National Expert - Road Maintenance Engineer at the International Labour Organization (ILO)

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the United Nations agency for the world of work. We bring together governments, employers and workers to drive a human-centred approach to the future of work through employment creation, rights at work, social protection and social dialogue.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: National Expert - Road Maintenance Engineer

Job ID: 12797 
Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Contract
Department: RO-Africa 
Organization Unit: CO-Abuja 
Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract duration: 1 year 

Reporting Line

• Ultimately, the National Road Maintenance Expert will report to the Chief Technical Advisor. The National Road Maintenance Expert will receive technical guidance and advice from Chief Technical Advisor and Training and Roads Maintenance Technical Officer, team of specialists in ILO regional office for Africa at Dakar, including (but not limited to) employment-intensive infrastructure works (EIIP), contractor development and decent work in the rural economy.   
• Within the above context, the National Road Maintenance Expert will assist in ILO technical assistance planning, programming and implementation of all project activities in line with work plans, projects documents, ILO policies and strategies, and in accordance with country programmes and administrative and financial procedures.   

Description of Duties
His /her key responsibilities shall be to support the FPMU and SPIUs project team in the following areas:  

• Ensure timely provision of personnel, consultants, civil works contracts, training, equipment, and other resources in line with work plans and procurement schedules for the project maintenance component. 
• Support financial management, keeping up-to-date records of the project’s financial  status and ILO components. 
• Assist government counterpart agencies to ensure local ownership of improved practices and infrastructure. 
• Participate in overall program planning to ensure coordination with other project components such as maintenance and spot improvement activities from planning through to execution. 
• Assess the capacity of government agencies to take over technical support services, identifying and addressing capacity gaps. 
• Prepare and conduct technical training for national staff, contractors, and community groups, and develop course materials including translating in local language. 
• Ensure standard conditions of employment reflecting ambitions of the ILO decent work agenda is achieved in the infrastructure works, introducing adequate inclusive measures that secure the full involvement of women, youth, disabled and other groups requiring particular attention. 
• Develop and maintain strong links with ILO Decent Work Team specialists in Dakar and other colleagues in the field and HQ on specific technical areas requiring comprehensive and collaborative interventions. 
• Review existing information and rural roads database systems (including road condition inventories) and provide capacity development inputs, implementation support and technical and conceptual advice regarding the required development, modification and application of such systems including establishing an inventory of the existing Statas Rural Road networks in the project area, how this is managed, key geographical features; main rivers assess current condition, access and constraints. 
• Introduce and promote appropriate technologies including technical design standards, work methods and organisation, standard bill of quantities, work norms and appropriate unit rates for civil works activities for using employment-intensive work methods in the rehabilitation and maintenance of Rural Roads infrastructure under this project and in related government schemes. 
• Assist in quantity surveys, preparation of designs, cost estimates of maintenance works, preparation of bidding documents and civil works contracts and conduct tenders through national competitive bidding, local market surveys and community contracting. 
• Develop on-site and off-site training modules pictorial leaflets/ brochures and video CDs   for capacity building / training for SPIUs maintenance / asset management unit and Road   Maintenance Groups, community contractors. 
• Secure and monitor quality assurance measures for compliance with design specifications, payments of work, forecast project expenditure and update budgets and initiate payment requests to implement sustainable maintenance and operational arrangements.  
• Report, monitor, and evaluate the maintenance works, contributing to progress and ad-hoc reports on project planning and implementation. Promote visibility of the project through high-level communications with stakeholders, including government bodies, RAAMP, and the World Bank.  
• Represent the ILO technical team when needed, ensuring alignment with the guidance of the CTA and ILO Country Director. 
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor. 

Education

• First level university degree in civil /highway engineering.

Experience:

• At least three years of experience in managing rural transport infrastructure works of which 1 year related to employment intensive rural road rehabilitation and maintenance, project formulation and management. 
• Proven experience in working and engaging with governments’ agencies, private sector, donor agencies, and a heterogeneous team composed of consultants, specialists, and local collaborators of different educational and cultural background, in remote/difficult settings.

Technical Requirements:

• Proven knowledge in the planning and implementation of rural transport infrastructure works, 
• Extensive experience in the development and implementation of employment-intensive (labour-based) public works and an understanding of the ILO decent work agenda, 
• Good knowledge of community and project stakeholder consultations and mobilisation, 
• Skills development and institutional strengthening. 

Languages:

• Excellent command of English and good knowledge of Nigerian local language. 

Competencies:

• Ability to independently initiate and lead the preparation and management of project activities with a clear focus on reaching defined outputs in a timely manner as agreed in project documents and work plans.  
• Proven interpersonal and organisation skills; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. 
• Good knowledge about Infrastructure especially Road’s development trends in the country 
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with all project stakeholders. 
• Ability to understand and effectively work with Government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, non-government organizations and UN agencies. 
• Ability to conduct action-oriented research and write analytical technical report in English. 
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal,  
• Clear commitment to mainstream gender and inclusion into project activities. 
• Ability to lead and work in a team and good interpersonal relations. 
• Ability to train and guide personnel. 
• Ability to work under time pressure and meet deadlines. 
• Ability to work in diversified environments. 
• Proficient in basic computer software (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Reader) and ability to use other software packages required by the Office 
• Ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision. 
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.  

Application Closing Date
21st March, 2025, (Midnight, Abuja time).