Construction Officer, UNOPS IICA-2, Cox’s Bazar at UN High Commissioner for Refugees

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time position within UNHCR Sub-Office, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

The Position will be within UNHCR’s Shelter Unit, which is based in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. This exciting position is a unique opportunity to gain experience in not-for-profit branding as well as experience working within the UN system.

UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 134 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.

• Title: Construction Officer
• Duty Station: Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
• Duration: Initially 6 months (with the possibility of extension)
• Contract Type: UNOPS, International ICA-2 (equivalent to P3)
• Closing date: 4 October 2021
• Start date: as soon as possible

Organizational context:

Following an outbreak of violence in Rakhine State in Myanmar on 25th August 2017, in excess of 650,000 Rohingya fled across the border into the Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh. This influx has more than tripled the existing registered Rohingya population of 212,500, making the total population being hosted in Bangladesh over 890,000, with new arrivals still ongoing.

The speed and scale of this influx exhausted the capacity of the two existing refugee camps and overwhelmed both local authorities and existing humanitarian actors present in the area. Arriving refugees settled in a spontaneous and haphazard manner and makeshift shelters mushroomed along roads and on any available land in the Ukhiya and Teknaf areas. The resulting situation and the severe congestion of the area are presenting severe risks and challenges in terms of access to services, protection, public health and physical safety, e.g. flooding, landslides, fire. Many shelters are of poor quality and constructed in a manner inappropriate to withstand natural hazards – in an area that is prone to cyclones and flooding. Improvements are needed to improve access to services, assistance and enhance the protective environment of the site. The strategy implemented by the Government of Bangladesh has been the establishment of one so-called “megasite” which expands the official Kutupalong refugee camp and the Kutupalong and Balukhali makeshift settlements with additional allocated land. This policy makes the Kutupalong extension the world’s largest refugee camp in terms of population numbers, but geographically it covers a fraction of the area (approx. 12 km2) of other sizeable camps.

The first three years after the influx much of the focus of humanitarian actors has been the implementation of mitigating measures to avert major disasters during the yearly monsoon and cyclone seasons. A medium- to long-term perspective needs to be maintained, given the assumption that the settlements in Ukhiya and Teknaf that are being managed by UNHCR & others together with their partners, will remain in existence for several years to come. In this context, it is extremely important that these settlements needs be improved in terms of overall settlement planning; location, delivery and management of basic services; living conditions including public space; and disaster risk reduction. At the same time, the needs of the host communities, particularly in areas where they are living in mixed settlements or close to the camps, must also be addressed.

The position

The Construction Officer conducts comprehensive sectoral needs assessments in liaison with other relevant sectors such as protection, programme, community services, public health, WASH, administration and supply. Close and regular contact is also maintained with the technical and non-technical staff of UN Agencies, implementing Partners, national and international NGOs and Government Authorities. The incumbent also discusses matters relating to infrastructure coordination and provision. S/he reports to a senior technical colleague and maintains a strong collaboration with the Shelter and Settlements Section in HQ.

Specialized functions to be dealt with by the incumbent include infrastructure design, planning, implementation and construction monitoring including remote monitoring (if necessary) throughout all phases of the construction cycle, therefore the person should have a strong academic qualification in civil engineering, architecture or a related discipline.

The incumbent ensures that construction within the AoR (Area of Responsibility) evolves according to the changing nature of the situation, progressively working towards more durable solutions and drawing from local building practices and materials.

The camps in Cox’s Bazar district are de-facto urban settlements given the high population density, at times with higher density than Dhaka or Manila and all construction must take into consideration urban planning strategies and close collaboration with the settlement planners is needed. When possible, special attention must be given to the environment and low carbon approaches, attention to material selection through sustainable means to ensure a green approach to construction.

The Construction Officer will be part of a larger team working with construction-related activities, in particular the Shelter team which is led by a Shelter Officer. The Construction Officer works closely with other technical units as well as with Programme and Supply units. For a successful discharge of the function of this position, it is critical that the incumbent has clearly demonstrated construction-related experience in infrastructure development, working with relevant governmental technical departments and various organisations in identifying, designing, and implementing construction solutions and experience in implementation processes (including design, engineering, development of bill of quantities, analysis of local capacity and local markets, cost estimations etc.).

A large part of the responsibilities related to construction project management and experience in this area is needed. The incumbent should be knowledgeable of standards related to protection, WASH, energy, environment and land use, with sensitivity to cultural and gender-specific needs to ensure that the social and cultural backgrounds are taken into account while designing and constructing. Previous experience in program/construction management (including site supervision, monitoring, quality control, evaluation etc.) as well as in participatory approaches to actively engage affected communities, is desirable. Familiarity with and considerable field exposure to UNHCR programme planning and implementation on the humanitarian operation is important and the ability to making the linkages to rehabilitation and development programmes will be an added advantage.

Duties and responsibilities

Technical Guidance

• When starting a construction project, carry out comprehensive sectoral needs assessments while liaising with other relevant sectors such as protection, programme, community services, WASH, administration and supply. Engage with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that there is a shared understanding of the scope of the project.
• When planning construction projects, ensure that due consideration is given to standards in other relevant sectors such as water and sanitation, energy, and environment, so that implementation is synchronized and coordinated.
• Enforce the adherence of technical elements to standards that reflect UNHCR and other international and national standards and implementation within budgetary requirements for all works.
• Monitor and follow up the design and construction work to confirm these are approved by the relevant authorities, technically sound, supplemented with accurate drawings, detailed BOQs and specifications.
• Advise contractors on sound technical issues while ensuring compliance with national standards and international and national best practices.

Coordination and Leadership

• Ensure that UNHCR’s operation is technically sound in the field of construction and infrastructure development within the AoR to best meet the needs of the relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate and manage UNHCR’s constructions in a timely, cost-effective, inter-sectoral manner providing adequate delivery of technical interventions and services to support operational needs.
• Liaise with the government, relevant authorities, and counterparts to ensure strong coordination and partnership.

Collaboration

• Collaborate with Programme and emphasize the importance of reviewing technical components of any construction and infrastructure projects. Provide advice to Programme on sound construction practices and ensure the Operation’s direct implementation construction is carried out responsibly.
• Work with the Supply team to advise on matters related to the procurement of construction, infrastructure and other sector related works and services, including the development of technical specifications, BoQs and drawings for bid documents.
• Carry out technical evaluation of the received bids as well as review/inspect the quality of infrastructure products/ works during implementation and at completion.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required:

Years of Experience – For IICA-2/P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education – Architecture, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Construction Management or other relevant field

Relevant Job Experience:

Essential: Prior experience of implementing infrastructure projects coordinating with governmental technical departments and other stakeholders. Project formulation, planning, supervision and management skills. Previous involvement in implementation processes (including development of bill of quantities, analysis of local capacity and local markets, cost estimations, etc.). Experience of construction management (including site supervision, monitoring, quality control, evaluation etc.). Experience in building on existing local capacity and transfer knowledge as appropriate.

Desirable: Experience in humanitarian context and large-scale emergencies is an advantage. Knowledge of UNHCR shelter standards, as well as standards related to protection, WASH, environment and land use. Sensitivity to cultural and gender specific needs to ensure that the social and cultural background of the stakeholders is taken into account while designing, developing and implementing constructions. Proficient in relevant computer softwares, including engineering (AutoCAD) and geo-spatial analysis tools (GPS). Familiarity with, and considerable field exposure, to UNHCR programme planning and implementation and on humanitarian operations. Ability making the linkages to rehabilitation and development programmes will be an added advantage.

Functional Skills

1. IT-Computer Literacy
2. SP-Environment Planning
3. SP-Design tools such as Global Positioning System (GPS)
4. SP-Infrastructure Development/Construction Management
5. EX-Field experience in emergency and/or large-scale settings
6. SP-AutoCAD software and other design and structural analysis software
7. SP-Environmental Assessment/Planning/Monitoring/Evaluation of integrated projects/programs

Language Requirements:

Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. Knowledge of Bangla and Chittagonian is an advantage.

Competency Requirements:

Core Competencies:

1. Accountability
2. Communication
3. Organizational Awareness
4. Teamwork & Collaboration
5. Commitment to Continuous Learning
6. Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies:

1. Empowering and Building Trust
2. Managing Resources
3. Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies:

1. Analytical Thinking
2. Technological Awareness
3. Stakeholder Management

Location :

The successful candidate will be based with the team in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

Conditions :

The initial duration of contract is for six months, to align with our budget year 2021 and 2022 proportionally. Nevertheless, the position is expected to be extended beyond 2021, and into 2022, subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

This is a full-time role with working hours starting from 8.00am to 5.00 pm Sunday to Thursday (40 hours per week).