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Job Description
Org. Setting and Reporting
ECA’s mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The mission is guided by ECA’s five strategic directions which are advancing ECA’s position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent’s problems and take local solutions to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa’s position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues.
This position is located in the Facilities Management Section (FMS), Administration & Conference Management Division (ACMD) at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Under the direct supervision of the Chief Facilities Management Section, the Manager will assume responsibilities for the overall leadership, planning, implementation and completion of the work related to the projects and activities in the Facilities Management Section (FMS) in Operations Unit (Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Architectural, Service Works).
Responsibilities
1. Maintenance & Operations
- • Leads the planning and delivery of preventive and corrective maintenance to ensure efficient operation of building systems and infrastructure.
- • Oversees key systems such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire safety, elevators, and site services, ensuring compliance with safety standards and performance benchmarks.
- • Manages internal teams and external service providers, enforcing quality, safety, and operational standards.
- • Ensures the implementation of safety protocols and occupational health standards in maintenance operations.
- • Conducts inspections, evaluates system performance, and develops implementation plans for maintenance needs.
- • Coordinates with other units on operational readiness during project handovers, space changes, and occupancy transitions.
- • Provides technical support across ECA compound and Sub-Regional Offices, ensuring to ensure consistent maintenance practices.
- • Advises on technical solutions for system failures and infrastructure inefficiencies.
- • Recommends technical solutions to complex operational issues, including system failures, infrastructure degradation and energy inefficiencies.
- • Participates in planning missions, site assessments, and technical consultations related to operations and maintenance of ECA premises and facilities.
2. Design & Project Coordination Support
• Reviews design and construction documents to ensure operational feasibility and long-term maintainability.
• Advises project teams on engineering aspects impacting future maintenance operations.
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- • Coordinates technical support for construction works and contributes to the operational handover process.
- • Provides feedback and recommendations on engineering designs in project proposals, with a focus on operational integration and long-term maintenance considerations.
- • Coordinates technical and logistical support (e.g., HVAC, electrical, BMS) to ongoing construction works, in collaboration with capital project teams and external contractors.
3. Environmental Sustainability & Energy Efficiency
• Leads initiatives to improve energy efficiency, utility management strategies, and sustainability improvements.
• Supports institutional sustainability frameworks, including Capital Investment Plan (CIP), United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS), and the Environmental Management System (EMS).
4. Budget, Planning & Reporting
• Contributes to annual planning, budget formulation, and resource allocation for maintenance operations.
• Tracks operational costs, monitors work orders, and prepares technical reports and updates.
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• Drafts reports, briefing materials, and technical updates on the status of maintenance operations, infrastructure performance, and ongoing improvement projects.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provides insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
5. Contract, Vendor, HR Management, and Other Duties
• Oversees service contracts, vendor performance, and contractor coordination.
• Manages staff performance, work planning, and development in line with UN policies.
• Engages with clients and stakeholders to maintain high service quality.
• Manages acquisition planning, administration, and oversight of service provider contracts.
• Perform other as assigned.
Competencies
- • Professionalism: Demonstrated project management skills; and knowledge of the latest technology and material used for building and knowledge of relevant UN rules and policies. Ability to apply engineering skills and to participate in engineering projects, including preparation of cost estimates, research of data and preparing graphs. Ability to identify and analyze engineering data of significant depth and complexity. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.
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- • Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
- • Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in engineering, architecture or another related field.
- A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.
Work Experience
- A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in engineering or related area is required.
- Two (2) years or more of experience in managing maintenance and operations of large facilities is desirable.
- Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable.
The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).
Required Languages
-
Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking - English
UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II
Desirable Languages
-
Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking French UN Level I UN Level I UN Level I UN Level I
Assessment
- Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
- This position is General Temporary Assistance (GTA), funded from Cost Recovery. Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to the availability of funds and/or extension of the mandate. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity.
- All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.
- Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. Pursuant to section 6.9 of ST/AI/2010/3/Rev. 1, interns, consultants, individual contractors, and gratis personnel may not apply for or be appointed to any vacancy in the Professional or higher categories within six months of the end of their current or most recent service.
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- Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals’ programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. Internal Applicants — When completing the Candidate Profile form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience, and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you.
For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 June 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Un-represented: Andorra, Brunei Darussalam, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu. Under-represented: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, China, Cuba, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Libya, Liberia, Luxembourg, Monaco, Oman, Paraguay, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan, United States of America. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided.
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If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgment within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Contact Us” link.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.
The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
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The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c).
Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.
Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines.
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- Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
- All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
- THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.