Job Highlight
The Quantity Surveyor (retainer) shall be called on on an ad-hoc basis to support various projects in assessments by providing a mix of costing, market intelligence and production of bills of quantity.
About The Project Office
The Technical Services Unit (TSU) engages in multidisciplinary design, assessments and advisory work, and manages relationships with other technical stakeholders such as specialist design firms for high-risk structures.
The Technical Services Unit office is based in Nairobi, and personnel may be required to travel extensively to other UNOPS locations.
The Technical Services Unit (TSU) currently provides design services for infrastructure works to Project Managers. Recently, the team has expanded its offering to include consulting services such as assessments, feasibility studies and advisory services on a wide range of infrastructure types.
The TSU currently has 19 permanent and 80+ retainer personnel, including architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, quantity surveyors, GIS and specialist infrastructure advisors (for dams, ICT, safeguards, biomedical work, inter alia) and CAD technicians, as well as support personnel. Current projects are underway / imminent in Kenya, Somalia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Zambia, Mozambique and Nigeria. In addition, the unit supports a range of projects outside Africa, for example, in Haiti, Ukraine, and Papua New Guinea.
The TSU is a business unit of the Multi-Country Office and operates under the direction of the Director for the East and Southern Africa Office (ESAMCO). TSU has recently been tasked with securing personnel to support the important work of the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund, a project of UNOPS.
About The Group
The Quantity Surveyor (retainer) shall be called on on an ad-hoc basis to support various projects in assessments by providing a mix of costing, market intelligence and production of bills of quantity.
Role Purpose
Under the overall supervision of the TSU Quantity Surveyor, the Quantity Surveyor will give his/her technical expertise as required to provide input to bills of quantities, estimates, local insights and evaluations for infrastructure works, conduct assessments and or monitor site works, evaluate variations and provide high-quality related documentation.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for the following substantive tasks. The tasks would involve the following, but not limited to:
- Work closely with Architects, Engineers, Draftsmen and other professionals in the Planning of projects, scheduling of tasks and developing integrated design documentation.
- Responsible for the timely preparation and review of the BoQs, specifications and related documents and ensuring they meet the quality standard requirements.
- Responsible for the preparation of preliminary cost estimates for project proposals
- Responsible for the preparation of the engineer’s estimates and will be responsible for withholding this from contractors to avoid collusion.
- Providing advice during the post-tender and construction stage when requested by the Client.
- Carrying out site inspections and assessments as needed and preparing subsequent reports.
- Carrying out valuations of works and preparing subsequent reports.
- Carrying out any relevant administrative and operational efforts of the project as requested by the Unit Manager.
- Responsible for carrying out financial evaluations of tenders.
- Responsible for developing the unit rate systems for the project area. He/she shall maintain a register of unit rates of materials and labour for the preparation of cost estimates.
- Actively engage in knowledge sharing and improving professional skills.
An agreed task order including the scope, deliverables and the maximum time duration will be agreed upon by the Technical Services Unit and the Quantity Surveyor prior to commencement of each and every assignment. He/she is responsible for ensuring timeous delivery of services as defined in the task order.
Required
Education Requirements
- A bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying / Building Economics from an accredited university with related fields, with 4 years of relevant experience or other related field, is required.
Required
Experience Requirements
- At least a minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience is required.
- A minimum of 4 years of experience in QS Software, as well as (Google Workspace or MS Office), is required
Desired
- Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
- Previous experience in sanitation and hygiene projects will be an added advantage.
- Previous experience in developing countries and knowledge in the East African context an asset
- Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.
- Experience in project documentation, report writing and technical communication is desired.
