Biomedical Lead Engineer

Job Posting Organization:
The UNOPS regional office for Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the implementation of over 250 projects across 40 countries, focusing on fragile and conflict-affected areas. Supported by more than 1,000 staff across five multi-country offices, the organization addresses national priorities through strategic initiatives centered on climate action, health, infrastructure, peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, support for middle-income countries, and small island developing states (SIDS). The regional office provides strategic direction, operational support, and oversight in key areas such as partnerships, communication, management and monitoring, infrastructure and project management, health and safety, and security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, encouraging knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure development, transparent resource management, and improved quality of life for populations across the continent.

Job Overview:
The Biomedical Lead Engineer is tasked with leading the technical strategy and implementation of the entire value chain of medical equipment and supplies. This role supports the project manager and collaborates with the partnerships and procurement team to ensure technical compliance, budget feasibility, and quality assurance for UNOPS health projects in Madagascar. The position encompasses the entire process from initial needs assessment to commissioning, training, and maintenance of medical equipment. The engineer will be responsible for evaluating medical equipment needs, contributing to health-related project development, and overseeing the acquisition, delivery, installation, and commissioning of these medical devices. The role also involves reviewing comprehensive specifications for health infrastructure and services, proposing alternatives when necessary, and developing technical specifications and quotations for medical equipment and supplies that need to be procured by the projects.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Needs Assessment and Procurement Strategy Implementation: Review, advise, and consolidate equipment lists by service type. Assess operational performance and make recommendations to the partnerships team and relevant stakeholders on specifications and technical elements necessary for effective project development and implementation. Advise management and the partnerships team on project scope, technical requirements based on partner and beneficiary needs, and national/international certification standards for equipment and services. Ensure coordination with health stakeholders regarding needs definition and alignment of identified solutions with national strategies. Support budget development and operational resource planning for health procurement projects. Verify that budgets align with identified needs and service levels. Coordinate with various technical experts within UNOPS.
• Procurement Strategy Definition: Assist the procurement team in preparing quotations and identifying delivery timelines for all health-related equipment purchases. Prepare technical specifications and quantitative estimates to be included in tender documents for medical equipment procurement. Prepare technical requirements for equipment installation, including relevant infrastructure works. Develop a schedule of requirements, conditions, evaluation criteria, and exact submissions required from bidders prior to the tender.
• Quality Assurance: Develop a quality assurance plan and integrate a strategic approach into all project documents to ensure biomedical equipment compliance with specifications before installations and handovers. Identify adjacent needs and services required for purchased equipment and develop a comprehensive UNOPS intervention offer, including infrastructure works, installation, assembly, and training. Plan site assessment missions and other required missions according to partner requirements (pre/post-shipment inspections); develop a strategy for training medical personnel on operational and maintenance tasks.
• Implementation Strategy Development: In coordination with project teams and field logistics staff, provide advisory support on logistical planning for delivery and installation concerning medical equipment requirements.
• Knowledge Development and Sharing: Prepare reports on needs analysis regarding equipment, works/installations, and services for each type of establishment.
• Other Tasks: Promote and monitor the development of medical equipment-related projects in the country, including identifying synergies and expansion opportunities as appropriate. Visit project sites to conduct detailed assessment missions. Perform any other activities assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
Mandatory: A higher university degree in biomedical engineering (master's or equivalent) with a minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience OR a first-level university degree in biomedical engineering (bachelor's or equivalent) combined with a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience. Desired: Certification in healthcare management is an asset.

Educational Background:
Mandatory: A higher university degree in biomedical engineering (master's or equivalent) associated with a minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience OR a first-level university degree in biomedical engineering (bachelor's or equivalent) combined with a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience. Desired: Certification in healthcare management is an asset.

Experience:
Mandatory: A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in biomedical engineering is required. Desired: Progressive experience in medical equipment procurement is an asset. Experience collaborating successfully with various health sector stakeholders, particularly governments and development partners, including UN organizations, is an asset. Experience working on projects funded by major global donors such as the World Bank is an asset. Expertise in infrastructure works related to the installation of biomedical equipment is desirable.

Languages:
Mandatory: Fluent in French. Required: Intermediate proficiency in English.

Additional Notes:
UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. Applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities. UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications, and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities. We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation. UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes. 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. 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.