Senior Driver

Job Posting Organization:
The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, focusing on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Established in 1995, UNOPS has expanded its footprint in Kenya and operates with more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices in North, West, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa, as well as the Horn of 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, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). UNOPS promotes excellence in project delivery, fosters knowledge sharing, and drives continuous improvement to contribute to sustainable infrastructure and better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Job Overview:
The Senior Driver is responsible for providing safe and reliable transportation services to UNOPS personnel, consultants, and experts on mission. This role includes assisting with clerical tasks and performing messenger services as required. The Senior Driver will report to the Senior Project Manager, the Head of Office, or a designated supervisor within the UNOPS Zambia office. The position requires a commitment to safety, efficiency, and professionalism in all driving and logistical tasks, ensuring that all transportation needs are met effectively and in a timely manner. The Senior Driver will also play a crucial role in supporting the operational aspects of the UNOPS projects in Zambia, particularly in relation to the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) project, which aims to enhance energy access in rural areas.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Driving Services: Provide safe, reliable, and timely transportation of authorized personnel and cargo, including hazardous goods when necessary. Facilitate airport transfers and assist with customs and immigration formalities. Deliver and collect mail, documents, and other items as required. Conduct radio checks and maintain communication as instructed.
• Vehicle Use and Maintenance: Ensure proper and cost-effective use of vehicles by maintaining accurate daily logs and contributing to vehicle maintenance planning and reporting. Perform routine vehicle checks (e.g., oil, water, battery, brakes, tires) and carry out minor repairs while arranging for major repairs as necessary. Keep vehicles clean, roadworthy, and fully equipped at all times. Ensure availability and safekeeping of all required documents and supplies, including insurance, logs, maps, office directory, first aid kit, and spare parts. Take immediate action in line with organizational rules and regulations in the event of an accident.
• Messenger and Clerical Functions: Ensure timely and accurate delivery of mail, documents, and packages to UN agencies, government offices, embassies, NGOs, and courier services. Manage documents requiring protocol clearance from ministries, embassies, and other institutions. Collect documents destined for UNOPS offices and support office administration by binding and preparing documents for filing, maintaining registers, and handling routine clerical tasks. Facilitate visa, customs, and other personnel-related formalities as required.
• Administrative, Procurement, and Logistics Support: Support the organization of meetings, workshops, field missions, and conferences by assisting with logistical arrangements and documentation. Assist procurement processes by collecting quotations, making bill payments, and collecting procured supplies. Facilitate the delivery of procured items, conduct pre-delivery inspections, and ensure handover to relevant offices and partners. Manage shipment processes, including customs clearance, inspections, loading/unloading, and coordination with government offices. Ensure completion and submission of Receiving Inspection Reports (RIRs) and Goods Receiving Notes (GRNs) following partner verification of shipments.

Required Qualifications:

• Required: Secondary school (or equivalent) with 3 years of relevant experience OR Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 0 years of relevant experience.
• Driver’s training with a valid driver’s license is required.
• Relevant experience in safe driving, defensive driving, and minor vehicle repair is essential.
• Knowledge of driving rules and regulations is required.
• Desired: Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is preferred. Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is also desired.

Educational Background:
The position requires a secondary school education or equivalent, along with three years of relevant experience in driving or logistics. Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with no prior experience is acceptable. Additionally, completion of driver’s training and possession of a valid driver’s license are mandatory qualifications for this role.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have relevant experience in safe driving, defensive driving, and minor vehicle repair. Knowledge of driving rules and regulations is essential. While not mandatory, experience working in multicultural environments or within UN system organizations in a developing country is highly desirable. Experience in development or humanitarian contexts will be an added advantage.

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 contract type for this position is ICA - LICA - Support - Regular, with a contract level of LICA

• The position is classified as entry-level, and the duration of the contract is open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance. UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging applications from qualified women and candidates from underrepresented groups. The organization does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not request candidates to make payments during the recruitment process. Applications must be submitted before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessments.