Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. With presently 194 member states, and working in more than 130 countries worldwide, including Zambia where the Organization has operated since 1978. The main aim of the FAO country office, which is headed by the FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The support is based on the guidelines as provided by the Country Programming Framework (CPF). The current Zambia CPF has four priority areas: (1) Improve production and productivity of crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry; (2) Sustainable management of the natural resource base and Increasing Resilience and Uptake of Climate Smart Agriculture; (3) Enhance food security and nutrition status; and (4) Improved market access and sanitary measures. The incumbent’s tasks will mainly contribute to the first priority area.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through its Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) is implementing a new project titled “Zambia Multisectoral Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project (ZaMPPR).” This project is being funded through the World Bank under the Pandemic Fund. The project focuses on fortifying the nation’s readiness and response capabilities concerning public health threats and challenges.

The Zambia Multisectoral Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project (ZaMPPR) supports the rehabilitation and upgrading of essential infrastructure to strengthen national preparedness and response capacity. Project activities include rehabilitation of laboratories and associated infrastructure across multiple sites, requiring coordinated engineering, design review, procurement support, construction supervision, and contract management in compliance with FAO technical standards, Environmental, Social, Safety and Health (ESSH) requirements, and applicable contractual frameworks.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will report to the FAO Representative and will be under the direct supervision of the Pillar Lead for Enhancing Fisheries and Livestock Health, production and Market Competitiveness and FAO-SFS Livestock Development Officer – the Lead Technical Officer for the Pandemic Fund project.

Technical Focus

He/she will play a pivotal role to provide strategic and technical advice, guidance and support to ZaMPPR implementation in the country office, seeking synergy and complementarity with ongoing FAO One Health programmes and investments as well as ensuring alignment with relevant national frameworks and FAO’s corporate strategies and frameworks.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Plan and coordinate technical workplans, site visits, meetings, and workshops.
•    Conduct multidisciplinary condition assessments in accordance with FAO construction requirements.
•    Identify technical, ESSH, administrative, and operational risks and propose mitigation measures.
•    Prepare rehabilitation scope recommendations and implementation plans.
•    Maintain accurate project documentation, correspondence, and financial records in line with FAO procedures.

Design Review

•    Review architectural, civil/structural, electrical, and mechanical designs.
•    Ensure constructability, BOQ alignment, and compliance with FAO standards and good engineering practice.
•    Review and validate outputs from recognized engineering design and CAD software

Specifications, BOQs and Procurement Support

•    Review technical specifications and Bills of Quantities (BOQs) for accuracy and completeness.
•    Provide technical inputs to bid evaluations and procurement processes.
•    Support contract and asset management by tracking milestones, deliverables, and project assets.
•    Monitor payment processes and support transparent and auditable financial documentation.

Stakeholder Coordination

•    Coordinate with end-users, contractors, consultants, and relevant authorities to support effective project implementation.
•    Organize project meetings, prepare minutes, track action points, and report on progress.
•    Support effective communication among all project stakeholders.

Construction Supervision and Contract Management

•    Support Engineer/Employer’s Representative functions in accordance with FAO procedures and FIDIC conditions of contract.
•    Review contractor programmes, method statements, and technical submissions.
•    Monitor construction progress, quality, and compliance through regular site inspections.
•    Ensure enforcement of ESSH and site safety requirements and support resolution of technical and operational issues.

Payments, Completion and Close-Out

•    Verify quantities and support certification of Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs).
•    Review variation orders and cost claims for technical accuracy and value for money.
•    Witness testing and commissioning activities.
•    Support practical completion, defects rectification, and final project close-out.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in Engineering (Civil, Structural, Electrical, Mechanical, or related discipline).
•    At least eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in infrastructure rehabilitation, building construction, site supervision, or construction/project management.
•    Working knowledge of English
•    National of Zambia

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional skills

•    Proven skills in problem solving, relationship management,
•    Experience with a UN Agency is an added advantage
•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work
•    Attention to detail and problem-solving skills
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills
•    Strong organizational and planning skills and commitment to discretion and confidentiality
•    Familiarity with UN human resource administrative procedures and systems
•    Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

Selection Criteria

•    Demonstrated experience in engineering design and design review, construction supervision, and contract management.
•    Working knowledge of FIDIC conditions of contract and ESSH implementation in construction projects.
•    Experience in quality control, monitoring, and reporting within construction projects.
•    Proficiency in MS Office, G-Suite, and web-based project management and collaboration tools.
•    Speaking fluency in two or more of the seven Zambian major languages, will be an added advantage.