UNICEF Sierra Leone

Terms of Reference Construction Manager

Title: ConstructionManager

Duration:364 days

Level:L3/L4

Type of Contract:TA

Duty Station:Freetown

Supervisor:Chief of CSD

Background

The declaration of Free Health Care (FHC) for Under 5, Pregnant and Lactating Women has exposed serious short fall in all aspects of Sierra Leone Health Sector. The Free Health Care Initiative (FHC-I) was launched on 27th April, 2010 by His Excellency the President of Sierra Leone. Reports from 1,200 Public Health Units (PHU) indicate a more than 70% increase in utilization of health services.

The MOHS, in collaboration with UNICEF and with other partners is making efforts to upgrade the 12 district hospitals to provide Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC). The maternities in the district hospitals are the most important referral point for pregnant women who need advanced lifesaving services that are not available at health clinic level, including caesarian sections and blood transfusions. The MoHS is also making efforts to refurbish and upgrade at least five PHUs in each district to provide Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC) services.

This implies the rehabilitation and construction of infrastructure, the provision of equipment and essential medicines, establishment of blood banks in the district hospitals as well as capacity building for health personnel.

In support of the MOHS effort to improve the health facilities infrastructure, UNICEF has supported during the past 3 years the construction of maternity/ pediatric hospitals in Kono, Koinadugu, Kenema and Pujehun districts. The hospitals were equipped with antenatal, postnatal and post-operative wards, operating theatres, laboratories and pharmacies. Currently, UNICEF is supporting the construction of maternity/ pediatric hospitals in Kailahun and the construction of three pediatric hospitals in Kono, Moyamba and Tonkolili districts.

UNICEF Sierra Leone, the MoHS arecurrently in the process of planning the construction /rehabilitation of the following health facilities;

Construction of the Kailahun maternity/pediatric hospital complex.

Rehabilitation of 13 District MCH Aides schools.

Construction/rehabilitation ofBEmONC and CEmONC facilities, DistrictMedical Stores and Hospital storage facilities (exact number of the facilities to be determined after an initial mapping).

Construction of WASH facilities in 6 districts.

Purpose of the assignment

Due to the needs to ensure quality and timely completion of projects/activities in accordance with the set standards; UNICEF seeks to recruita construction manager. The incumbent shall be responsible to ensure the successful launching of the construction according to UNICEF policies and procedures, the quality and timeliness of the ongoing work and the completion of the construction/rehabilitation work, providing high quality technical guidance and overseeing the complete scope of work to be carried out by the construction firms and implementing partners.

The constructionmanager will review and approve, in collaboration with the UNICEF Procurement Unit and the MOHSthe designing and the BoQs of the facilities to be constructed/rehabilitated. The consultant will also be expected to conduct field missions to comprehensively monitor, verify and certify the ongoing work against the assigned scope of work and in collaboration with the MoHSarchitectural unit certify completion and payment certificates. The consultant will verify completed rehabilitated/construction work and identify and follow up action points resulting from such validation.

Main Duties/ Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of CSD and in close collaboration with the Procurement and Supply Manager,the key responsibilities of the incumbent include but are not limited to the following:

Responsible for the overall coordination of all construction projects with special focus on project and contract management.

Manage allocated resources at all levels during the construction period.

Managing and supervising responsible partner in charge of quality assurance.

Ensure effective coordination and technical backstopping for the implementation of the UNICEF supported construction in health facilities, MoHS training institutions and schools.

Supervise and provide input to responsible partner in charge of developing drawings, specifications, structural calculations, cost estimates, etc.

Undertake regular inspections of sites where sub-projects are being implemented. Communicate with local counterparts authorities on project feasibility and effectiveness.

Identify obstacles hindering implementation and make concrete recommendation for their resolution.

Act as advisor to the UNICEF Procurement Unit and CRC in the selection of local technical partners and contractors.

Advise and keep the - Ministry of health and sanitation and relevant local council representatives updated on the progress of the tendering activities carried out by UNICEF for construction contractsand to ensure they are in line with UNICEFprocedures.

On an ongoing basis, evaluate technical progress of sub-projects; identify any obstacles hindering implementation and make recommendations for correction.

Produce narrative reports on implementation progress for use as inputs into donor reportsand disseminated to MOHS and Local councils.

For each construction project, the incumbent will carry out the following tasks:

Draft TOR’s for the selection of design and supervision companies.

Prepare all relevant bidding documents,inclusive ofdrawings, specifications, etc, to be presented to the Ministry’s for approval.

Act as advisor to the UNICEF Procurement Unit during the bidding process.

Monitor site follow up by the supervision company in order to ensure compliance to agreed TOR’s.

Monitor payments of contractors and companies in order to ensure compliance to agreed payment terms.

Monitor progress of works against agreed timelines.

Submit monthly progress reports on the prescribed format with adequate photographs as an integral part of any submitted reports with the purpose of illustrating progress, impact, elements requiring particular attention and action. Photographs shall also be captured and submitted as frequent as the field visits.

Organize periodic meetings with the MOHS, UNICEF andother stakeholders (to be determined for each construction work).

Any other task related to UNICEF construction support in Sierra Leone.

Supervision, Feedback and Reporting

The incumbent will be based in the CSD section inFreetown, under the direct supervision of the CSD Chief and will work in close collaboration with the Procurement and Supply Manager.

The incumbent will work in close daily cooperation with the relevant Programme Specialists and the Ministries’ architectural unit. The position based in Freetown, with frequent travel in the country. The incumbent will supervise one staff, a long term consultant recruited at NOB level in the section.

Key qualifications and required skills:

Education:

Advanced university degree in civil engineering/construction, with extensive experience in the design and supervision of infrastructure construction works.

Work Experience:

  • Eightyears of professional work experience in construction with a focus on design, standardization and monitoring, withthree yearsminimum in the context of a developingcountry.
  • Knowledge of International and local standards related to infrastructure, structural and civil engineering.
  • Excellent working knowledge of computers packages includingAutocad software.
  • Ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form and to produce reports in a timely manner.
  • Ability to work independently as well as with a team in an international, multicultural and interdisciplinary environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.
  • Excellent oral and writing skills in English.