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General Information

Position Title
Civil Engineer
Job Category
Engineer
Duty Station(s)
Philipsburg
Seniority Level
Associate
ICS Level
ICS 08
Contract Type
ICA - IICA - Regular
Contract Level
IICA 1
Posting Start Date
14-Jul-2026
Posting End Date
02-Aug-2026
Duration
Ongoing, subject to good performance and budget availability.

Job Highlight

Drive high-quality infrastructure delivery by providing technical expertise, supervising works, and ensuring compliance with design and safety standards.

About the Region

In Latin America and the Caribbean, UNOPS operates across 23 countries, delivering high-impact solutions that drive sustainable development. UNOPS focuses on building and improving resilient infrastructure—including roads, bridges, public facilities, sanitation systems, and housing—to enhance quality of life and foster inclusive growth. UNOPS also supports public health by procuring essential medicines and medical equipment, ensuring broader access to healthcare services. By strengthening institutional capacities, UNOPS promotes transparent, efficient, and equitable public management. As a trusted partner to governments and development stakeholders, UNOPS aligns its interventions with national priorities, helping countries advance the Sustainable Development Goals through practical, results-driven support.

About the Country/Multi-Country Office

The Barbados Country Office (CO) functions as a strategic hub to support Caribbean nations in implementing the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), helping regional leaders advance a global agenda on climate justice and financing.  The primary mandate of the Barbados Country Office is to Speed Up and Scale Up engagements across 17 Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), ensuring that partner expectations are met with agility and precision. Through dedicated operational presence, UNOPS Barbados Country Office streamlines complex regional logistics and fosters stronger collaboration with sovereign governments and financial institutions in the Caribbean. The office focuses on delivering high-value solutions aligned with the region’s priorities, including the economy, nature and climate, human capital, infrastructure and capacity development.

Role Purpose

The Civil Engineer manages and supervises infrastructure works carried out by implementing partners and contractors. The role is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day design, construction and procurement activities, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. 

The Civil Engineer embeds best practices in technical design and construction management throughout the project lifecycle from planning to handover, while expected to uphold strict compliance with Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) standards and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) requirements. 

The incumbent also demonstrates strong technical expertise, proactive resource management, and the ability to ensure integrity, transparency and effective stakeholder coordination in all civil engineering activities. 

Functions / Key Results Expected

Project Management and Coordination

  • Plan, supervise and manage the implementation of civil engineering projects from design to completion, ensuring alignment with project requirements, timelines and budgets.
  • Support the Project Manager and technical team in planning, scheduling and implementing rehabilitation, construction, and infrastructure activities.
  • Assist in the preparation of project plans, schedules, and progress reports, and support project closure activities.
  • Liaise with government authorities, beneficiaries and other stakeholders to secure permits, ensure approvals, and maintain strong working relationships.
  • Participate in site meetings, procurement activities, and evaluation committees as needed.


Construction Supervision and Quality Assurance

  • Review and provide inputs on design briefs, technical documentation, bills of quantity (BoQs), and cost estimates to ensure compliance with international standards, UNOPS guidelines and client requirements.
  • Conduct on-site technical assessments and inspections to ensure construction work adheres to UNOPS quality standards and project specifications. 
  • Assist in the review of technical submittals, progress reports, and invoices from consultants and contractors, and recommend payment releases.
  • Monitor performance tracking systems and identify potential delays or cost overruns.
  • Support the valuation of construction work for payment certificates and assessment of claims. 
  • Supervise and monitor contractors’ and implementing partners’ work to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, and timely delivery.
  • Conduct site inspections, testing, verification of quantities, and review of technical submittals (shop drawings, materials, as-built documentation).


HSSE Compliance 

  • Ensure full compliance with UNOPS HSSE policies, environmental safeguards, and PSEAH standards.
  • Identify, assess and mitigate risks related to HSSE and community engagement.
  • Promote sustainability and green construction practices across all project phases.


Monitoring and Reporting

  • Maintain accurate records of site activities, inspections, incidents and progress, ensuring timely submission of reports (weekly/monthly/quarterly). 
  • Support project closure through commissioning, handover and archiving of construction documentation. 
  • Assist in compiling periodic and specific reports, and ensure all project documentation is up-to-date and properly filed.
  • Support the Project Manager in overseeing change controls, risk and issue registers, and ensure timely and accurate reporting on project progress.


Knowledge Building and Sharing

  • Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on civil engineering-related topics.
  • Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned.

Skills

Civil Engineering, Project Engineering, Project Implementation, Project Resource Management, Project Team Management
Respect
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Collaboration
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Partnerships
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Excellence
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Adaptability
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Decision-making
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Communication
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Structural Engineering or related fields with 2 years of relevant experience, OR
  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 0 years of relevant experience is required. 


Desired

  • A recognized professional certification or membership in a civil engineering association, at the national or international level, is desirable.

Experience Requirements

Required

  • Relevant experience is work in civil engineering, structural works, construction technology, construction supervision and monitoring, or related areas.


Desired

  • Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
  • Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

Language Requirements

LanguageProficiency LevelRequirement
EnglishFluentRequired

Additional Information

  • UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
  • UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
  • Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
  • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
  • UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
  • UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
  • We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
  • UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
 
Terms and Conditions
 
  • For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
  • For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
  • For more details about the contract types, please click here.
  • All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
  • It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.