Background Information - Sri Lanka
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations. With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.
UNOPS in Sri Lanka
UNOPS has supported Sri Lankaโs development since 1998, expanding operations in 2005 to support the post-tsunami response and reconstruction process. Within the organizationโs mandate in project management, infrastructure, and procurement, UNOPS Sri Lanka implements customized socio-economic development projects that benefit vulnerable people and develop national capacities. Achievements in Sri Lanka include the development of sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure, procurement services & capacity building, and project management in education, fisheries, roads, health, water supply systems; flood control and sanitation, and integrated solid waste management sectors. UNOPS works closely with Government counterparts and communities to ensure increased ownership, sustainability, and accountability of Projects. Key projects in Sri Lanka include the Technical Project Management support for the Maternal and Newborn Health Care Strengthening Project in Matara District, Sri Lanka funded by KOICA. UNOPS Sri Lanka also facilitated over $22 million worth of procurement of COVID-19 protection equipment and services in partnership with the World Bank, the Government of Japan, and the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund.
Background Information - Job-specific
Project Information
The HIQI project is implemented under the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka. The project is funded by the Global Fund by the direction of the Government of Germany who transferred a foreign debt owed by Sri Lanka to Germany into a grant under a debt2health scheme. The total grant amount is US$25 million; UNOPS implementation value is approximately US$6,800,000. The project as a whole is in its third year of implementation under the MoH; UNOPS has been requested to assist with bringing the project back on track. The HIQI project will undertake the digital transformation of the MoH by procuring and installing hardware at the Health Information Unit at the Ministry and across 30 pilot hospitals in Sri Lanka. The project will conduct networking, interconnectivity and interoperability activities as well. The project has multiple components and entities managed at the MoH by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU). The digitization scope begins centrally at the MoH and will interlink and expand to 30-50 government hospitals. The project will involve stakeholders from the public and private IT sector in Sri Lanka and internationally and will closely involve the HIU, the lead in this process, along with identified government hospitals earmarked for digitization.
Functional Responsibilities
1. General construction
Support Project Manager/ project team to plan and coordinate work activities.
Provide expertise/support to prepare technical specifications, Bills of Quantities, bidding documentation, engineering drawings, construction methodologies, construction planning and programming, and assessments of contractors' technical capacity to deliver.
Support the Project Manager in preparing monthly reports to summarize all project matters including quality, health, and safety, environmental, as well as any issues relating to possible delays, cost overruns, variations, and any other matter related to network cabling in hospitals.
2. Design Management
Support the Project manager to outline design requirements (e.g. timeline) to procure design services, including concept, preliminary and final stages where applicable.
Support the Project Manager to manage the design process.
Support the Project manager with their design review submissions to HQ.
Assist the procurement team with technical assistance and in addition to project teams, in preparation of tender documentation and bid analysis where required.
Support Project Manager/project team to complete a needs assessment, organize preliminary studies and monitor/supervise consultants.
3. Construction supervision (network cabling) & Contract Management
For all certified detailed designs ensure that tender documents are finalized and complete,including Scope of Works (SoW), site information, budget, technical specifications, schedules, Bill of Quantities (BoQ), calculations, and construction drawings.
Participating in construction approval and inspection activities.
Liaising closely with the contractorโs engineering staff ensuring engineering accuracy of construction activities.
Mentoring and directing contractorโs supervision staff including teaching dimensional control, best practices etc.
Collect and document information on the contractorโs workforce, the progress of work, and any other related information, and report accordingly on a daily basis.
Conduct regular contractor coordination meetings.
Identifying and solving construction issues in a timely fashion and keeping the Project Manager informed.
Support Project Manager in managing and coordinating negotiations with all interested parties including contract disputes and claims.
Conduct regular site visits for all projects and verify that works are consistent with the project technical specifications and inform promptly of eventual deviations.
Support the overall management of works implementation to ensure construction works are completed on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
Provide spot checks of supervision of the project work progress and quality for on-time delivery.
Assist the Project Manager/ project team in the preparation of project/contracts-related documentation such as periodic progress reports, site monitoring reports, stakeholder meeting minutes, engineerโs instructions and variation orders, contractorโs bills review reports, certifications, client hand-over documents, and contracts close-out reports.
Undertake measurement of works in support of contractor payment requests.
Submit requisition for all approved projects and coordinate with the Procurement Unit to facilitate the competition of the procurement process, including the Development of relevant tender documents, evaluation of tenders, and issuing and management of works contracts.
Implement quality controls (QC) and quality assurance (QA) procedures, to ensure all infrastructure projects are correctly initiated, managed, monitored, reported and closed in accordance with UNOPS policies and procedures.
4. Health and Safety/Quality
Ensure awareness and compliance with health and safety requirements on the Project site.
Ensure implementation of the Goal Zero approach (zero incidents, zero injuries, and zero accidents) and completion of actions to improve health and safety on the Project site.
Cultivate a Goal Zero mindset with actions such as identifying and addressing health and safety risks, monitoring the adherence to health and safety requirements on the Project site.
Direct contractorโs and supervision staff on the development and monitoring respective Quality, Health, and Safety, Environment plans.
5. Monitoring and Progress Controls
Report site work progress to the Project Manager on a daily basis.
Coordinate with networking designers and contractors to achieve the targeted progress.
Coordinate with the hospital authorities to allow the consultant and contractors to perform planned work activities without delays.
6. Knowledge management
Assist in providing training and technology transfer to national personnel and contractor's personnel and advice on good construction practices, good environmental management practices, and appropriate health and safety standards during construction.
Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for development planning and knowledge building.
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground. Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education
Advanced university degree (Master's Degree or Higher) in engineering, construction management or any other relevant disciplines is required.
Bachelorโs degree in engineering, construction management with additional 2 years of relevant work experience can substitute for the requirement for a Masterโs degree.
Experience
Minimum 2 years experience(After the completion of a Bachelorโs degree) in managing or supervising construction activities is required.
Demonstrable experience in civil engineering projects within hospital or healthcare environments is required.
Proficiency in google documents, MS Project are required.
Drafting skills with AutoCAD software is essential.
Basic knowledge of network cabling standards (e.g., Cat 6, Fiber Optic), pathways etc
Basic understanding of the requirements for installing and maintaining active and passive network equipment.
Basic understanding / ability to read and interpret network diagrams and specifications.
Experience in implementing works under complex quality and safety plans is desired.
Experience directing and mentoring engineering staff is required.
Experience in providing advice and oversight is desirable.
Language Requirements
Fluency in English is required.
Intermediate proficiency in spoken Sinhala and Tamil is required.
Basic proficiency in reading and writing Sinhala and Tamil is desirable.
Contract type, level and durationContract type: ICA (Individual Contractor Agreement)
Contract level: Local ICA Specialist, LICA 8
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx
Additional Information
Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.