Associate Electrical Engineer

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the Government and people of Afghanistan through delivery of projects and services in line with the government’s national priorities. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency. At present, UNOPS AFCO is implementing a number of projects in a range of sectors including infrastructure (roads, bridges, justice and security, health, and water supply) development, procurement services, HR services, capacity building, and humanitarian protection, amongst others, on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan, the international donor community, and other UN agencies.

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to the achievement of the development outcomes sought by the Government of Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the reconstruction and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO’s services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve significantly the lives of all Afghans in need

1. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the overall guidance and direction of the Project Manager, Kabul Security Cluster and Lead Quality Engineer of RSHQ, the Associate Electrical Engineer provides support to Kabul City Green Zone and Enhanced Security Zone checkpoints by conducting site inspections, analysis and reporting, servicing, and ad-hoc repairs and maintenance of electrical systems, power supplies and distribution networks, including, but not limited to, generators and voltage regulators. 

The Associate Electrical Engineer will primarily work in and around Kabul City and may be required to work nights and/or weekends 

Specific responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for the timely completion of various supporting  QA/QC activities according to approved work plans, specified quality standards and development needs for electrical installations. 

• Assist with  the control and appraise work progress, review contractor work plans and provide recommendations to the KSF Project Manager on ways to overcome issues, challenges and needs as related to electrical installations. 

• Provide support with  quality control reviews and prepare related reports for the design and installation of electrical works as required and facilitate the compilation of input for Monitoring and evaluation. 

• Assist in the establishment of quality procedures, including time limits for inspection, sampling and testing for electrical works and materials. 

• Establish and maintain scheduled servicing of core electrical installations and oversee contractor compliance with such schedules. 

• Provide Rapid troubleshooting for reported electrical issues across the checkpoint network.

• Provide emergency repairs to power supply and distribution systems as required. 

• Support the  Project Manager for electrical based solutions for procurement processes. 

• Provide technical input and assist Procurement with all contractual matters for the completion of contracts with electrical installation components. 

• Review contractor practices and conventional methodologies for electrical installations and make recommendations where remedial action is required

• Check accuracy of outputs produced in compliance with established quality standards. 

• Recommend assistance to contractors to ensure the most economical and appropriate quality material and methods are utilised for electrical installations.

• Plan for health, Safety and environmental management in coordination with the programme and Country Office teams. 

• Ensure UNOPS standards of Health and Safety and environmental management across all project locations are systematically applied at all times. 

• Other tasks as assigned by the Project Manager and Lead Quality Engineer.

Education

• A High school diploma is the minimum requirement for this role. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with 2 years of relevant professional or related field, preferred.

• A Masters  Degree in Engineering, or Project Management or other relevant disciplines is preferred

Work Experience 

• At least 6 years of experience of electrical servicing and maintenance.

• Knowledge of Local Authorities in Kabul desired (not required)

• Experience in monitoring and evaluation, reporting and coordination in either UN, International NGOs, Public or Private sector organizations is desirable.

• Previous experience in mentoring and training counterparts is desired

Key Competencies

• Proven organisational, negotiation and problem-solving skills

• Excellent computer skills and knowledge of MS Office and a google suite are required.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including patience, diplomacy, willingness to listen and respect colleagues must be capable to work as part of a team.

• Flexible and responsive to emergency situations. 

• Able to work under pressure.

Languages

• Working knowledge of English, both written and spoken. Able to communicate fluently and effectively both verbally and in writing. 

• Ability to speak/read/write Dari and/or Pashto would be advantageous.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.