Infrastructure Specialist

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Based in Nairobi, UNOPS East and Southern Africa supports sustainable development across 14 countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe. Since 1995, UNOPS has expanded its footprint in Kenya, delivering services in project management, infrastructure, procurement, and financial management. Across the region, the office implements diverse, partner-funded initiatives that respond to national priorities. In Mozambique, this includes delivering specialized equipment (EU), supporting health services (UNICEF), promoting agro-processing (KOICA), and advancing peacebuilding efforts through a Multi-Donor Fund. UNOPS also supports agricultural input distribution and the Northern Crisis Recovery Project, both funded by the World Bank. In Malawi, efforts include developing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres in partnership with the EU and the British Council. These initiatives reflect UNOPS’ commitment to strengthening national capacities, enhancing service delivery, and supporting progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region.

Established in 2023, UNOPS in Malawi partners with the Government and development stakeholders to support national efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. By delivering high-quality infrastructure and procurement services, UNOPS is helping to expand access to education and healthcare while strengthening essential public infrastructure across the country. Current efforts focus on building resilient systems that improve service delivery and promote inclusive development. Key partners in this work include the Government of Malawi, the European Commission, UN Women, and the Government of Iceland, all committed to driving sustainable impact and long-term progress.

Reporting to the Country Manager, the Infrastructure Specialist provides independent senior technical advice and assurance to Malawi project teams on design, construction, contract management, quality and delivery risks.

Support safe, timely, cost-effective and compliant delivery of infrastructure outputs in Malawi through specialist technical assurance and advice.

1. Technical Advisory Support and Infrastructure Delivery

• Provide technical advice and support to infrastructure project teams on delivery priorities, schedules, interfaces and risks, and recommend practical corrective actions to the Country Manager and Malawi project teams.

2. Design Review and Technical Assurance

• Review designs, drawings, specifications and bills of quantities, providing technical comments on completeness, coordination, constructability, value for money and compliance with applicable Malawi requirements, recognized standards and UNOPS requirements.

3. Construction and Contract-Management Support

• Advise project and site teams on works supervision and construction-contract matters, including contractor submissions, progress, delays, variations, claims, payments, testing, commissioning, handover and defects.

4. Quality, Risk, HSSE and Compliance Support

• Identify material technical, quality, schedule, contractual and HSSE risks; support site reviews and inspections; and recommend mitigation, corrective action or escalation as appropriate.

5. Stakeholder Coordination, Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building

• Act as technical focal point for Malawi infrastructure matters, provide clear technical input to stakeholders, and support practical knowledge sharing, mentoring and capacity building.

An advanced university degree, preferably a master’s degree, in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Building Engineering or another relevant infrastructure-related discipline is required.

A bachelor’s degree in one of the above disciplines, combined with an additional two years of relevant professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Required:

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the planning, design, procurement, construction or management of multi-sector infrastructure projects is required.
• A minimum of five years of practical experience in construction management, works supervision or administration of construction contracts is required.
• Demonstrated experience in managing or coordinating multidisciplinary infrastructure teams is required.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing and advising on architectural, engineering, specification, bill-of-quantities and other technical project documentation is required.

Desired:

• Demonstrated experience in contract administration is required. Experience administering FIDIC-based construction contracts is highly desirable.
• Experience managing infrastructure projects across multiple stages of the project lifecycle, including feasibility assessment, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, handover and defects management, is highly desirable.
• Experience in design management, technical assurance and multidisciplinary design coordination is desirable.
• Experience in managing variations, claims, extensions of time, payment certification, change control and contractual disputes is desirable.
• Experience monitoring construction schedules, critical paths, contractor programmes and delay impacts is desirable.
• Experience implementing quality-management and construction health and safety systems is desirable.
• Knowledge of internationally recognized building codes, engineering standards, construction practices and contract-management principles is desirable.
• Experience working with government institutions, development partners, regulatory authorities and beneficiary organizations is desirable.
• Experience in donor-funded or international development infrastructure projects is an asset.
• Experience working in developing-country contexts and with multicultural teams is an asset.
• Experience in the technical and operational requirements of education, training, institutional or public-service facilities is an asset.
• Proficiency in scheduling and project-management software, such as Microsoft Project, Primavera or equivalent applications, is desirable.
• Experience using digital project-management, reporting, document-control or construction-management systems is desirable.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies 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. For more information on a retainer contract here.
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• 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. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.