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.
Unrest in the Syrian Arab Republic has been ongoing since March 2011 and has deteriorated ever since. Syrians are increasingly deprived of access to Community Infrastructure due to the level of physical and infrastructural destruction left behind by the hostilities or competition for scarce resources, also as a result of massive internal displacement. Inside Syria, over 13.1 million Syrians are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Four out of five people live in poverty. Without security, jobs, Community Infrastructure, and infrastructure, the living conditions of Syrians and their livelihood prospects have significantly eroded, severely increasing their vulnerability, and undermining their ability to cope with the consequences of the crisis.
All projects under Community Infrastructure contribute to strengthening the resilience of 14 governorates in Syria through the implementation of early recovery and livelihood restoration efforts in partnership with local actors including UN agencies, NGOs, CBOs, and FBOs. They address major service delivery problems and basic infrastructure rehabilitation to contribute to the early recovery, improve living conditions for people in the affected areas, help accelerate the return of the IDPs to their homes, and the revitalization of basic business services in the targeted areas.
These projects target affected communities through the rehabilitation of social buildings (schools, hospitals, health centers, shops, bakeries, civil service centers, vocational training centers, and Museums…) and the rehabilitation of sewage, water, and irrigation networks, especially in high-priority areas in different governorates.
UNDP Syria aims to expand its program to support community resilience towards environmental and ecosystem degradation and mitigation of climate change.
The services related to Solid Waste and Debris Management are poor due to the lack of human, financial, and physical capacities of municipalities. Thus, UNDP will support this thematic area being a priority, particularly since the removal of Solid Waste and debris is essential for conserving health, and the environment and promoting economic and social stability
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall direction of the Team Leader for Pillar 2: Local Governance and Community Infrastructure and the supervision of the Project Manager of the Community Infrastructure unit, the technical project officer will work in close collaboration with the Project team for the attainment of the following:
- Provide technical advice and do the technical tender evaluation for projects related to the Community Infrastructure unit (rehabilitation of basic infrastructure, social buildings, solid waste management, and debris removal.
- provide technical follow-up on the implementation of Community Infrastructure projects, including regular travel (where security permits) to the Targeted Areas.
- Review the initial designs of Community Infrastructure projects received from the field, evaluate them, and assess their feasibility both technically and economically.
- Follow up technically with the local authorities and the field team to prepare proper design and tender documents.
- Provide technical follow-up for implementing projects related to the Community Infrastructure Unit and attend meetings on-site when needed.
- Monitor the implementation effectiveness of the projects.
- Consider ongoing work on planning, infrastructure rehabilitation, and restoration of Community Infrastructure.
- Carry out the infrastructure assessments in specific areas in accordance with UNDP developed infrastructure strategy.
- Provide all reports, deliverables, and communications in both English and Arabic languages as needed.
- Provide written feedback as needed.
- Assist the project Manager in updating the risk register for risks associated with the related projects.
- Daily follow-up and monitoring of the progress in implementation of the works related to the project’s activities and certifying the completion through submission of technical progress reports.
- Follow up on procurement needed ensuring value for money, transparency, and competition as per UNDP rules and regulations, including preparation or clearing the terms of references and condition books for technical works related to the project.
- Provide regular reports and briefs related to project activities, as needed.
- Document lessons learned and shared experience with UNDP related team.
- Engage with the government and other partners to identify new joint opportunities and provide technical support to the Partnership Unit.
- Develop a monitoring plan and mechanism to track projects’ activities, including site visits.
- Prepare and share monthly infrastructure performance progress with the Project Manager.
- Generate a Database for local market material prices and update it regularly.
- Additional tasks may be requested subject to the workload within the unit.
Institutional Arrangement
Reporting to the Project Manager (Community Infrastructure)
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 | Thematic Area | Name | Definition | | Procurement | Procure-to-Pay | Knowledge of purchase-to-pay cycles, concepts, principles and policies, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations | | Business Direction & Strategy | 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 | | Procurement | Supplier / Relationship Management | Knowledge of supplier management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations | | Procurement | Contract Management | Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations | | 2030 Agenda: Prosperity | Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility | Debris/Solid Waste Management | | 2030 Agenda: Peace | Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions | Rehabilitation and Reintegration | | 2030 Agenda: Prosperity | Inclusive Growth | Urban Community Infrastructure /Assets | |
Required Skills and Experience
| Min. Education requirements | Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree) in Civil Engineering, Architecture Engineering, Electrical Engineering or any relevant field Or A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree) with additional 2 relevant years of experience in Civil Engineering, Architecture Engineering, Electrical Engineering or any relevant field will be given due consideration in lieu of advanced university degree. |
| Min. years of relevant work experience | Up to 2 years (with master’s degree) or minimum 2 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant qualifying working experience at the national or international level in civil engineering works or any relevant field of experience is required. |
| Required skills | - Experience in the use of computers, office software (MS Word, Excel, etc), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP is required.
- Experience in the use of engineering software such as AutoCAD, Solidworks, MATLAB, Python or any other similar software is required.
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| Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section | - At least 2 years of experience in civil works/Solid waste and Debris management projects implementation, bid preparation, and evaluation of similar projects is highly desirable.
- Relevant experience in Local/Regional/International contexts is desirable.
- Previous experience in the humanitarian field with UN, national or international NGO is an asset
- Previous experience in business administration and management
- Experience in the use of Project Management Software such as Microsoft Project, Primavera or any similar software is highly desirable.
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| Required Language(s) | - Excellent proficiency in both English and Arabic.
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Disclaimer
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UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
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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