395 - Agriculture Specialis - Ramallah

Application Type : External Vacancy
Job ID/Title : 395 - Agriculture Specialis
Category : Other
Brand : UNDP
Post Level : SB4/1
Application Deadline : 02-Feb-11
Duty Station : Ramallah
Type of Contract : Service Contract
Post Number :
(for 100 Series Contracts)
Languages Required :
Arabic, English,
Starting Date :
(date when the selected canditate is expected to start)
Duration of Initial Contract : 6 months renewable
Expected Duration of Assignment : three years
Background:
The United Nations Development Programme / Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP) in cooperation with MoA is seeking to recruit a competent agriculture specialist/engineer for land reclamation, irrigation Systems andWater resources development in the West Bank.The agricultural portfolio  aims to enhance land use and accessibility to irrigation waterthrough developing and upgrading of related systems and natural resources.
Under the general supervision of the Poverty Team leader and the specific supervision and guidance of the Project manager, the agriculture specialist/engineer will carry out technical responsibilities for the execution of the overall project activities, The specialist will ensure high quality standards of implementation in full transparency to achieve all project goals and objectives, and will conduct daily supervision tasks of the activities for land development and the  upgrading and developing the irrigation systems in target area.
Description of Responsibilities:
-        Review designs of the construction activities, and bring to the attention of the Project Manager any issues that might affect the technical soundness of the works; check and review the shop drawings as submitted by the contractor.
-        Provide daily supervision tasks of the construction activities to ensure that works are implemented in accordance with the designs and technical specifications.
-        Supervise contractors performance in all matters related to safety and workmanship at the project site.
-        Closely monitor the progress of the construction works and ensure compliance with the construction schedules and, where needed, bring to the attention of the Project Manager, and the contractor any delays in the schedule. 
-        Measure and accurately record the quantities of the executed works, and check interim payment requests submitted by the contractor for completed works.
-        Assist the Project Manager in conducting regular assessment of contract quantities to ensure they do not exceed allocated contract amounts.
-        Verify the contractor’s material and equipment submittals versus the specified ones, and provide feedback to the Project Manager with all information’s necessary for the approval of material and equipment submissions.
-        Request regular testing of different material used in the construction works.
-        Participate in regular site coordination meetings with all technical project personnel, counterpart engineers, contractors, and suppliers to discuss project matters, and prepare the minutes of such meetings ;
-        Verify and record the daily site reports submitted by contractors, and prepare monthly progress reports for the construction activities in line with the projects planning, reporting and monitoring guidelines and the requirements of the project document.
-        Issue site instruction memos to contractors for any technical matter related to the construction works or to any matter related to the safety of the works or personnel at the project site.
-        Ensure proper filing on site for all correspondence, minutes of sites meetings, equipment and material submissions, site instructions, information and drawings issued subsequent to the start of the contract, as well as clarifications and interpretations of the contract documents, progress reports and any other related documents.
-        Assist the Project Manager in the review and evaluation of suggestions made by contractors for modifications to the drawings or specifications.
-        Participate in the committee for final inspection and handover of the construction works.
-        Assists in the performance testing and commissioning of equipment.
-        Review and checking the as-built drawings for the completed works.
-        Enhance the management structures and help to improve /establish communication and coordination mechanisms and procedures among the various stakeholders.
-        Ensure the achievement of outputs in line with the approved work plan through the day-to-day planning, management coordination and implementation of activities.
-        Assist in implementing the project activities in accordance with the objectives and outputs and ensure the implementation of all components as per the UNDP/ PAPP guidelines and standards.
-        Participate efficiently and transparently in the process of selecting and evaluating beneficiaries’ applications, technical evaluation of the target areas and cost estimates of many activities (taking into consideration implementing all the project socioeconomic and technical criteria and relying on UNDP/PAPP’s accumulated experience in implementing projects).
-        Monitor all aspects of project implementation and its progress and undertake periodic field visits to project sites to identify and analyze and resolve technical, operational and financial issues.
-        Maintain close cooperation and coordination with other implementing agencies in target locations.
-        Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the Team leader for Poverty Reduction and the Project Management.
             Impact of Results
 
The key results of the post strengthen UNDP/PAPP’s contribution to enhance agricultural land use and irrigation schemes in the West Bank
Competencies :
Corporate Competencies:
-         Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.
-         Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability. 
-         Treats all people fairly without favoritism
Functional Competencies:
 
Development and Operational Effectiveness
-         Experienced in Agriculture/water sector;
-         Experienced in Land Development and land reclamation
-         Knowledgeable in water wells upgrading works acquired by practice based on previous experience.
-         Experienced in managing civil works contracts and NGO execution modality.
-         Competent in supervision, contractual management, resolving site problems, quality maintenance, quality assurance, progress monitoring, communication and documentation.
-         Able to plan, organizes, coordinate, and report on agricultural infrastructure initiatives.
-          Competence in feasibility assessment and costing;
-         A Strong communication and interpersonal, analysis, and planning skills;
-          Ability and readiness to work in hardship duty stations, with very limited infrastructural facilities, is a must
-         Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and development monitoring in particular.
-         Knowledge of current development issues particularly those pertinent to UNDP’s Practice Areas. 
-         Ability to conceptualize issues and analyze data.
-         Ability to coordinate the work of others.
-         Ability to implement new systems, and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change
 
Knowledge Management and Learning
-         Shares knowledge and experience
-         Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Qualifications :
Education:
-      Bachelor degree from an accredited university in Agriculture or any field relevant to the work profile.
-      Good command of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point)
 
Experience:
-      Minimum 6 years practical experience on projects of similar nature.
-      Experience with UN Agencies is an asset
-      Knowledge of UNDP’s rules, regulations, and procedures is an asset
 
Language Requirements:
-      Excellent command of Arabic Language for professional report and correspondence writing
-      Very Good knowledge of English language to analyze reports and technical specifications

“UNDP/PAPP is an equal opportunity employer: applications from men and women will be considered equally”

Important message to all applicants!

• Please be aware that the UNDP/PAPP will review your application only if you have uploaded Personal History Form (P.11) to your application. Please download the form from the following link: http://jobs.undp.ps.

• You will get the opportunity to upload the P-11 at when you apply for the position.

• Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Please note that only applications that are under consideration will be contacted. 

• For more detailed information about UNDP/PAPP please visit our website at www.undp.ps.