Lead Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) Engineer

The Asia Pacific Regional Office, based in Bangkok, Thailand, provides strategic leadership and oversight for UNOPS operations across 17 countries, ensuring high performance, operational excellence, and alignment with organizational goals. Operations currently span Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands. Across these countries, we work closely with key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and maximize impact through five main operating units: Afghanistan (AFCO), Myanmar (MMCO), South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO), and the Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC). Through these entities, we provide agile, client-focused service delivery across diverse sectors - including infrastructure, health, procurement, and project management - supporting the implementation of sustainable development solutions across the region.

The East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO), headquartered in Bangkok, supports UNOPS operations across 24 countries in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, and the Pacific. Established in January 2023, EAPMCO provides strategic direction, operational support, and quality assurance to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of projects across its portfolio. EAPMCO implements initiatives in priority areas such as energy transition, climate change, and sustainable development, drawing on UNOPS' core expertise in human resources, procurement, infrastructure, fund management, and programme management.

Established in 2018, the Pacific Operations Cluster supports the delivery of infrastructure, capacity building, programme management, and procurement services across 12 Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS). UNOPS partners with governments and development agencies to deliver tailored solutions aligned with national development priorities. Drawing on its core expertise in infrastructure, procurement, and project and programme management, UNOPS helps PSIDS address the challenges of small population size, geographic isolation, and heightened vulnerability to climate change. UNOPS projects in the Pacific contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by strengthening health systems, promoting sustainable consumption and production, enhancing climate resilience and coastal protection, and supporting institutional development and local governance.

The Government of Tuvalu, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is implementing the Tuvalu Health System Strengthening Project (THSSP) with financing from the World Bank and implementation support from UNOPS. The project includes construction of the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) Diagnostics and Day Surgery Centre and the Niulakita Health Clinic. The scope of works includes the complete execution of the construction works for the hospital facilities, including all civil, structural, architectural, MEP, and associated external works, in accordance with the approved drawings, specifications, and contract requirements.

The MEP Engineer will provide independent technical support to the Project Manager throughout construction, testing, commissioning and handover of PMH Diagnostics and Day Surgery Centre and Niulakita Clinic. The assignment will be delivered primarily through remote technical support complemented by targeted site missions during critical construction stages.

Provide independent specialist MEP engineering support to the Project Manager and Site Engineer through remote technical review, online coordination, virtual meetings and periodic site inspections to ensure that MEP works comply with the Contract, approved designs, applicable standards and quality requirements.

The MEP Engineer will provide technical advice and recommendations to the Project Manager. Unless specifically delegated in writing, the MEP Engineer will not have authority to issue contractual instructions to the Contractor, approve variations, certify payments, grant extensions of time, accept completed work, certify Practical Completion or Final Completion, or modify the approved design.

The assignment shall be undertaken primarily on a remote basis. Site visits will be arranged by the Project Manager when physical attendance is necessary and subject to budget availability. Typical missions’ support include mobilisation, MEP rough-in, major equipment installation, precommissioning, testing and commissioning, Practical Completion, Final Completion and DNP inspections. Mission frequency and duration will be determined based on project progress and technical needs.

For planning purposes, candidates should anticipate approximately two to three missions during the contract period, generally of five to ten calendar days each. Missions may include Funafuti and outer island locations. The actual number and duration will depend on construction progress, access, weather, transport availability and technical requirements.

Reporting to the Project Manager, and in close coordination with the Site Engineer and other project personnel, the MEP Engineer (retainer) will be responsible for the following key tasks:

1. Technical and Construction Support

• Support the Project Manager and Site Engineer in verifying that MEP works are implemented in accordance with the Contract, approved designs and applicable quality requirements.
• Review shop drawings, material submissions, Requests for Information (RFIs), equipment schedules, method statements, Inspections and Test Plans (ITPs), commissioning procedures, Operation and Maintenance (O&M) manuals and as-built drawings.
• Provide written technical comments and recommendations within agreed review periods.
• Participate in online technical meetings using Google Meet or other approved platforms.
• Maintain a register of technical reviews and outstanding actions.
• Review photographs, videos and inspection records submitted by the Site Engineer/Project Manager.
• Provide prompt advice on technical issues, variations and material substitutions.
• Review contractor variations, material substitutions and design modifications and provide technical recommendations to the Project Manager.
• Review MEP designs and installations for suitability in the Tuvalu operating environment, including tropical marine exposure, high humidity, corrosion, cyclone conditions, limited utility reliability, constrained maintenance capacity, remote supply chains and long-term availability of spare parts and consumables.

2. Site Missions

• Undertake site missions as directed by the Project Manager during critical construction milestones or whenever physical attendance is considered necessary to resolve technical issues.
• Inspect installation quality of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, Extra Low Voltage (ELV), fire protection, solar PV, generator, medical gas and lift systems.
• Witness testing and commissioning.
• Support Practical Completion, Final Completion and DNP inspections.

3. Quality Assurance

• Inspect MEP installations and verify compliance with approved drawings and specifications.
• Review Contractor QA/QC documentation, ITPs and method statements.
• Witness inspections, testing and commissioning.
• Identify non-conformities and verify corrective actions.
• Reviews shall be undertaken against the applicable codes, standards, specifications and performance requirements identified in the Contract (national, regional and international).
• Where the Contract is inconsistent or contains conflicting requirements, the MEP Engineer shall identify the issue and recommend an appropriate resolution to the Project Manager and responsible designer. The MEP Engineer shall not independently substitute one code or standard for another without formal authorization.

4. MEP Systems

• Provide technical support for the review, construction oversight, quality assurance, testing and commissioning of the following building services systems:
  • Mechanical: HVAC, ventilation, plumbing, drainage and medical gas systems.
  • Electrical: power distribution, lighting, standby generators, UPS, earthing, lightning protection and solar PV system.
  • Extra Low Voltage (ELV): ICT, structured cabling, CCTV, access control, nurse call and fire detection and alarm system.
  • Fire Protection: Fire hydrants, hose reels, portable fire extinguishers and passive fire protection systems.
  • Vertical Transportation: Lift installation, testing and commissioning.

5. Commissioning & Handover

• Review commissioning plans.
• Verify O&M manuals, warranties, spare parts and as-built drawings.
• Support practical completion, final completion and user training.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services Engineering, or related fields, with 7 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree(or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience

Desired

• Professional Engineer, Chartered Engineer or equivalent professional registration is highly desirable.

Required

• Relevant experience is work in the design review, construction supervision, installation, testing or commissioning of health facilities building-services systems.
• Experience in Pacific SIDS, remote islands or similar logistically constrained environments.
• Demonstrated experience on at least two healthcare, hospital, laboratory, diagnostic, surgical or similarly complex institutional facilities.
• Experience in construction-stage submittal review and site quality assurance.
• Experience in testing, commissioning, handover and defects close-out.
• Demonstrated multidisciplinary coordination experience across mechanical and electrical building-services systems.
• Experience reviewing contractor proposals, RFIs, substitutions and technical changes.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise and defensible written technical advice in English.

Desired

• Experience with medical-gas systems.
• Experience with essential power, generators, UPS and renewable-energy integration.
• Experience with FIDIC contracts.
• Experience with World Bank, UNOPS or other international development-financed projects.
• Experience working remotely with geographically dispersed teams.
• Experience in facilities where local maintenance and spare-parts capacity are limited.

• 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.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• 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.