Infrastructure Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, established to oversee the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, focuses on fragile and conflict-affected settings. With a workforce of more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices in Africa, the organization aims to advance national priorities through strategic initiatives in various sectors, including Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security, and more. The office promotes excellence in project delivery and sustainable infrastructure, contributing to improved quality of life for communities across the continent.

Job Overview:
The Infrastructure Specialist position is crucial for providing independent senior technical advice and assurance to project teams in Malawi. The role involves supporting the safe, timely, cost-effective, and compliant delivery of infrastructure outputs. The specialist will be responsible for technical advisory support, design review, construction and contract management support, quality assurance, risk management, and stakeholder coordination. This position requires a proactive approach to identifying risks and recommending corrective actions to ensure successful project outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical advisory support to infrastructure project teams, focusing on delivery priorities, schedules, and risk management. Recommend practical corrective actions to the Country Manager and project teams.
• Review designs, drawings, specifications, and bills of quantities, ensuring compliance with Malawi requirements and recognized standards.
• Advise project and site teams on construction contract matters, including contractor submissions, progress, delays, and claims.
• Identify technical, quality, schedule, and HSSE risks; support site reviews and inspections; recommend mitigation strategies.
• Act as the technical focal point for infrastructure matters in Malawi, facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity building among stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in planning, design, procurement, construction, or management of multi-sector infrastructure projects. Experience in construction management and contract administration is essential. Candidates should demonstrate experience in managing multidisciplinary teams and reviewing technical project documentation. Knowledge of internationally recognized building codes and engineering standards is desirable, along with experience in donor-funded infrastructure projects.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree, preferably a master’s degree, in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related discipline is required. A bachelor’s degree in one of these fields, combined with two additional years of relevant professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant experience in infrastructure project management, including planning, design, procurement, and construction. Candidates should have practical experience in construction management and contract administration, as well as demonstrated experience in coordinating multidisciplinary teams and reviewing technical documentation.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified as mid-level with an ICS level of 1

• The contract type is ICA - IICA - Regular, and the contract level is IICA
• The position is ongoing, and applications must be submitted before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date. UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups.