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Lead Construction Management Engineer (Prison Infrastructure Specialist) - Retainer

Remote | Home Based - May require travel

  • Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
  • Location: Remote | Home Based - May require travel
  • Grade: Mid level - IICA-2, International Individual Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Engineering
    • Architecture, Building and Property Management
    • Infrastructure and Urban-Rural development
    • Prison and Correctional Services
    • Documentation and Information Management
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: 2024-05-22

Job categories Engineering
Vacancy code VA/2024/B5416/28073
Level ICS-10
Department/office LCR, PAMCO, Costa Rica
Duty station Home based
Contract type International ICA
Contract level IICA-2
Duration Subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance
Application period 06-May-2024 to 22-May-2024
Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Functional Responsibilities

Depending on the business needs, this position could be International ICA or Local ICA. If a local position is defined, the salary scale will be determined in line with UNOPS HR policies.

Under the direct supervision of the Lead Construction Management Engineer, the Prison Infrastructure Specialist will provide technical services in all prison infrastructure activities.


A. Technical Support

  • Facilitate the planning and implementation of prison infrastructure activities.

  • Assist the Lead Construction Management Engineer with monitoring, control, and assessment of prison designs produced by consultants.

B. General Construction

  • Liaise closely with engineering personnel, ensuring accuracy of prison engineering activities.

  • Support the Lead Construction Management Engineer in identifying and solving prison construction issues in a timely manner.

C. Monitoring and Progress Controls

  • Support the Lead Construction Management Engineer in the implementation of quality plans for the project to ensure the specified quality of work from the penitentiary perspective is achieved.

  • Support monitoring and evaluation of prison infrastructure activities.

D. Knowledge Sharing

  • Participate in the prison project evaluation process, highlighting challenges associated with the project and feeding back into a continuous improvement cycle.

  • Provide training and knowledge transfer about prison building best practices and lessons learned to national &/or contractor personnel, including advice on good prison construction practices, and appropriate security standards.



To access the full list of roles and responsibilities, please download the Terms Of Reference attached to the announcement.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

a. Education 

  • Master's degree or equivalent in Project Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related field, is required.
  • Bachelor's level degree in Project Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related field in combination with additional years of experience, is acceptable in the absence of a master's level degree.
***Please upload your academic diplomas or academic certifications to your application***


b. Work Experience

  • Proven experience of 5 years (or more depending on the level of study) in the planning, design, and/or evaluation of prison infrastructure projects. 

  • Extensive knowledge of norms, regulations of prison systems such as the International Minimum Rules for deprivation of liberty (Nelson Mandela rules and the Bangkok, Beijing, and Havana Rules) is required.

  • Work experience or proven knowledge of addressing the triple planetary crisis in infrastructure projects is an advantage.

c. Key Skills

  • Ability to use G-Suite software: Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Sheets is an advantage.

  • Ability to write technical and executive reports is an advantage.

d. Language requirements
  • Proficient in English (spoken & written) is required

  • Knowledge of Dutch is an important advantage.

  • Knowledge of Spanish or another UN language is an advantage.


UNOPS is an inclusive employer, so we invite women and men to apply regardless of their ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. We are committed to promoting equitable representation. We appreciate that people who self-determine themselves as Afro-descendants, indigenous as well as people with disabilities, members of the LGTBIQ+ communities and/or other underrepresented groups in national contexts, voluntarily indicate so in the motivation letter when applying for this vacancy.


We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.