Background Information - Job-specific

 
Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KEMCO sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and South Africa. This includes primarily transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies, UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple ‘operational’ projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and several island states.

KEMC has its own Technical and Design Services Unit (TSU) which comprises a core group of technical staff supplemented by experts employed on a retainer basis.  The group conducts feasibility studies and assessments and engages in design and monitoring work.  The core group’s skills include Civil, Structural, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Architects, Design Associates and Quantity Surveyors.  Senior Civil Engineer-Retainer will provide additional capacity in core disciplines as well as GIS and sector specific expertise (roads, healthcare, heritage etc).

UNOPS undertakes a number of infrastructure projects in the Africa region.  The purpose of this role would be to provide hydrological inputs where required, including undertaking hydrological studies to determine design flows as input to design of drainage networks and structures such as roads, dams and bridges.  S/he will be expected to use specialist computer modelling and statistical applications and techniques to compute run offs and forecast peak flow so that structures can be adequately sized.

The consultant will be prepared to travel to any site in or around the countries under KEMC as required and as UNDSS permits (including but not limited to Kenya, Angola, Botswana, Eritrea, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe).

Functional Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the TSU Manager, the  Hydrology Specialist -Retainer will be responsible for the following substantive tasks. The tasks would involve  but not limited to:

Analytical and technical tasks:

• Analyse catchments, rainfall data, flood estimations, and other hydraulic and hydrological data to inform outputs for designers
• Conduct field visits to sites, where applicable
• Carry out inventory and condition surveys of existing drainage structures
• Compile reports on hydrological impacts
• Prepare drawings and maps
• Handle additional assignments as directed by Project Managers;
• Respond to comments from stakeholders, including UNOPS design review team

Capacity Building;
 

• Provide technical support to projects as required;
• Carry out training and capacity building on hydrology tools and frameworks, especially for new staff in the UNOPS Offices, governments and other potential implementing partners

Impact of Results 

• High quality analysis and reporting 

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in hydrology, geography, civil engineering, environmental science or related areas is required.
• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent in hydrology, geography, civil engineering, environmental science or related area is an added advantage

Experience

• Minimum 7 years of demonstrable relevant experience in design and analysis of waterways, drainage structures and hydrology is required
• Minimum of 2 years work experience in Africa is required
• Candidates with experience working on rural infrastructure projects will be preferred.

Languages

Fluency in written and oral English language required.