Chief Engineering Specialist

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

OFFICE/UNIT/PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

For six decades, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has shaped advances in human development, providing large-scale, integrated support to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide. As part of its Strategic Plan 2026-2029, UNDP will continue to support countries' progress towards high-level human development while protecting the planet. Its strategic direction is defined by four strategic goals—prosperity for all, effective governance, resilience to crises, and a healthy planet—supported by three accelerators: digital transformation and AI, gender equality, and sustainable finance. All are reinforced by a commitment to human rights and a determination to leave no one behind.

In Gabon, UNDP contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, 2023-2027) with national partners through its interventions in the areas of inclusive governance; the environment and climate change; the reduction of poverty and inequality; and the promotion of gender equality. 

In 2024, the Government of Gabon and UNDP agreed on the implementation of UNDP’s flagship Programme d’Urgence et de Développement Communautaire (PUDC) in Gabon over the 2025-2027 period. The PUDC’s main objective is to boost the economic and social development of rural areas by improving basic infrastructure and providing economic opportunities for local populations. The Programme aims to reduce poverty, promote social inclusion, and strengthen the resilience of rural communities by investing in key sectors such as health, education, water and energy infrastructure. 

In order to accelerate the implementation of the infrastructure projects under the PUDC, UNDP Gabon is recruiting a Chief Engineering Specialist. He/she will lead on the design, implementation, monitoring and quality assurance of infrastructure projects under the PUDC Programme. He/she will supervise his/her team members, oversee vendors, manage financial resources and maintain partnerships for the timely delivery of engineering projects to national counterparts.

 SCOPE OF WORK 

Lead on the implementation of engineering projects, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Lead, coordinate and manage the PUDC team of engineers in delivering on engineering projects
• Contribute to the development and periodic review of the PUDC Programme’s Workplans and Budgets in order to ensure that engineering projects are completed on time and within budget
• Engage with technical counterparts within Government at Ministerial and decentralised Government level to achieve consensus on engineering project design and planning- related issues
• Analyse technical documents and studies provided to UNDP by the various ministries and national entities involved in the Programme
• Co-ordinate planning visits to project sites; verify technical studies against realities on the ground; ensure adequate documentation of findings from site visits and their incorporation in project specifications
• Oversee engineering (civil, electrical, water and energy) from preliminary site preparation to commissioning, final completion and handover to national counterparts.
• Contribute to the PUDC Programme narrative and financial reports, both for internal and external use
• Help ensure that the PUDC Programme is managed and implemented in accordance with UNDP’s Programme and Project Management requirements as well as financial rules and regulations

Contribute to PUDC procurement processes for the selection of vendors / contractors, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Programme’s Procurement plan 
• Contribute to the design and implementation of procurement strategies to ensure value for money for engineering projects
• Develop terms of reference for vendors and/or contractors for engineering projects
• Review and validate tender documents before publication for engineering projects
• Review and validate bills of quantities for engineering works
• Participate in bidder selection processes such as site visits and bid evaluation panels
• Participate in negotiation processes to ensure value for money for engineering projects

Lead on engineering projects monitoring, quality assurance and risk management, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Programme’s Monitoring and Evaluation plan and related Travel plan
• Ensure that findings from site visits to engineering projects are adequately documented, disseminated and that corrective measures are taken on time by contractors
• Ensure that the engineering projects are fully compliant with UNDP’s project quality assurance system as well as UNDP’s social and environmental standards monitoring system
• Coordinate the identification, registration, mitigation and regular monitoring of risks identified related to engineering projects under the PUDC
• Act as the contractors’ primary point of contact for supervision purposes
• Review and validate technical attachments to invoices submitted by contractors
• Lead on inspection visits to completed engineering projects; ensure that UNDP specifications, requirements and safety standards are fully met
• Contribute significantly to contractor management processes, including contract amendments, payment, and performance assessment.
• Manage infrastructure project handover processes in line with UNDP policies and procedures

Contribute to developing and sustaining effective partnerships around the PUDC programme, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of a PUDC programme stakeholders’ engagement strategy
• Ensure meaningful consultation and involvement of stakeholders at key stages of infrastructure project implementation, including community members, local, provincial, national authorities as well as civil society
• Participate in programme and/or partnerships discussions with Government, International Financial Institutions, Bilateral and Multilateral donors, and the UN system
• Help mobilise additional resources for the PUDC and other related programmes or projects

Contribute to the gathering and dissemination of knowledge generated under the PUDC programme, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the PUDC programme’s knowledge management and communications strategy 
• Help inform the design, production and dissemination of communication products; support efforts towards the visibility of project results, best practices and lessons learned 
• Help ensure that knowledge generated through site visits and progress reports are adequately documented and communicated to policy and decision-makers
• Assist in identifying and addressing opportunities for capacity development either through training or systems development, in particular at decentralised level

The incumbent will perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of  the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: 

• Responsible for the supervision and performance management of Engineers and support staff in PUDC project management team.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

The Chief Engineering Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the PUDC Programme Manager. He/she will also liaise with the Team Leader : Governance & Poverty Reduction on programme oversight-related matters, the Oversight Unit as well as the Operations Team.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration. 

COMPETENCIES 

Core competencies 

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Business Direction & Strategy - Business Acumen: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.

Business Development - Collective Intelligence Design: Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions.

Business Management - Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.

Business Management - Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.

2030 Agenda: Prosperity - Inclusive Growth: Urban Community Infrastructure /Assets.

Business Direction & Strategy - Systems Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management - Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SUCCESSFUL IPSA

Min. Education requirements

•             Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in engineering, preferably in civil/infrastructure engineering and/or electrical engineering, hydraulics and agronomy, or related field is required, or 

•             A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience

•             Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in managing the construction of large-scale infrastructure projects, including buildings, road infrastructure, electricity (off-grid renewables), drilling, value chains, and agricultural equipment, is required.

Required experience and skills

•             Experience in infrastructure design and supervision is required.

•             Proven experience in contract administration and the implementation and application of a project performance monitoring system is required.

Desired skills/experience

•             Familiarity with UNDP procurement procedures

•             Experience in working, liaising, and collaborating with UN agencies, governments, NGOs, civil society organizations, and public international organizations.

•             Knowledge of capacity building theory and capacity building/assessment methodologies.

Required Language(s)

•             Fluency in written and spoken French is required.

•             A good knowledge of English is desirable.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

Data Privacy

Please click here to view UNDP Data Privacy Statement

#LI-DNI