Main duties and responsibilities

In response to the ongoing war severely affecting cultural heritage sites in Ukraine, the UNESCO Desk in Ukraine is performing damage assessment and urgent interventions at damaged historical and cultural sites. UNESCO seeks a qualified Structural Engineer to contribute to the structural assessment of built cultural heritage, as well as technically advice, oversee and monitor the urgent interventions, ensuring they meet safety standards, align with cultural heritage preservation principles, and adhere to both Ukrainian relevant regulations, UNESCO’s rules and procedures, and standards. This role is critical in safeguarding Ukraine’s cultural landmarks meaningful for communities and supporting sustainable, resilient preservation and recovery efforts.
The Structural Engineer will oversee structural assessment, repair, and stabilization of cultural heritage sites, providing technical guidance to the Project Officer at the UNESCO Antenna in Ukraine throughout the project implementation. This includes managing contractor performance, monitoring compliance with national and international standards, and ensuring work quality through all phases.

The Structural Engineer will carry out the following responsibilities:

• Conduct, or supervise the conduction by external experts of thorough assessments of structural damage at designated sites, documenting findings, and providing technical recommendations for urgent repairs.
• Support the development of the annual work plan for repair/stabilization and restoration activities at cultural heritage sites and historic monuments, including defining performance measurements aligned with cultural preservation goals.
• Monitor progress to ensure that results align with the project schedule, performance standards, and UNESCO’s standards for heritage preservation.
• Provide technical support to the project management of the CLT team in Kyiv and HQ. This includes preparing in project proposals, planning, and preparing relevant Terms of Reference.
• Attend technical cooperation meetings, prepare presentations on project progress, and address technical obstacles that impact cultural preservation standards.
• Draft the scope of works and provide technical specification for repair/stabilization/restoration and construction works based on programme requirements, budget, site limitations, and heritage considerations, defining deliverables and payment modalities.
• Apply UNESCO, international, and national norms and standards to restoration projects, factoring in the preservation of cultural and heritage authenticity and integrity, eco-efficiency, and the use of locally available materials.
• Review technical documents related to restoration and construction (e.g., design drawings, technical specifications, and Bills of Quantities) to ensure clarity, completeness, and compliance with programmatic needs, eco-efficiency, and accessibility requirements.
• Conduct market surveys to evaluate the availability and pricing of heritage appropriate materials and qualified contractors.
• Collaborate with design firms and governmental entities to ensure all necessary permits for work on cultural heritage sites are secured prior to commencing any works.
• Prepare tender documents related to repair/stabilization/restoration works and engineering services; participate in bidders’ conferences, present the technical components of the tender, and draft responses to technical questions from bidders.

• Participate in kick-off meetings with construction companies, engineering firms, and relevant governmental counterparts, ensuring that safety and cultural preservation measures are in place throughout the project duration.
• Closely monitor repairs/stabilization/restoration and construction activities through regular site visits and technical meetings, documenting each project phase before, during, and after work completion to ensure cultural integrity.
• Use effective monitoring tools to assess work quality, project progress, and the performance of engineering firms and construction companies, ensuring they meet the specific standards required for cultural heritage sites and historic monuments.
• Participate in partial, substantial, and final inspections of completed works, verifying that any identified defects are corrected during the Defects Liability Period (DLP), and prepare and issue relevant completion certificates.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Academic qualifications
• Advanced university degree (PhD, master’s degree or equivalent) in civil engineering, construction engineering, architecture or other relevant area, with training in heritage conservation preferred.

Years of Relevant Work Experience
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant extensive work experience in programme planning, implementation, monitoring, site supervision, and quality assurance.
• A minimum 10 years of professional experience in the field of architectural design, structural engineering, repair, construction and/or reconstruction of buildings and structures with particular focus cultural heritage restoration/conservation.
• Extensive experience in the project management within the repair works, stabilization and reconstruction.
• Experience in team leading and planning.
• Familiarity/direct work with donor organizations in the context of project planning and implementation.
• Proven experience in the successful development and implementation of the reconstruction/rehabilitation/stabilization component of a national and/or regional project in cultural heritage.
• Knowledge of project management processes and experience in planning and controlling project costs.

Skills Required, Including Language Skills
• Ability to manage information objectively, accurately, and confidentially.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work schedules and priorities according to workload, emergencies, and deadlines.
• Ability to design, work and execute tasks independently with thoroughness, care, and method.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a team and in a multicultural environment.
• Communication skills and ability to interact with recipients/clients and other project stakeholders.
• Very good IT skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Intranet, Internet, etc.).
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Systematic approach to planning and controlling costs and budgets.
• Ability to work in a team and achieve common goals.
• High level of responsibility and adherence to deadlines and standards.
• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English and Ukrainian.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Work experience in supervising work of technical consultants.
• Understanding of national construction norms and standards for cultural heritage and UNESCO heritage conservation protocols and standards.
• Relevant professional experience in UN System or at the international level.
• Professional qualification in CC3.

REMUNERATION

• The monthly starting base salary for this post is 4.542 USD, excluding medical and pension coverage (up to 15% from the base salary) and danger allowance.
• The remuneration paid is not exempt from any income tax which may be levied by the tax authorities in the country where work is performed or any other tax authorities.