Cold Chain and Energy Systems Engineer (National Consultant)
Organizational Context
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. We are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do, offering diverse opportunities for professional and personal development in a culture that values inclusion and purpose.
Job Purpose
This consultancy aims to strengthen UNICEF's in-country technical capacity by providing a national engineer to support vaccine cold chain operations, primarily at the Kinkole Hub. The consultant will ensure the technical reliability and quality of maintenance services for the cold chain, provide specialized maintenance and troubleshooting for other hubs (Lubumbashi, Kisangani), and offer engineering expertise on energy systems, including solar solutions. The role involves technical quality assurance for cold chain equipment projects, from specifications to commissioning, and strengthening the skills of hub and EPI technicians through hands-on coaching and joint interventions. This position is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the vaccine supply chain and ensuring the effective delivery of essential services to children.
Responsibilities
The consultant will be responsible for securing the technical reliability of the Kinkole hub's vaccine cold chain and ensuring the quality of maintenance services. This includes performing specialized maintenance and troubleshooting for the Lubumbashi and Kisangani hubs, bringing essential engineering expertise on energy systems and solar solutions. The consultant will provide technical quality assurance for cold chain equipment projects, overseeing aspects from initial specifications and site readiness to installation, commissioning, and final technical acceptance. Furthermore, a key responsibility is to strengthen the skills of hub and EPI technicians through direct interventions and on-the-job coaching, fostering local capacity. The role also requires ensuring the operational efficiency of generators, automatic transfer switches, low-voltage electrical installations, and solar PV or hybrid systems, and supervising maintenance, installation, or electrical works contractors, including commissioning and technical acceptance.
Work Experience
Minimum of five (5) years of hands-on experience in electrical, electromechanical, energy, or industrial refrigeration engineering, including operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of cold rooms, industrial refrigeration, and/or air-conditioning systems. Proven experience with energy systems (generators, ATS, low-voltage electrical, solar PV/hybrid) and supervising contractors is required. Experience with vaccine cold chain equipment and training technicians is a strong asset.
Skills
Electrical Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, Energy Systems, Refrigeration Engineering, Cold Chain Management, Maintenance and Troubleshooting, Solar PV Systems, Technical Quality Assurance, Contractor Supervision, On-the-job Coaching, Vaccine Cold Chain Equipment, Project Commissioning