Construction and Operations Officer

UNICEF is the leading United Nations agency on child rights (www.unicef.org) and works in 190 countries

around the world. UNICEF’s Global Strategy focuses on supporting child survival and development, basic

education, child protection, policy advocacy, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene). In countries

affected by crises, UNICEF leads humanitarian efforts to help children and women living in challenging

circumstances and provides support to help them to survive and to maximize their development potential. 

Since 2012, UNICEF Jordan Country Office has been playing an integral part in the humanitarian response for

Syrian refugees in Jordan. The scope of this assignment will be mainly related to UNICEF operations in the

Syrian Refugee Camps with support to the host communities when needed. Recently, the demand for

infrastructure in schools has increased due to the increasing number of students enrolled in schools as well

as the need to make the school environment more inclusive. Hence, UNICEF is looking for an experienced

construction and operation engineer to provide support to the implementation and monitoring of all

construction and rehabilitation activities in education facilities in the camps.

Schools in camps require new classroom caravans, adding new multi-purpose rooms, upgrading the current

structure of the classroom and the playgrounds, adding new playgrounds, upgrading, and adding new wash

units to reduce congestion, and allowing access to all students to wash facilities. Moreover, there is an

emphasis on making schools more inclusive, thus adding ramps, rails, and inclusive playgrounds. This work

will require overseeing the contracting process, supporting the addition and updating of the current Long-

Term Agreements (LTAs), supervising staff, and supporting the work related to the implementation of

projects by UNICEF partners/contractors in areas related to maintenance and construction.

 Functional Responsibilities:

• Under the Supervision of the Humanitarian Affairs Officer, the construction and Operations Engineer will be
• Supporting the planning and implementation of construction projects within the Syrian Refugee Camps.

Core responsibilities include:

Construction:

• Identify the strategic and technical objectives for individual projects in collaboration with other program staff.
• Contribute to project design planning, including budgeting, cost estimation, and scope definition.
• Prepare and manage bidding documents: statement of works, technical specification, BOQs, technical drawings (concept and schematic), and timelines.
• Provide support during tendering and bidding processes, including monitoring progress, responding to bidder inquiries, and participating in technical evaluations.
• Supervise the construction projects by supporting cost control, schedule management, and ensuring site safety compliance with the contractors.
• Monitor quality standards through quality control and quality assurance management.
• Provide technical assistance for the Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP) if needed for specific projects.
• Maintain effective communication with stakeholders, partners, and contractors.

Operations:

• Assist in the preparation of the Long-Terms Agreements (LTAs) for civil works, supplying prefabricated buildings, maintenance, and safety material, monitor the performance of the LTA holders and share any risks, concerns, and issues with the supply section and track the renewal process of the LTAs.
• Prepare the Local Procurement Authorizations (LPA) and Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA) for construction projects.
• Support contractors in the operational management of education complex facilities, including offices, WASH units, and classrooms.
• Monitor warehouse inventory and ensure proper storage of materials and assets.
• Assist the contractors in the development of the procurement plans of maintenance material for projects/tasks/daily consumed material and monitor timely and efficient implementation of activities in accordance with the procurement plan.
• Assist in the selection of appropriate suppliers and contractors to promote good procurement practices with due regard to sustainability, ethical purchasing standards, and UNICEF regulations.

Maintenance:

• Monitor all regular maintenance activities implemented by the operational contractor in education facilities (schools) to ensure the serviceability and safety of the facilities as well as provide the required support for social protection and youth sections in terms of maintenance activities for their facilities.
• In cooperation with the operational contractor, support the development of preventative maintenance plans whenever needed for schools’ facilities and monitor their implementation by the operational contractor.
• Maintain a safe and healthy work environment by following local and UNICEF standards and procedures and complying with camp regulations.
• Maintain records of weekly maintenance schedules and ensure alignment with forecasted workloads.
• In cooperation with the operational contractor, support the optimization of the use of resources (materials, equipment…etc.) at all levels and aspects to achieve a good result in the Value for Money (VFM) approach.

People Management:

• Provide administrative and technical support to contractor engineers when needed.
• Assist in the recruitment process of maintenance and logistics IBVs (Syrian Volunteers), including preparing test materials and conducting interviews.
• Contribute to capacity building for the maintenance and logistics IBVs (Syrian Volunteers) such as health and safety training.

Coordination:

• Participate in education section meetings, camp education meetings, and other relevant coordination forums.
• Support coordination efforts with other UN agencies, NGOs, and external authorities for construction and infrastructure-related matters.
• Lead on meetings held with construction contractors, such as kick-off meetings, weekly progress meetings, quality assurance meetings, health and safety meetings…etc.

Reporting:

• Prepare and submit weekly and monthly progress reports for construction activities.
• Review and verify the submitted maintenance and inventory reports by the operational contractor.
• Provide input for donor reports when needed.

 Education/Experience/Language requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in the construction of education facilities is required.
• Experience supervising local contractors is an asset.
• Experience in working in refugee camps is an asset.
• Professional Certifications: PMP-PMI / Desired.
• Fluency in Both English and Arabic is required.

 Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=29574#1