field engineer

Background:

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat has been a partner with the number of ministries at national and provincial levels, development partners, civil society organizations and academia.

UN-Habitat Pakistan Country Programme Pakistan, lays down the roadmap for achieving the New Urban Agenda focusing on right to adequate housing, universal access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation and other basic services, sustainable economic growth, building resilience and protection and conservation of natural habitat as well as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly SDG11 aiming to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The Country Programme is aligned with the Pakistan United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF One UN Programme (OP-III).

UN-Habitat is committed to the transformative goal of "Leaving No One Behind" with focus on enhancing access to adequate housing and basic services to promote inclusive prosperity and eradicate poverty and signed an agreement of contribution with government of Netherlands to implement a project in the five cities (Haripur, Kohat, Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta) with Afghan refugee's concentration to empower and support both communities in selected settlements by promoting inclusive and sustainable urban development that prioritizes issues relating to housing and overcrowding, tenure insecurity, infrastructure, basic services and living conditions, economic opportunities, social cohesion and integration and improved living conditions, including preventing gender-based violence.

Objectives:

The purpose of this role is to provide technical support to the provincial offices for the project's WASH, infrastructure, and housing components, ensuring integration of disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, environmental sustainability, and accessibility. Based on the chosen implementation modality, the Field Engineer will offer technical assistance and guidance in assessment, planning, design, implementation, and monitoring to the project team, NGOs, and commercial contractors in the target settlements.

Key Responsibilities:

Under the guidance of the Lead Engineer and direct supervision of Provincial Coordinator, Field Engineer will perform the tasks below:

• In collaboration with Social Mobilizers and other team members, prepare engineering designs, plans, drawings, cost estimates (BoQs), specifications, and recommendations, ensuring compliance with national standards, Pakistan Building Codes, environmental sustainability principles, maintenance considerations, accessibility requirements, and low-carbon emission designs.
• Assist Lead Engineers in preparing bid documents, evaluating bids, and drafting comparative statements.
• Set layouts, review and approve shop drawings and inspection requests, and maintain records of all shop drawings and inspection requests.
• Process payments for completed work after verifying compliance with standards, specifications, and test reports and implementing Cash for Work activities following CFW guidelines.
• Support the participatory planning process at the community level through community-led planning, including participatory slum mapping and contributing in development of settlement plans in targeted settlements
• Supervise construction activities to ensure adherence to approved designs, monitor progress, document variations, and initiate variation orders (VOs) as needed for Implementing partners, Contractors and Community Implementation agreements.
• Monitor and report project progress, identifying and addressing issues in a timely manner.
• Conduct participatory assessments of targeted settlements, to assess housing and infrastructures needs and capacities including Solid Waste Management evaluations, identification of best practices, and alignment with community needs.
• Facilitate the Community Action Planning process by evaluating proposals for feasibility and translating them into engineering designs with detailed cost estimations.
• Conduct regular project site visits to ensure quality implementation within the defined scope, timeline, and budget. Develop and implement quality control and assurance tools.
• Organize and conduct training sessions and workshops on integrated WASH and infrastructure activities.
• Ensure environmental disposal of the excavated, dismantled or construction wastes.
• Ensuring safety of the construction workers through following safety practices.
• Prepare & review the work schedule of different activities to ensure progress and advises contractors to adjust work plan/schedule to meet the project requirement.
• Maintain strong professional relationships with project partners and coordinate activities.
• Represent UN-Habitat in forums, conferences, workshops, and stakeholder meetings.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Provincial Coordinator or Lead Engineer.

Competencies:

• Promotes UN's values and ethical standards (tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation, impartiality)
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development.
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners,
• Respectful and helpful relations with all UN staff

Required Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering/ building Technology, infrastructures, Architectures, Urban Planning or related field required. A candidate with Diploma of Associate Engineering in Civil Technology may be considered.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience of working in housing or infrastructures projects.
• Experience in Quantity surveying is must.

Language:

• Fluency in Urdu is required. Working proficiency in English, Pushto or Dari is an asset.

Other skills:

• Expert user of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, teams). Autocade or any proficiency in any other drafting tool is an asset.

1

September 1, 2025

September 15, 2025

UN-HABITAT

Engineering

Full Time/Permanent

Bachelors

LICA-5 (equivalent to GS-5)

2 Years(working in housing or infrastructures projects. Experience in Quantity surveying is must.)