Lead Electrical Engineer

The purpose of the REACT project is to support Peacekeeping operations in their efforts to manage and improve their environmental footprint. Peacekeeping operations are international missions mandated by the UN Security Council to operate in specific countries and parts of countries for specific periods. The operations usually take place in locations with a fragile environment and a serious lack of infrastructure. The environmental footprint of UN Peacekeeping Operations is considered to have significant room for improvement in a large number of critical areas.

To support Peacekeeping Operations in reducing their environmental impacts and risks, REACT acts in the role of a technical assistance (TA) team and provides expertise to support in planning, designing and implementing a range of actions that will cumulatively result in a substantial improvement in environmental performance.

The technical assistance team will primarily provide expertise directly to Peacekeeping Operations but also strategic support to DOS Environment and Engineering teams in New York and the Global Support Centre based in Brindisi, Italy. Activities will be closely coordinated amongst these respective entities via existing work planning and request for deployment processes, principally under the guidance of the GSC Environmental Technical Support Unit.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the REACT Environment Management System – Project Specialist, and in line with the established United Nations Rules and Procedures, the incumbent is responsible for supporting the implementation of the Environment Strategy for Peace Operations – Energy Pillar and activities pertaining to technical assistance. In fulfilling some of the duties and responsibilities, the incumbent will be required to travel frequently to remote locations in field missions for site assessments.

Within delegated authority, the Lead Electrical Engineer will be responsible for the following duties:

Stakeholder engagement:

• Lead engagement with peacekeeping counterparts and other project stakeholders, in pre- and post- visit VTCs and in opening and closing visit meetings when in the field. This may include senior leadership.

• Articulate in both written and verbal form, key findings, issues and opportunities with peacekeeping counterparts and other project stakeholders and contribute to the technical solutions to reach mutually satisfactory approaches to problems.

Planning and design:

• Carry out technical assessments of existing energy infrastructure, including via site visits.

• Prepare analysis and provide input to the development of project proposals that address technical feasibility and cost benefit considerations.

• Apply commonly used engineering calculations, practices and precedents for projects related to design, construction, upgrade, or repair of energy infrastructure.

• Prepare technical specifications, bills of quantity and cost estimates.

• Provide on request cost estimates for mission budgets and acquisition plans.

Solicitation:

• Collect input and prepare technical specifications, for bidding packages.

Project implementation:

• Monitor the activities concerning planning and scheduling of projects for construction, installation and upgrade of energy infrastructure, and associated works (e.g. groundworks, distribution networks).

• Monitor the overall progress of energy initiatives across the peacekeeping missions through analysis of available data on the sourcing, deployment and commissioning of infrastructure.

• Prepare Checkpoint Reports and Progress Reports to be shared with relevant internal and external stakeholders as required. .