Associate Architect

Deadline to apply is 23 September 2025

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organisations.

UNOPS Pakistan (Project Office) is part of the Sri Lanka Multi Country Office in the Asia Region. UNOPS commenced operations in Pakistan in 1999 and significantly upscaled activities from 2005 onwards to support populations affected by and vulnerable to earthquakes. In 2010, UNOPS opened a permanent office in Islamabad to support the Government of Pakistan and other partners to undertake humanitarian and reconstruction services, following the most devastating floods in the nation's history.

UNOPS Pakistan has been implementing projects in the areas of early recovery and reconstruction of community infrastructure, project management, monitoring and evaluation, community development, fund management, human resources management, procurement, and infrastructure design and implementation. Supported strategically by a regional operational hub and UNOPS headquarters in Copenhagen and within the overarching framework of the ONE UN Programme, UNOPS Pakistan continues to deliver projects across the country under its core delivery practices of sustainable infrastructure, sustainable procurement, and sustainable project management.

With a steady growth of the project portfolio in recent years and a new strategic direction, UNOPS Pakistan is looking to strengthen the relationships with existing partners as well as build new alliances and diversify the portfolio of work, in line with UNOPS strategic and Asia regional objectives.

The primary role of Associate Architect is to provide support to new and ongoing infrastructure initiatives and provide project management support to projects and ensure all UNOPS procedures are implemented.

The functions and services of the Associate Architect include:

• Project Management: Assist in project management activities and ensure the project dashboard is updated
• Design Management: Prepare concept designs and develop architectural layouts that align with project requirements and stakeholder expectations.
• Lesson Learned Management: Ensure lessons learned are updated in the projects

Functional Responsibilities:

• Summary of functions
• Design development and Planning
• Quality assurance
• Knowledge management and innovation

Reporting to the PMO Specialist, the Associate Architect is expected to support the implementation of the project activities through the provision of technical expertise and the application of best practices in the project implementation.

1. Support to design management: Assist the project team in preparation of the Scope of Services for design services contracts.
2. Support to design management: Provide support with evaluation of the receipt bids for Design Services.
3. Support to design management: Support in writing Design Briefs for all planned infrastructure designs including: conceptual designs, detailed design, technical specifications, quality standards, bill of quantities, health and safety measures, timeframes and strategies for execution, inclusive of gender considerations, people with disabilities and sustainability criteria.
4. Support to design management: Ensure that approved concepts and detailed designs are complete and to the UNOPS Design Review standard.
5. Support to design management: For all certified detailed designs support activities that relate to the preparation, finalization and completion of the tender documents, including: Scope of Works (SoW), site information, budget, technical specifications, schedules, Bill of Quantities (BoQ), calculations and construction drawings.

1. Support to construction management/supervision: Support monitoring of the assigned projects to ensure construction works are completed on time and to quality standards as per the contract and project design documentation.
2. Support to construction management/supervision: Support the implementation of quality controls (QC) and quality assurance (QA) procedures, to ensure all infrastructure projects are correctly initiated, managed, monitored, reported and closed in accordance with UNOPS policies and procedures;
3. Support to construction management/supervision: Oversee dimensional control and site surveying works, engineering control of the works etc.

1. Support to technical documentation: Assist on design management process for the office infrastructure projects for office by ensuring that the project design documentation and design reviews are completed accordingly, efficiently and in timely manner
2. Support to technical documentation: Coordinate and assist input to the work of the Design Consultant in design development and documentation as well as the associated Design Review process and certification to obtain the UNOPS Design Review Certificate.
3. Support to technical documentation: Prepare quality management templates and support the monitoring of the quality of the works as per UNOPS Quality Management System.
4. Support to technical documentation: Support the PMO Specialist for registering and managing issues, risks and lessons learned, etc. using oneUNOPS Project tool.
5. Support to technical documentation: Prepare meeting agendas, minutes, etc., as required in QA Meetings.

1. Reporting: Support the PMO Specialist in tracking project reports submissions.
2. Reporting: Monitor closely and report on the design services' progress against the schedule, including all issues encountered.

1. Knowledge sharing and management: Contribute to the project evaluation process; highlight challenges associated with the project and feedback into a continuous improvement cycle.
2. Knowledge sharing and management: Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for development planning and knowledge building.
3. Knowledge sharing and management: Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice, actively interact with other Engineers and the Engineering community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practice on the Knowledge System
4. Knowledge sharing and management: Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies

Languages

English, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Required education level

Bachelor's degree in architecture

Skills and experience

Architectural design

Female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.