Result of Service

Below listed are the various multi-faceted renovation, refurbishment and construction projects currently in progress and planned at the United Nations Office at Nairobi for the period of 2025 – 2026 inclusive: • Renovation and refurbishment of the UN Events and Wellness Centre • Renovation and construction of new Loft Office Space on existing blocks M-U • Design and installation of new Modular Meeting Spaces at rooftop levels of New Office Blocks • UNON Service Centre interior fit out, furniture & branding for New Office Blocks With the significant workload of the Section, there is an urgent requirement for a consultant to take on responsibilities for the above mentioned projects coordination and management, ranging from RIBA stage 1 (design) through 5 (construction). The result of service would be the completion of these, and other potentially assigned projects, according to the individually established project scopes, budgets and time schedules.

Work Location

Nairobi

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background: United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) as the UN Headquarters in Africa supports programme implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Resident Coordinator System (RCS), as well as other UN offices in Kenya, by providing administrative, conference and information services (www.unon.org). This consultancy is located within the Facilities Management and Transportation Section (FMTS) of UNON, and reports directly to the Deputy Chief FMTS and indirectly to the Chief, FMTS. With the various multi-faceted renovation, refurbishment and construction projects currently in progress and planned at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), there is an urgent requirement for a consultant with strong architectural skills to take on responsibilities for projects coordination and management. Responsibilities: The Architect/ Projects Coordination & Management will be expected to provide specialist architectural services for projects, which may be structured as either in house designed and managed or outsourced designed and managed. For in house designed and managed projects, the incumbent will be expected to lead on design, coordination and management of assigned projects in line with the RIBA related plan of work stages, working together with the facilities management technical teams. For outsourced designed and managed projects, portions or all of the design, drawings, construction document production, bills of quantities/ specifications and or on-site construction administration may be outsourced to external architectural and engineering services firms. In such cases, the incumbent will be expected to coordinate, manage and oversee these firms in the satisfactory execution of assigned projects in line with the RIBA plan of work stages. In both instances, responsibilities may include but not be limited to: • Assist Section management with inputs of project related contractual, scope, schedule and costs requirements for project budget preparation and client project proposal purposes; • Assist to develop the project brief/ terms of reference in line with Section management, the client and other relevant UNON departments (if decided, prepare the required procurement related documentation for tender for external services firms). Work with Section technical teams to execute detailed condition surveys of building structures, services, interiors, furnishings, fittings and furniture and use as basis for developing project plans. Study architectural solutions to prepare preliminary feasibility studies and design concept options for presentation to Section/ Senior management; • Prepare (or work with externally appointed services firms to) design stage proposal presentations in line with the project briefs provided. Develop a basic cost plan, project program/ schedule and any graphic presentations of the selected design concept (including structure, layout, construction methods, services, finishes) for presentation to Section/ Senior management; • Liaise with other UNON departments, the on-site contracted service providers and as required with related disciplines such as UNON externally appointed services firms, i.e. structural engineering/ cost estimation services and UNON in-house electrical/ mechanical specialists, information technology and security/ safety providers to ensure project proposals are completed to respective international standards and best practice. • Translate (or work with the externally appointed services firms to) design concepts into and prepare technical/ construction drawings including layouts, details and schedules and in conjunction with related disciplines prepare specifications, bills of quantities and cost estimates to a level sufficient for tender and construction purposes; • As necessary, support the tender process, attend bidders conferences, prepare meeting minutes and as part of the UNON committee evaluate bids received; • Plan and program (or work with the externally appointed services firms to) the renovation, refurbishment and construction works to facilitate the smooth running of the project and compliance with project deadlines, liaising with appropriate UNON functions regards relocation, decanting, swing space, disposals, etc. Coordinate works of various in-house contracted services teams in close coordination with UN departments such as Procurement, Facilities Management, Property Management, Budget & Finance, ICT and Safety & Security Sections. Liaise with appointed construction contractors and relevant internal UNON departments regarding site access, security arrangements, personnel and delivery clearances, receiving and inspection; • Monitor the quality of contracted services with respect to established time schedules and executed installations, and supervise works (or work with the externally appointed services firms to) on site to ensure compliance with projects drawings, bills of quantities and specifications and in accordance with international best practice/ respective building codes, UN specific guidelines and to the required standards of workmanship and finish. Undertake inspections, hold and prepare site meeting minutes, issue instructions; • Review (or liaise with the externally appointed services firms to) progress valuations/ interim payments for consultant firms and construction contractors. Ensure adherence to the approved project budget, contractual requirements and change order procedures. Any scope changes to be raised to Section management for approval prior to implementation. Maintain the same for project records including contractual correspondence, site progress reports, change order and other documents, etc. Review, reconcile and conclude on the project final accounts; • Assist to manage and ensure satisfactory close out of the project, including review and compilation of as built drawings, product/ supplier warranties, electrical/ mechanical testing and commissioning certificates, etc. Prepare snag lists, monitor and ensure rectification of any snags or defects in good time. • Work with assigned Section management to ensure UN Gigiri complex buildings and infrastructure assets records are updated to reflect the completed works; • Coordinate training of Section technical teams and contracted maintenance service providers, any maintenance related actions recorded for inclusion in service providers contractual documents; • Any other responsibilities/ tasks, as assigned.

Qualifications/special skills

• Education at the University Degree Level in the field of Architecture, is required. A first-level university degree in the architectural field in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree; • Registration with an architectural professional licensing/ registration body, is desirable • A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience as professional Architect and within the field of professional architectural practice, working on design and construction administration services related to the renovation and refurbishment of existing and or construction of new buildings and infrastructure projects, is required; • Demonstrated practical experience in works of similar scope and capacity within the United Nations system or similar international working environment, is required • Proficiency in use of AutoCAD, REVIT, or similar 3D related modeling software, is required; • Knowledge of/ experience within the facilities management environment, is desirable.

Languages

English and French are working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the consultancy advertised, fluency in English is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.