Senior Architect, Grade 18, HQ Amman

Organizational Context

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is a UN organization providing assistance and protection to approximately 5.8 million Palestine refugees across the Middle East. With over 30,000 staff, it is the largest UN operation in the region, funded by voluntary contributions. This role is based at HQ Amman and reports to the Chief of the Architecture & Design Division.

Job Purpose

This Senior Architect role supports the Chief of the Architecture & Design Division in developing and implementing architectural policies, strategies, and standards. The position is crucial for ensuring the effective delivery of architectural services aligned with UNRWA's objectives. The incumbent will analyze design risks, develop mitigation strategies, and provide technical clearance for preliminary and final architectural designs, drawings, and tender documentation. This involves close coordination with internal sections and external consultants to ensure compliance with agency standards, local/international codes, and best practices, contributing to the successful execution of construction projects. The role also involves providing technical support to field offices, managing consultancy assignments, and contributing to the continuous improvement of architectural standards and practices.

Responsibilities

Develop, apply, and review architectural and design policies, strategies, technical instructions, and standards. Prepare and implement division work plans and priorities to ensure effective architectural service delivery. Identify and analyze architectural design risks, constraints, and trade-offs, developing robust and cost-effective solutions for construction projects. Review and provide technical clearance for preliminary designs, feasibility assessments, concept options, and final architectural drawings, specifications, and tender documentation, ensuring compliance with agency needs, policies, standards, and codes. Contribute to updating and disseminating division procedures and standard documents. Provide technical support and quality assurance to Field offices, monitor design development, and conduct site visits for advice and performance monitoring. Manage architectural consultancy assignments, including preparing briefs, reviewing deliverables, and providing feedback. Escalate critical issues to the Chief and coordinate with the Design Section. Act for the Chief during absences. Identify training needs and support capacity-building activities. Maintain professional awareness of building codes, accessibility, safety, and sustainability standards.

Work Experience

A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in architectural design and delivery for building/infrastructure projects is required. This includes at least three years in a supervisory capacity, experience in preparing and reviewing design drawings and tender documentation, multidisciplinary coordination, and managing architectural consultancy assignments.

Skills

Applying Technical Expertise, Planning and Organizing, Relating and Networking, Persuading and Influencing, Managing Complexity and Change, Creating and Maintaining Impact and Partnership, Strong quality assurance mindset, Attention to detail, Ability to manage priorities and deliver outputs to deadlines, Coordination of multidisciplinary inputs.

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