This role offers a unique opportunity to lead critical technical aspects of hazardous waste management projects in Central Asia, specifically focusing on DDT and POPs remediation. As a Environmental Engineering Specialist (Hazardous Waste Management), you will provide authoritative technical advice to enhance project implementation as well as ensure the integrity and effectiveness of remediation efforts, contributing significantly to environmental protection and sustainable development in the region. This position will be based in Bishkek with frequent travel to the remediation site in Kyrgyzstan.

Under the GEF funded project 9421 "Demonstration of non-thermal treatment of DDT wastes in Central Asia", led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), with UNEP’s GEF Unit as Implementing Agency (IA) and UNEP’s Europe Office as Executing Agency (EA) and UNOPS as technical implementation, tendering and procurement partner, the dedicated UNOPS project aims to strengthen national and regional capacities for managing hazardous waste — particularly DDT and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs) — following the guidelines of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions. In specific, UNOPS will be working on the design and construction of containment works in selected sites in the Kyrgyzs Republic and Tajikistan as well as on the procurement of related goods and services for the sites, in the framework of a trial for POPs waste bio-remediation as project output in Kyrgyzstan.

The Environmental Engineering Specialist (Hazardous Waste Management) provides authoritative technical advice and expertise to the project, ensuring the effective design, implementation, and oversight of remediation works at contaminated sites. This role involves adapting approaches to meet specific project needs, managing technical aspects of procurement, and ensuring compliance with international guidelines for hazardous waste management, thereby strengthening national and regional capacities.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager, the Environmental Engineering Specialist (Hazardous Waste Management) will provide technical advice to the project, to ensure that project activities result in effective remediation works at the site level.

1. Technical Advisory and Remediation Planning

Review and revise the Terms of Reference (ToR) and technical documentation for all project activities, including all documentation regarding procurement processes, infrastructure design and construction, remediation activities and UNOPS oversight of contractors based on national legislation, international best practices and future land use.
Review the scope of work and duration of requested activities for remediation.
Oversee, in support to the Senior Project Manager, project activities in relation to infrastructure development and remediation considering all site-level activities for remediation of hazardous waste for DDT and other present POPs, in relevance to country strategy, existing and planned programmes, and Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP) standards.
Review, acknowledge, and track changes of national legislation and regulations on hazardous waste
Work with national and local environmental and sanitary control authorities with regards to consulting on HSE requirements to be included in the containment design
Liaise with the design and build contractor on feasibility and practical implementation of the design visa vis national context
Review the designing deliverables of the design and build contractor on compliance with project needs and national regulations

2. Procurement Support and Quality Assurance

Review formal, qualification requirements and general parts of the tender packages, providing recommendations for improvement if needed.
Act as a technical specialist in the evaluation of received bids/proposals for the tender, assessing proposals against specification requirements, including the content of the technical proposal and other proposal related technical matters.
Perform inspection visits in relation to all project-level activities as well as ensuring technical presence at the site level when required.
Review all obtained environmental permits issued by competent authorities.
Provide support to UNOPS procurement officials in quality assurance during or upon the delivery of goods, works, and services.

3. Reporting and Documentation

Produce revised/confirmed technical specifications for all relevant project activities.
Provide technical guidance to the development of market analysis.
Undertake regular narrative reporting of project activities from the technical perspective.

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