience in accurately assessing project costs, analyzing construction materials and labor requirements, and ensuring cost-effectiveness throughout project lifecycles.
Required Languages (at working level):
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
- Knowledge of Hausa language is an asset.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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