Overview
The Construction Officer will support quality assurance for WASH construction works and ensure compliance with national construction standards and government requirements in Kiribati.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate with UNICEF WASH Section and Government/MLPID and island council counterparts to support construction project supervision and management.
- Provide technical assistance to programme sections through involvement in construction project proposals, planning and preparation of relevant terms of reference.
- Develop and produce innovative, cost-effective and climate-resilient construction designs using locally available materials.
- Compile and regularly update a repository of best practices in construction and building design.
- Participate in steering and technical coordination meetings, prepare presentations on project progress, and undertake site visits and follow-up actions.
- Provide the WASH Section with regular information on project quality assurance and progress, and take appropriate actions to address technical issues and constraints.
- Draft relevant sections of project reports, including inputs for management and annual reports.
- Prepare scopes of work based on programme requirements, available budgets and site constraints, and define deliverables and payment modalities.
- Apply UNICEF and Government norms and standards to construction projects, taking into account local environmental conditions and available materials.
- Review and verify construction documentation, including design drawings, technical specifications and bills of quantities.
- Undertake the necessary actions to secure endorsement of technical documents by relevant ministries.
- Follow up with design firms and relevant Government entities to obtain all permits and approvals required prior to commencement of construction works.
- Organise and conduct kick-off meetings with construction contractors, relevant Government counterparts, island councils and community representatives.
- Undertake regular site visits and conduct technical meetings, including joint monitoring with relevant Government technical services, to closely monitor construction activities.
- Track progress against agreed milestones and review site supervision reports to ensure compliance with approved designs, technical specifications, standards and timelines.
- Verify the quality of works and the application of occupational health and safety measures on site.
- Apply appropriate monitoring and supervision tools to assess the quality of works, progress, and performance of engineering firms and construction contractors.
- Certify payments and variations and compile all required supporting documentation.
- Monitor construction expenditures and progress certificates, and maintain updated tracking tables for each construction activity.
- Provide technical support to the UNICEF Contract Administrator on contract management.
- Ensure that all documentation related to contract management is complete, accurate and properly archived.
- Participate in partial, substantial and final handover and acceptance of works.
- Prepare contract performance evaluations, support contract close-out in the financial system, and prepare the final completion report, including lessons learned.
Required Experience
- A minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional experience at the national and/or international level in project management, site supervision, quality assurance and/or other directly related technical fields is required.
- Experience in development and humanitarian programming is required.
- Experience in emergency contexts is an asset.
- Specialised knowledge, experience and familiarity with the Pacific and Kiribati context.
- Demonstrated experience in WASH related construction projects.
- Experience applying climate resilient, eco efficient, or green building standards.
- Experience working in remote, isolated, or island based environments.
Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Civil engineering, construction engineering, architecture or other relevant area(s).
