Chief of Unit, Engineering

Org. Setting and ReportingThe United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) provides critical Supply Chain, Geospatial, Information and Telecommunications Technologies services and Training to all Secretariat Entities, Peacekeeping and Special Political missions, Agencies, Funds and Programmes of the UN system worldwide. The position is located within the Innovation and Infrastructure Support (IIS) Unit, Planning & Sourcing Support Section, Supply Chain Service, United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) in Brindisi, Italy. The Chief of Unit, Engineering will report to the Chief Supply Chain Service. ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the incumbent will apply professional engineering knowledge and expertise to manage all aspects of the engineering best practice and operational support to UNGSC and client entities. The incumbent will establish work requirements and priorities, based on strategic and operational needs, and requirements of client entities. • Develop short and long-range plans for the design, procurement of goods/services, construction/commissioning, and operation/maintenance of facilities and infrastructure, taking into consideration that DOS field operations are typically established in areas with a risk-environment of medium to high threat, and in areas with minimal power, communications, transport and service infrastructure. Mission facilities typically include modularized camps for troops and civilian staff, logistics bases and airbases with all required utility infrastructure for electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems and security works. Design, construction and maintenance of road infrastructure, for the movement of personnel and goods amongst the mission facilities, are also commonly performed. • Prepare reports and other associated engineering-related information, for progress reporting, and special reports for quality, cost or schedule variances. • Draft responses to both internal and external audit observations on engineering tasks and activities in the mission. • Contribute to the development of annual engineering budgets and associated work schedules, based on engineering resource planning, taking into account all required engineering material needs and selected enabling capacities (e.g. military engineering units, commercial contractors, mission support teams, or mission engineering staff) for the most effective and efficient execution of the engineering work plans. Monitors actual costs and schedule performance against the approved budget and baseline schedules. • Keeps abreast, through relevant engineering literature, of significant trends and the development of improved methods and equipment. • Prepares the engineering staff management plan, and acquire, develop and manage all engineering staff members in support of engineering work plans. • Provides expert technical advice on technical documents and overall policies, procedures and guidelines pertinent to engineering activities and provision of services to client entities, taking into account quality management and risk management best practices. Recommends solutions to unusual engineering problems. • Develops, implements and evaluates Operational/ Service Level Agreements with all relevant stakeholders including input, process, and output metrics, etc.; monitors and analyzes programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions. • Initiates and coordinates outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities; coordinates with relevant teams for an outreach campaign towards new and potential clients within and outside the UN Organization. • Provides leadership, guidance and support to the teams to facilitate the change process and adoption of new procedures, IT platforms, and/or processes, and to enhance client orientation and service excellence. • Ensures the team is equipped and aligned to meet the objectives of category management, and particularly for UNGSC led categories of goods and services. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provides insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Perform other related duties as assigned. CompetenciesProfessionalism: Knowledge of policies, practices and regulations on management of supplies, purchasing and logistics and ability to apply them in an organizational environment. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be \"clients\" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks \"outside the box\"; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches. Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related fields is required. A first-level degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationCertification in Supply Chain (SCOR-P, CSCP or equivalent) is desirable. Certification in Project/Programme Management methodology by an accredited body (e.g. PMP, PGMP, PRINCE2) or equivalent is desirable. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable. Work ExperienceA minimum of seven (07) years of progressively responsible experience with facilities and infrastructure, or similar, in the areas of planning, designing and supervising engineering-related construction/commissioning projects, and managing routine and non-routine maintenance and repairs, is required. A minimum of (3) years of supervisory experience at the international level in project management and contract management for large design/construction projects and facilities maintenance program is required. Experience working in support of a field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping operations, special political missions, agencies, funds and programmes), or other similar international organizations which are pertinent to Engineering Management and Contract Management is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special NoticeThis position is open for recruitment for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. United Nations ConsiderationsAccording to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.