Construction Management Engineer
This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to critical infrastructure projects in the Horn of Africa, working within a dynamic team to improve access to essential services in underserved regions. The role offers exposure to international development practices, cross-cultural collaboration, and professional growth in construction engineering and project support within the UN system. The successful candidates will be based in Tigray, Amhara, SNNPR, Addis Ababa, Jijiga, West Shoa, Central Ethiopia and other possible project locations in Ethiopia.
Location: Addis Ababa, Amhara, Jijiga, SNNPR, Tigray
Organization: UNOPS
Deadline: 30-Dec-2025
Job Description
General Information
- Construction Management Engineer
- Job Category: Engineer
- Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa, Amhara, Jijiga, SNNPR, Tigray
- Seniority Level: Associate
- ICS Level: ICS 08
- Contract Type: ICA – LICA – Specialist – Retainer
- Contract Level: LICA 8
- Posting End Date: 30-Dec-2025
- Duration: One year, renewable based on budget availability and satisfactory performance.
About the Region
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.
About the Country/Multi-Country Office
Based in Addis Ababa, the Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office (HAMCO) delivers project management, procurement, and infrastructure services across Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan, with a primary focus on health, agriculture, and economic development. Established in 2009, HAMCO partners with governments and development stakeholders to implement impactful, results-driven initiatives that contribute to sustainable development. Since 2024, new projects have been aimed at expanding access to healthcare, education, energy, and livelihoods, particularly in underserved and conflict-affected regions.
HAMCO also provides human resource management services, supporting the effective implementation of development initiatives. Key efforts include equipping research facilities, strengthening education and health systems, building vaccine research capacity, and enhancing resilience in communities affected by crisis. Through these interventions, HAMCO contributes to inclusive growth, regional stability, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the Horn of Africa.
Job Specific Context
Role Purpose
Functions / Key Results Expected
Under the supervision of the Project Manager or the Deputy Project Manager, the Construction Engineer may perform all or some of the following tasks aimed at delivering infrastructures:
1.Support assessments set up for the project objectives
Assessment preparation
- Conduct data research and analysis
- Collaborate structuring the assessment and setting up the required tools
Conduct assessment:
- Support the Project Manager with the coordination of the work of Data Collectors in the field.
- Ensure UNOPS policy requirements
- Collect and organise assessment data
- Validate gathered data
Analyze data:
- Perform data analysis by applying analytical and statistical techniques.
- Develop dashboards, tables, graphs, maps for data representation.
- Perform quality control to ensure high accuracy during data analysis.
Report on findings:
- Draft comprehensive reports on assessments findings.
- Suggest possible courses of action for infrastructure interventions.
- Contribute to risk analysis.
- Outline prioritized needs and intervention options (immediate, medium-term, long-term).
- Document lessons learned to refine future assessments.
2. Support Planning of the infrastructure interventions
Conceptualize interventions:
- Support the development of feasibility studies, concept designs, draft Bill of Quantities (BoQs) draft schedules to support the planning of the interventions and decision making.
- Provide input on long-term operation, maintenance, and community management requirements during assessment and/or planning phase.
Provide input into the applicable regulatory framework:
- Research and inform about the national legal and regulatory framework applicable to the planned interventions (on water and sanitation, environment, construction, etc.).
- Flag relevant global standards and guidelines that should complement national regulations.
3. Development of infrastructure designs and issuing of design certificate
- Support technical site visits to validate design assumptions, collect measurements, and confirm constructability.
- Contribute and support to developing structural designs, prepare design briefs and BoQs ensuring stakeholders requirements, UNOPS quality and requirement standards, project’s objectives.
- Support the design review process and the integration of the modifications needed to the revised design package.
4. Development of capacity building interventions
- Support the preparation of tailored capacity building plans based on the gaps and needs analysis.
- Support and contribute to the development of capacity building training and material (courses, seminars, workshops, etc.).
5. Development of community engagement interventions
- Contribute to developing tailored community engagement plans based on the gaps identified in the needs assessment.
- report the community practices and dynamics in managing, maintaining and using the infrastructures and contribute to delivering management/operation and maintenance manuals and training to enhance efficiency, durability and sustainability.
- Report about community concerns, and issues throughout implementation.
6. Participation in construction procurement processes
- Support the preparation of construction works tender documents from a technical perspective.
- Support the tender processes, including but not limited to conducting pre-bid meetings, providing clarifications to bidders, leading site visits, participating in bids opening, etc. (acting in full compliance with the provision of the Procurement Manual).
- Participate in the evaluation of bids, conducting detailed and substantiated technical evaluations and verification/assessment of the references submitted by the bidders (acting in full compliance with the provision of the Procurement Manual).
- Participate in due diligence processes on contractors/suppliers, including verification of technical capacity, past performance, certifications, and legal compliance for construction related services.
7. Monitoring, quality assurance and reporting on WASH interventions
- Contribute to the development of log frames of infrastructure interventions (inputs, outputs, outcomes, impact).
- Support the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) with the definition of assessment indicators aligned with project objectives and global construction standards
- Contribute to set up and manage remote supervision systems (in collaboration with Data Analysts and ICT Specialists)
- Perform quality assurance and quality control for construction interventions.
- Report timely and qualitatively on the progress of the constructions, with a focus on impact, quality, risks and issues, best practices and lessons learned.
- Conduct regular field monitoring visits to verify compliance with technical specifications, HSSE requirements, environmental and social safeguards, and contractual obligations.
- Support the verification and approval of contractors’ deliverables, including work completion certificates, test results, as-built documents, Operation & Maintenance manuals, and training reports.
- Ensure testing
8. Ensure supervision of construction sites, as assigned
- Implement Health Safety Security Environmental (HSSE) requirements
- Keep the construction schedule
- Monitor quality of delivery
- Track progress
- Implement Environmental Social Master Plan (ESM) guidances
- Identify and report technical issues
- Maintain documentation of site activities
- Monitor compliance with contract requirements
- Report on progress, risks, delays, or changes to the project plan.
- Check Interim Payment Check’s (IPC) correctness
Skills
- Construction Site Management, Data Analysis, Engineering Design, Report Writing, Structural Analysis and Design.
Education Requirements
Required
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent plus 2 years of relevant experience.
Desired
- Master Degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent may qualify with one year relevant professional experience.
Experience Requirements
Required
- A minimum of two years relevant and progressive professional experience in construction and/or design of building infrastructures.
- Demonstrated experience in infrastructures rehabilitation, infrastructure design, conduction of assessments and post processing of assessed data, capacity building to communities on operation and maintenance programmes.
Desired
-
Experience with UNOPS in the infrastructure sector
-
Experience in Horn of Africa.
Language Requirements
| Language | Proficiency Level | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| English | Fluent | Required |



