Background Information - Job-specific
Background Information โ East and Southern Africa Multi Country Office (ESAMCO)
Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the East and Southern Africa Multi Country Office (ESAMCO), manages a growing portfolio of engagements. The ESAMCO sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and Southern Africa. This includes transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies, UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple โoperationalโ projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi.
Background Information - Job-specific
The Technical Services Unit (TSU) engages in multidisciplinary design and design review, assessments and advisory work for infrastructure related UNOPS projects. The team currently comprises approximately 18 permanent and 60+ retainer (consultant) personnel including architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, quantity surveyors, GIS and specialist infrastructure practitioners (for dams, ICT, safeguards, biomedical works inter alia) and CAD technicians in addition to support personnel.
Current / recent projects are based in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and Madagascar. These projects comprise a range of types of horizontal and vertical infrastructure.
The Unit is based in Nairobi, but works extensively in other locations, via travel and by using the network of retainer (consultant) personnel based elsewhere in Africa and beyond. The team has been increasingly tasked with advising on wider issues within the built environment, such as peer reviewing designs, mapping, data analytics, safeguards and infrastructure carbon.
The TSU is a business unit for the Multi-Country office and comes under the direction of the Director for East and Southern Africa Office (ESAMCO).
The primary objectives of this role are to:
Conduct comprehensive topographical surveys in the field.
Produce accurate and detailed topographic maps and plans.
Provide reliable data to inform design and construction activities.
Ensure compliance with relevant technical standards, safety protocols, and project specifications.
The Topographical Surveyor will be responsible for the following tasks:
1. Survey Planning and Reconnaissance:
Review background documentation, existing maps, and satellite imagery before mobilization.
Coordinate with Project Managers and Technical Teams to define survey objectives, priorities, and technical requirements.
Prepare and submit a fieldwork plan outlining methods, schedule and risk controls.
Work with Project Managers to secure necessary permits or access permissions.
Conduct initial site inspections to assess terrain features, access constraints, and health and safety risks. 2. Data Acquisition:
- Horizontal control points for accurate georeferencing
- Legal boundaries, property demarcations, and cadastral features
- Existing structures, infrastructure, and visible or known utilities
- Natural features, vegetation, and watercourses.
Comply with all site safety protocols and use appropriate personal protective equipment. Identify and manage hazards related to terrain, weather, traffic, and utilities
3. Data Processing and Analysis:
Process field data using approved software tools to generate: - Contour maps at appropriate intervals.
- Horizontal layout plans.
- Longitudinal and cross-sectional profiles.
- Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) and 3D terrain visualizations.
Ensure internal quality control and data integrity checks are applied
4. Reporting and Interpretation:
Prepare clear and comprehensive reports including: - Description of methods, equipment used, and coordinate systems.
- Summary of data accuracy, limitations, and confidence levels.
- Interpretation of findings with design and construction implications.
- Recommendations for follow-up or clarification where needed
- Supporting annexes: photographs, contour maps, layouts, cross-sections, DTMs, 3D models, and any as-built overlays.
5. Data Management and Delivery:
Submit all data and deliverables in accordance with project timelines and formats.
Ensure compatibility with Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Building Information Modelling (BIM), and Geographic Information System (GIS) platforms used by the design team.
Maintain an organized archive of raw data, processed files, and field notes.
6. Additional Technical Support:
Provide as-built surveys to verify construction against original designs.
Support construction layout and setting-out tasks when requested.
Assist in cut-and-fill or volume calculations for earthworks when requested.
Contribute to design reviews by providing insights on site-specific topography constraints.
Impact of Results:
The Topographical Surveyor will be expected to provide:
Topo-survey maps, with appropriate scales, projections, and formats.
Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), submitted in the required format and resolution.
Comprehensive survey reports, detailing methodology, findings, and analysis.
As-built Drawings, documenting completed works against surveyed data.
Education/Experience/Language requirementsEducation:
Bachelor's degree in Topographical / Land Surveying or a related field is required. Experience:
Minimum two (2) years of experience in topographical surveying is required.
Proven experience in using modern surveying equipment and software is required.
The ability to produce clean, digital data information fast and accurately is required.
Detailed knowledge of relevant standards and regulations in Africa is required. Language:
Fluency in written and oral English is required.
Fluency in French will be an asset.
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. Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) - Retainer Contract.
Contract level: Local ICA Specialist - 8 (ICS 8)
Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability.
A retainer contract is issued for a period of time during which the services of the individual contractor are required intermittently. The individual contractor agreement on retainer basis will specify a โunit priceโ per day worked. Please note that the retainer contract will not provide for a minimum, and payment will be made only after completion of work.
As per UNOPS policy, in duty stations where the NPO (National Professional Officer) category has been established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), a home-based contract must be issued as a Local ICA Specialist position. 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
Local ICA Specialist Local ICA Specialist Additional Information
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.
Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority 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.
This is a Home-based Retainer position restricted to candidates who are residents of, or legally authorized to work in East African countries.
It may be the responsibility of the selected candidate to make arrangements, to a standard deemed acceptable by UNOPS, for a secure internet connection, laptop and or equipment necessary for work (as defined by UNOPS).
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.