UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Please note that the person selected for this position will be offered a contract with UNDP under its National Personnel Services Agreement (N-PSA) modality (NPSA8 level). The UNDP Service Contract modality is phasing out over the coming year. More information about the N-PSA is available here: https://popp.undp.org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/UNDP_POPP_DOCUMENT_LIBRARY/Public/HR_Non-Staff_National%20Personnel%20Services%20Agreement_NPSA.docx&action=default
Albania is prone to various typologies of natural hazards that can turn to disasters, and the effects of the climate change events affecting the territory in various ways (extreme weather, floods, draughts and desertification, fires), contribute to increasing the frequency of natural disasters.
The earthquake event of 26 November 2019 was the most recent major disaster for Albania. The events that followed the earthquake showed that there is an urgent need to strengthen disaster preparedness, adopt adequate rescue and response systems and procedures, and improve the capacity of firefighting services. Such capacities must become functional across the government to save lives, livelihoods, and sustain development gains.
The Albanian Fire Protection & Rescue Service (AFPRS) is the primary operational search and rescue workforce in standby and ready-for-deployment, both in single small-scale incidents and in larger-scale disaster events, and a service delegated to local governments in the framework of the reform changes brought by the Territorial and Administrative Reform.
In the framework of development response to the earthquake, UNDP Albania, in close collaboration with the Government of Albania and the support of the Government of Poland, has developed a new assistance, “Strengthening Capacities of Albania’s Fire Protection and Rescue Service “, which aims “to contribute to modernizing, increasing the standards and strengthening the operational and response capacities of the Albanian Fire Protection and Rescue Service through support to targeted municipal fire protection and rescue services”. The project interventions are mainly two-fold: first, material and equipment support benefiting municipalities selected based on priority needs and earthquake impact, and second, standard capacity building for the firefighting teams of the selected municipalities.
One of the objectives of the project is to rehabilitate/construct three fire stations in the municipalities of Lezha, Fier and Pogradec, in accordance with sector and construction standards. To achieve this result, project activities include all processes related to design, supervision, construction works, testing, and commissioning until the handover of the fire stations to the respective municipalities.
For the implementation of these infrastructure works tasks, services of a qualified national Civil Engineer (CE) are required to provide technical expertise and quality assurance throughout the processes of design, construction, supervision, monitoring and testing and commission, and the handover of the firefighting stations of the municipalities of Lezha, Fier and Pogradec. The CE has to ensure that works are carried out in accordance with the project expectations and to the satisfaction of UNDP.
The CE will work under the direct supervision of the AFPRS Project Coordinator and in close coordination with the focal points in the beneficiary municipalities. The CE shall exercise all reasonable care for taking all the required actions and ensuring timely and quality delivery of the infrastructure component by supervising all design, construction, and handover phases of all the construction works.
Summary of key functions
- Provide technical expertise for defining the scope, quality, technical soundness, and accuracy of the BOQ and specifications for the implementation of infrastructure component of the project
- Ensure quality of civil works and technical supervision at the project sites
- Manage and document the handover process
- Ensure proper record keeping and reporting
1) Support tendering processes for the selection of various relevant service providers
- Make himself/herself acquainted with the minimal requirements and features related to standard firefighting station buildings
- Prepare the necessary documentation for launching a works design & supervision tender for the identified infrastructure interventions.
- Prepare full tender dossiers for launching works tenders for the identified infrastructure interventions, based on specific technical designs provided by the selected design& supervision firm.
- Prepare the necessary tender documentation for the selection of a testing and commissioning company for the completed works, as required by the Albanian legislation.
- Provide all the necessary technical assistance during the tendering processes and be part of the teams working on preparation of evaluation criteria, preparation of potential Q&As, evaluation of bids, compliance with the UNDP internal procurement processes (CAP, RACP), etc.
2) Supervision of contractors
- Review and endorse the workplan of the selected Design & Supervision firm for the development of the specific designs for the firefighting stations.
- Review the designs developed by the Design company to ensure their technical soundness, sufficiency of details and the as-built drawings.
- Ensure agreement with final beneficiaries on technical designs from the perspective of functionality, quality, and budget.
- Upon satisfactory review of the designs, recommend to UNDP, through the Project Coordinator, to approve the designs for moving forward to the next step.
- Undertake independent on-site observations/inspections of the work in progress to determine if the works are proceeding in accordance with the construction contract schedule, and that completed work conforms to the construction contract drawings and specifications.
- Inform through the supervision company the works contractor when work is to be corrected or rejected or to be uncovered for observation, or for special testing, inspection or approval
- Provide advice to UNDP on all matters concerning claims from the works contractor and/or the supervision company and make recommendations thereon.
- Advise, within a reasonable time, on all claims, disputes and other matters in question relating to the execution or progress of work or the interpretation of the construction contract documents.
- Consider and evaluate requests for changes requested by the contractor, through the supervision company.
- Provide recommendations to UNDP, through the Project Coordinator, for approval when changes affect cost or scope.
- Ensure all works abide by national and EURO8 codes and standards
- Ensure that technical documentation on construction sites is maintained in accordance with relevant national laws and standards and the contract for works
- Review and certify applications for payment made by the works contractor and certified by the supervision company, ensuring that each application details the actual quantities, is within the total billed quantity and complies with the unit rates for each item in accordance with the Conditions of Contract.
3) Support the infrastructure handover processes
- Ensure preparation of relevant documentation of handover files for all conducted works; operational manuals and maintenance schedule to be handed over to beneficiary local governments.
- Inspect the works in the presence of representatives of beneficiaries, works contractor and supervision company prior to the handing over of any section of works.
- Prepare a final list of items to be completed or replaced together with a time schedule for the remedying of the same.
- Ensure, prior to the commencement of the Defects Liability Period, that the supervision company issues the respective Certificates of Substantial Completion of the Works for each site.
- Inspect, during the Defects Liability Period, the completed works prior to the final handing over.
- Inspect, prior to the expiration of the Defects Liability Period, in the presence of the beneficiary, the supervision company and the works contractor, the infrastructure site and ensure that the works have been completed in accordance with the contract.
- Sign off the substantial and final handover documentation upon completion of all construction works for each site.
4) Record keeping and reporting
Record keeping
- Maintain orderly files for correspondence, reports of site meetings, product and material submissions, reproductions of original construction contract documents including all addenda, variation orders, site instructions, information and drawings issued subsequent to the start of works contract, as well as clarifications and interpretations of the contract documents, progress reports and other related documents;
- Keep a logbook, recording data relative to questions of extras or deductions, list of visiting officials, decisions, observations in general, and specific observations in more detail as in the case of observing test procedures; and
- Maintain a set of drawings (“as-built” drawings) recording all details of the work as actually executed. Upon works completion and handover, the designs will be officially transferred from UNDP to the respective municipalities for permanent record keeping.
- Any plans, drawings, specifications, designs, reports, other documents, and software prepared by the CE shall become and remain property of UNDP Albania.
Reporting
- Prepare and submit Monthly Reports to the Project Coordinator, with the following indicative structure:
- Background.
- Brief description of actual versus planned progress.
- Problems encountered and solutions.
- Comments on the quality of work and performance.
- Assessment of the impact of accumulated delays, if any, in the execution of works, together with an update on the projected date for completion and overall cost.
- Information on any contractor-proposed plan for corrective measures to be implemented
- Description of eventual additional work accepted, and Work Orders issued, inclusive of subsequent actions and the time and cost effects.
- Following the substantial completion of the Works, submit a Final Report, which shall highlight:
- all major points of interest that took place during the implementation,
- the chronology of actions,
- problems encountered and solutions provided.
- changes made in design and specifications and the reasons thereof
- a breakdown of the final costs item by item, etc.
- The completed as-built drawings shall form an integral part of the Final Report. Electronic copies of these reports shall be submitted to UNDP Albania.
Travel:
The Civil Engineer is expected and required to frequently inspect the project sites in the municipalities of Lezha, Fier and Pogradec, for monitoring progress of implementation of activities and exerce a supervisory function to the different engaged subcontractors
Academic Education
Master Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline or a bachelor degree in similar field with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in liu of the Master Degree
Min. years of relevant Work experience
- A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in the design, construction, and supervision of civil works, principally in building construction if in possession of a Master Degree or 4 years of professional experience in the design, construction, and supervision of civil works, principally in building construction if in possession of a Bachelor Degree
Required skills and competencies
- Proven experience with preparation and controlling of bidding documents, including FIDIC engineering contract procedures and contract administration.
- Knowledge and experience in EURO 8 codes for construction works,
- Excellent understanding of construction technical and legal requirement and permissions, as per Albanian legislation
Required Language
- Proficiency in spoken and written English and Albanian
Contract Duration: 1 year