Job Highlight

Drive high-quality infrastructure delivery by providing technical expertise, supervising work, and ensuring compliance with design and safety standards.

About The Project Office

UNOPS has supported Papua New Guinea (PNG) since 2016, initially partnering with the Global Fund to strengthen public health services. In 2020, a dedicated country office was established to manage UNOPS’ growing portfolio, which spans infrastructure, procurement, and project management. UNOPS currently works with the Government of PNG, the World Bank, the European Union, and the Governments of Australia and New Zealand on initiatives in health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and sustainable energy, supporting the country’s development priorities through tailored, results-driven solutions.

Role Purpose

The Civil Engineer plays a vital role in the day-to-day operations and successful delivery of infrastructure projects within defined time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefit parameters.

Working closely with the Project Manager and project teams, the Civil Engineer performs a broad range of tasks, including assisting in project assessments, preparing bills of quantity (BoQS) and bid documents, supervising works on-site, and conducting technical evaluations to ensure compliance with design standards, quality assurance, occupational health and safety, and environmental management requirements.

The incumbent provides technical expertise, promoting best practices in construction management and ensuring high standards of consistency and quality in project outputs. Through these responsibilities, the Civil Engineer contributes to the achievement of organizational performance goals and overall project success.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Project Planning and Implementation

Support the preparation of project implementation plans, BoQs, cost estimates and schedules.
Provide technical input during feasibility studies, needs assessments, and design development.
Assist in the preparation of tender documents, bid evaluations, and contract award documentation.
Ensure compliance with technical specifications, contractual provisions, and organizational standards throughout project execution.

Construction and Supervision and Quality Assurance

Supervise day-to-day construction activities to ensure timely, cost-effective and high-quality delivery.
Verify material quantities, monitor site activities, and ensure health, safety, social and environmental (HSSE) compliance on all work sites.
Oversee contractor performance, including site safety, environmental standards, and quality control.
Liaise with contractors, consultants and engineering teams to resolve technical issues and support effective construction management.

Monitoring, Reporting and Compliance

Monitor progress against key performance indicators (KPIs) and project success criteria. Contribute data and analysis for reporting.
Prepare and submit progress reports, site monitoring documentation, and handover/close-out reports.
Ensure compliance with organizational systems, reporting requirements, and accountability standards.
Identify risks and issues, recommend corrective actions, and track remedial measures to maintain delivery within scope, budget and schedule.

Stakeholder Coordination

Collaborate with project managers, procurement teams, and other stakeholders to facilitate smooth project implementation.
Represent UNOPS in field activities, stakeholder meetings, and technical fora as directed/authorized.
Support engagement with local authorities, contractors, and beneficiaries to strengthen coordination and project ownership.

Knowledge Building and Sharing

Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on civil engineering project topics.
Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned.
Conduct research on civil engineering project-related topics and contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries and briefing notes.

Education Requirements

Required

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Structural Engineering or related fields with 4 years of relevant experience OR
Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 2 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

A recognized professional certification or membership in a civil engineering association, at the national or international level, is desirable.

Required

Experience Requirements

Relevant experience is work in civil engineering, structural works, construction technology, construction supervision and monitoring, or related areas.

Desired

Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

UNOPS

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