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General Information

Position Title
Lead Mechanical Engineer
Job Category
Engineer
Duty Station(s)
Home based
Seniority Level
Mid Level
ICS Level
ICS 10
Contract Type
ICA - LICA - Specialist - Retainer
Contract Level
LICA 10
Posting Start Date
10-Feb-2026
Posting End Date
24-Feb-2026
Duration
1 year contract with up to 200 working days

Job Highlight

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the rebuilding of Ukraine's infrastructure and support critical services through the procurement of essential vehicles and machinery. The position offers exposure to large-scale projects funded by international organizations and provides opportunities for professional development in technical expertise and project management.

About the Region

The Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR), based in Geneva, is responsible for the effective management, coordination and oversight of UNOPS operations across the region. The ECR region spans the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Caucasus, and Türkiye, where UNOPS works with partners to achieve sustainable impact in health, education, environmental management, housing, rule of law, good governance, economic development, and social inclusion. With a wealth of experience in procurement, infrastructure, project and grant management, UNOPS in the region directly implements projects, provides technical advisory services and capacity building to advance the Sustainable Development Goals in support of national governments.

About the Group

The UNOPS Ukraine and Eastern Europe MCO (UEMCO) operates in Ukraine, Moldova, and Poland, supporting urgent humanitarian needs while building pathways for recovery and development. In Ukraine, UEMCO delivers large-scale infrastructure, energy, housing, education, and mine action projects in partnership with UN agencies, international financial institutions, the European Union, and bilateral donors. Its agile portfolio responds to fast-evolving needs with strong procurement and implementation capacity. In Moldova, UEMCO supports justice sector reform and is exploring opportunities to expand its role across public sector modernization and infrastructure. In Poland, UEMCO works with government and private sector actors to strengthen ties with UN procurement and contribute to Ukraine’s recovery, leveraging Poland’s EU experience to support Ukraine’s future accession and integration.

Job Specific Context

UNOPS implements projects  which envisage development of technical specifications, procurement and delivery of vehicles and specialized machinery, including but not limited to truck-mounted concrete mixers, emergency repair vehicles, electric vehicles for emergency teams, excavators, cranes, backhoe/telescopic loaders, trucks, buses, vans, minibuses, car trailers, ambulances etc. UNOPS requires the services of a technical expert for these purposes.

Role Purpose

The Lead Mechanical Engineer will provide technical expertise in the procurement of vehicles and specialized machinery, ensuring compliance with technical specifications, quality standards, and regulatory requirements. The role involves analyzing technical documentation, participating in tender evaluations, and resolving quality-related issues to support the successful implementation of UNOPS projects in Ukraine.

Functions / Key Results Expected

1. Technical Analysis and Support

  • Review, assess and analyze the draft technical specifications for equipment that will be used as a baseline for for development of technical specifications
  • Ensure the technical requirements are in line with the relevant Ukrainian and international technical and quality standards.
  • Provide inputs to and refine  technical specifications and sign off on relevant technical specifications in the UNOPS procurement system.
  • Conduct market research for the potential vendors/bidders
  • Advise on the selection criteria for the tendering process and review general part of tender packages and provide recommendations for its improvement, if any
  • Provide suggested responses to bidders’ technical requests for clarifications.


2. Tender Evaluation and Compliance

  • Participate in tender evaluation panels, analyze the technical characteristics of equipment in supplier bid offers, and provide technical compliance evaluations.
  • Provide detailed and specific comments on the reasoning behind finding bids compliant or non-compliant with specifications.


3. Quality Assurance and Issue Resolution

  • Assist the Project Manager(s) with checking the completeness and correctness of technical documentation provided by suppliers at equipment delivery.
  • Perform detailed inspection and quality assurance upon the delivery
  • Provide technical advice to UNOPS on the acceptance of equipment in case of any deficiencies identified upon deliveries.
  • Act as a point of contact for resolving quality-related issues and concerns raised by recipients upon deliveries or during equipment installation, in close cooperation with the Project Manager(s).


4. Information and Knowledge Management

  • Train and educate project personnel on relevant technical quality standards upon request.
  • Promote a culture of quality within the organization.



Skills

Automotive, Automotive Engineering, Machinery, Mechanical Engineering, Quality Control, Technical Documentation, Tender Preparation, Vehicle Maintenance
Strategic Perspective
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.
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 Mechanical Engineering or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience OR

  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required.

Experience Requirements

Required

  • Relevant experience is work in Mechanical Engineering, preparation of technical specifications for the procurement of vehicles and specialized machinery, testing / quality control of vehicles and specialized machinery, evaluating compliance of the equipment with codes, standards, regulations and technical requirements or related areas. 

  • In-depth understanding of the technical characteristics for vehicles and specialized machinery.


Desired

  • Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations or in large-scale projects in a developing country is desired.

  • Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

Language Requirements

LanguageProficiency LevelRequirement
EnglishFluentRequired

Additional Information

  • Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
  • Please note that 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. 
  • Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
  • UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
  • Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
  • We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
 
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.