Project Civil Engineering and Quality Assurance Analyst

Background

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.

In Pakistan, UNDP is working with the Government of Pakistan, civil society, national partners, and the people of Pakistan to help find solutions to persistent development challenges. Its work derives from and contributes to four outcome areas of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2027) which include: governance; sustainable, inclusive and green economic transformation; climate change resilience and environment; and gender equality and women’s empowerment. Supported by enablers, UNDP uses a portfolio approach in Pakistan, triangulating structural transformation, leaving no one behind, and building resilience.

UNDP's country programme document for Pakistan envisions that all Pakistani people are educated and healthy, their well-being promoted and protected through economic opportunities, jobs and a climate-resilient future in a country where women and girls are safe and able to exercise their rights and to put their trust in and benefit from improved governance.

Between June and August 2022, torrential monsoon rains and a combination of riverine, urban, and flash flooding triggered an unprecedented humanitarian and climate-induced disaster across Pakistan. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), around 33 million people, nearly one in seven Pakistanis, were affected, with approximately 8 million displaced from their homes. The catastrophe claimed more than 1,700 lives, one-third of whom were children. Rain-induced floods, accelerated glacial melt, and subsequent landslides destroyed homes, submerged villages, and severely damaged key infrastructure and livelihoods.

Preliminary assessments indicated that the national poverty rate could rise by 3.7 to 4.0 percentage points, potentially pushing an additional 8.4 to 9.1 million people into poverty. As of October 11, 2022, a total of 94 districts had been officially declared "calamity-hit," including 19 of the country's 25 poorest districts, primarily located across Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In the aftermath, pre-existing gender inequalities have deepened, with women and girls facing increased insecurity, loss of income, limited access to shelter and WASH facilities, and heightened exposure to gender-based violence. The floods have also intensified health risks, including outbreaks of vector- and waterborne diseases and an increase in malnutrition among children.

In response to the scale and complexity of the crisis, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the Flood Recovery Programme (FRP), a multi-sectoral initiative designed to support climate-resilient, inclusive recovery in the most severely affected regions. The FRP delivers integrated assistance across four major thematic areas:

1.    Restoration of housing, and access to/and or revival of essential community services.  
2.    Restoration and strengthening of livelihoods and income generation capabilities 
3.    Restoration and improvement of governance and service delivery
4.    Strengthening capacities for disaster preparedness and climate resilience.

The Programme is informed by the findings of the government-led and UNDP-supported Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and is fully aligned with the priorities outlined in the Government of Pakistan’s Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Framework (4RF). With a resource mobilization target of USD 50 million, the FRP is being implemented with generous support from multiple bilateral partners, including the Governments of Japan, Germany (KfW), China (GDF), Canada, and Korea (KOICA). Each partner contributes to specialized thematic and geographic components from restoring livelihoods and small businesses, to restoring access to education, improving access to climate resilient housing and community physical infrastructure, enhancing Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) platform for improving governance mechanisms for flood recovery, and strengthening institutional capacities for disaster preparedness, climate resiliency, and inclusive recovery. These efforts aim to support Pakistan’s path toward a sustainable, gender-responsive, and climate-resilient recovery, with a strong emphasis on reaching vulnerable populations and building back better. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.

With the growing portfolio of civil works interventions, FRP is looking for a qualified Project Civil Engineering and Quality Assurance Analyst to support the implementation of construction and rehabilitation projects in full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Civil Engineering and Quality Assurance Analyst will work under the overall guidance of the FRP Programme Manager. He/She will be based in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The Project Civil Engineering and Quality Assurance Analyst will be responsible for planning, designing, implementing, and monitoring civil works projects within FRP. This includes conducting feasibility studies, preparing designs, BoQs and cost estimates, supporting procurement of civil works, overseeing construction and ensuring quality standards. She/he will lead communication with key stakeholders in the construction projects, reviewing information on completed civil works (e.g. interim payment certificates) and monitoring the quality and timeliness of the works in progress. The Project Civil Engineering and Quality Assurance Analyst will oversee and manage a team of national engineers, providing leadership, guidance, and technical expertise to support their work. This includes assigning tasks, ensuring adherence to engineering standards and project timelines, resolving field-related issues, and complying with UNDP rules and regulations.

I.    Lead the civil works and infrastructure projects planning, assessment and design preparation:

• Contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring, and updating of project plans and strategies to ensure delivery within the scope, budget, and timeline.
• Lead planning and design of civil works and infrastructure projects in accordance with UNDP Pakistan Country Offices processes, UNDP Civil Works policy, and FRP’s Delegation of Authority (DoA) for construction works.
• Conduct and supervise the assessment of targeted sites where/when applicable, including a desk review of reports of conducted assessments.
• Coordinate and quality assure the preparation and/or finalisation of site-assessment reports that inform further procurement activities.
• Manage the preparation and/or quality assurance of project feasibility studies, analysing pros and cons, benefits, budgets, risks and constraints, recommending the best options and solutions.
• Manage the development of concept, preliminary or detailed designs (preparing, writing and assembling drawings, schematics, masterplans, design calculations and reports, and technical specifications) and requiring a detailed knowledge of the local standards and codes.
• Coordinate the development of project budgets and detailed cost estimations for implementing civil, structural, electrical, mechanical, or special systems within projects.

II.    Facilitate and contribute to the timely procurement of goods, equipment and civil works services:

• Prepare high-quality Terms of Reference for consultants/contractors, specification documents, Bills of Quantities, scope of works, and any similar documents in compliance with UNDP procurement policies and procedures.
• Prepare technical documentation related to bidding processes for construction or design services, including evaluation methodologies, quality assurance and contract management mechanisms, risk management plans, and other relevant details.
• Liaise with the UNDP CO procurement unit and the relevant FRP team members to facilitate the elaboration and finalisation of bidding documents to solicit proposals for consultancy services, the supply of goods, equipment, and civil works.
• Conduct a timely evaluation of the bids and technical proposals by participating in the relevant evaluation committees.

III.    Oversee civil works contract management, monitoring and supervision of the construction works:

• Manage contractors and contract execution to ensure delivery according to scope, budget, and timeline, and in compliance with technical documentation.
• Advise the FRP technical team in the follow-up with contractors on the works at the site to ensure that the preparation and execution of the works are in accordance with the approved bill(s) of quantities and within the established time frame.
• Provide real-time, on-site data to the FRP core team, enabling them to conduct timely and well-informed site visits, anticipate challenges and issues, and take timely corrective action.
• Ensure full compliance with the DoA for construction works, including designing the ToRs and procuring the services of a third-party engineering firm to supervise the civil works.
• Provide guidance to the FRP engineers in overseeing the work of a third-party engineering firm supervising the construction/civil works. 
• Guide FRP engineers in developing the variation orders and alterations to the scope of the contracts for civil works (if any).
• Verify and quality assure the accuracy of the variation orders. 
• Support processing the contract amendments for civil works by drafting the respective Notes to Files and other documentation.
• Advise the FRP technical team on conducting construction inspections, including inspections of materials and equipment to be installed.
• Advise FRP on checking and certifying the progress/completion of works presented by the contractor. 
• During the defect liability period, intervene as required and liaise with the contractor to fix issues that arise and are covered by the defect liability period in a timely manner.

IV.    Ensure certification of invoices and verification of civil works project completion:

• Review contractor invoices for accuracy and completeness against the contract terms, delivered work, and approved variations.
• Ensure invoices reflect the actual quantity and quality of work completed.
• Certify invoices only after verification that all contractual requirements have been met.
• Conduct and/or coordinate final inspections and prepare project completion reports.
• Provide post-construction support as required.

V.    Facilitate knowledge management, reporting and archiving:

• Ensure the highest standards of knowledge management and complete archiving of civil works projects related files and documentation.
• Provide inputs for the periodic and final reports to inform donors and the key stakeholders on project progress.
• Collect, arrange, and upload visits and monitoring reports, as well as photos, to the FRP workspace on the UNDP SharePoint site.
• Provide training and knowledge transfer to national personnel and contractors’ personnel, including advice on good construction practices, 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.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
 

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making 

People Management:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site

Cross-functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy    

• Systems 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
• Effective Decision Making: Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.

Business management    

• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management    

• Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Finance    

• Budget management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets

Procurement 

• Contract management: Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
• Supplier / relationship management: Knowledge of supplier management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
   

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Architecture or related field or other relevant disciplines is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of two (2) years (with a Master’s degree) or four (4) years (with Bachelor‘s degree) of professional work experience at the national or international level in building construction and civil works project management. 

Required skills:

• Proven experience in managing and leading engineering teams is required
• Strong computer skills and advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office is required
• Experience in computer-aided design software is required

Desired Skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Experience in handling tender documents for sizeable engineering works, including technical inputs/specifications for the procurement of services is desired
• Familiarity with UNDP Policies and Procedures and procurement rules and regulations is desired
• Experience in leading and directing project activities and the achievement of project targets and results is desired
• Experience in supervision of construction activities is desired

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Urdu is required.

Professional Certificates:

• Certification in Project Management methodology by an accredited body (i.e. PMP, PRINCE2) is desirable
   

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.