Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Organization: UNOPS
Deadline: 02-Jul-2025
Job Description
Background Information – Job-specific
UNOPS Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office is recruiting for the position of Lead Geotechnical Engineer-Retainer, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. 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 organizations. With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical, and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.
Established in 2009, the Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office (HAMCO) been providing services to various partners, including the Government of Ethiopia, UN agencies such as WHO, UNHCR and WFP, and other international organizations. Since 2014, the UNOPS Ethiopia Multi-Country office (known recently as the Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office – HAMCO) manages and coordinates the UNOPS activities in Ethiopia, as well as Sudan, South Sudan and Djibouti. The UNOPS Horn of Africa multi-country office team is composed of approximately 100 national and international women and men and offers a broad range of services such as infrastructure, procurement, project management, and financial and human resources management.
Position Background
The Lead Geotechnical Engineer (Retainer) will provide technical expertise and support in the planning, execution, and supervision of geotechnical investigations and engineering services for HAMCO and its related infrastructure projects. The Lead Geotechnical Engineer will be responsible for ensuring the quality, accuracy, and reliability of subsurface data, and for delivering sound geotechnical design recommendations to inform the planning, design, and construction of civil and structural works.
The scope of the position includes conducting geotechnical assessments, guiding site investigations, analyzing field and laboratory data, preparing and reviewing ToRs, preparing technical reports, reviewing design drawings and calculations, and advising on foundation systems, slope stability, soil improvement techniques, shoring, and earth retention systems. The role also includes reviewing contractor geotechnical submittals, ensuring adherence to technical standards and project specifications, and contributing to risk mitigation related to ground conditions.
The Lead Geotechnical Engineer (Retainer) will be required to travel to project sites as needed to supervise field investigations, verify implementation of geotechnical recommendations, and provide on-site technical support. The Lead Geotechnical Engineer (Retainer) will work under the direct supervision of the HAMCO Senior Program Manager – Infrastructure. The position requires close collaboration with structural, civil, and environmental specialists to ensure integrated, resilient, and cost-effective infrastructure solutions.
Functional Responsibilities
UNOPS-HAMCO undertakes a number of infrastructure projects in Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Djibouti. The purpose of this role would be to provide advice where these projects require specialist geotechnical input.
The Lead Geotechnical Engineer- Retainer will be prepared to travel to any site in or around the countries under HAMCO as required and as UNDSS permits. The incumbent shall be responsible for accuracy, interpretation, analysis of all data received and for reporting on conclusions and recommendations reached. The scope of work to be carried by the incumbent shall broadly include but not limited to the functions detailed below:
Technical tasks:
- Analyze data from site investigations (boreholes, test pits, lab results).
- Design soil protection systems, temporary and permanent shoring, retaining walls, and ground improvement methods.
- Prepare and review geotechnical reports (factual and interpretive).
- Perform geotechnical modeling and calculations using specialized software (e.g., Plaxis, GeoStudio, SAFE).
- Prepare Terms of Reference (TORs) for various scopes of site geotechnical investigations, including preliminary and detailed investigation phases.
- Coordinate with structural, civil, and environmental teams to integrate geotechnical recommendations.
- Prepare technical specifications, BOQs, and inputs for tender documents.
- Review and comment on contractor submittals related to geotechnical aspects.
(b) Field Study
- Plan and execute geotechnical investigations to assess the suitability of materials and subsurface conditions for various civil and structural projects.
- Guide geotechnical investigation contractors both on site and in laboratory settings to ensure proper methodologies and adherence to quality standards.
- Supervise and monitor geotechnical field investigations, including drilling, sampling, and in-situ testing activities.
- Review and interpret field and laboratory test results to inform technical recommendations for the design of civil and structural works.
- Analyze raw geotechnical data using specialized software (e.g., Plaxis, GeoStudio) to perform engineering analyses including slope stability, bearing capacity, and settlement assessments.
- Provide technical recommendations on soil stabilization, earth retention systems, shoring, dewatering, and ground improvement techniques.
- Inspect and verify the implementation of excavation works, dewatering systems, and slope stabilization measures.
- Prepare site inspection and supervision reports
- Identify and report unforeseen or adverse ground conditions and recommend mitigation measures.
- Provide technical support, training, and capacity building to project teams on geotechnical issues as required.
- Contribute to knowledge sharing, including lessons learned and best practices in geotechnical engineering for future development and planning.
- Optimized geotechnical engineering of civil and structural works.
- High quality reporting.
- Improved staff capacity
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Geotechnics, Soil Mechanics, Engineering Geology or similar discipline, is required
- University Degree (Bachelor’s degree / first level) in any of the above disciplines with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience will be accepted in lieu of the educational requirement outlined above.
- Practicing professional geotechnical engineer licence (PPGE) is required
Certification:
- Strong computer skills and advanced working knowledge of google forms are considered an asset.
- Proficiency in specialized geotechnical softwares such as Plaxis, GeoStudio, and SAFE is highly desirable.
- Minimum 5 (five) years of experience in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Geotechnics, Soil Mechanics, Engineering Geology or similar technical disciplines is required.
- At least 3 (three) years of specific experience in Geotechnical engineering, or Materials Science or Materials Engineering field is required
- Experience of working in UN is an asset.
Language:
- Fluency in oral, reading and written English is required.
- Knowledge of other UN languages will be considered an asset.
