USAID ERA looks for BCP Cоnstructіоn Contract Specialist

Since 2018, USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) has focused its activities on eastern Ukraine. In 2022, it expanded its geography of cooperation to other regions due to Russia’s full-scale invasion and occupation of part of Ukraine. In 2023, given the military and political circumstances and challenges, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) changed ERA’s priorities.

ERA is one of the implementers of the U.S. Government’s Interagency Agriculture Resilience Initiative – Ukraine (AGRI – Ukraine), which aims to support Ukrainian agricultural production and exports and help address the global food crisis exacerbated by Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine. USAID supports the Government of Ukraine, including working with state- and private owned companies, namely the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), the State Customs Service, the State Border Guard Service through ERA, to modernize border crossing points (BCPs) to improve grain trade and exports, and perceptions of Ukraine. ERA is also implementing the Economic Stability and Recovery Initiative (ESRI), which focuses on job retention and creation and assists small and medium-sized enterprises.

USAID ERA prioritizes work on AGRI and rehabilitating EU-facing border crossing points. The AGRI component is extending its technical assistance to Ukrainian Agri-traders and logistics companies supporting them in increasing capacity and potential of grain export logistics. The BCP component includes complex construction management and procurement of equipment and service for BCPs to become more efficient in processing bulk cargoes and other commodities through the border.

About the job

The BCP Construction Contract Specialist is responsible for preparing RFP packages, including TOR, BoQ, Specifications for procurement, and construction contract administration the rapid upgrade improvements at the BCPs, including but not limited to pavement repair, lighting, curb, sewer, and drainage improvements, traffic signs, and devices replacements, repairing and painting of buildings and facilities, installation/replacement of traffic striping and marking, prefab replacement, and small equipment installation. 

The BCP Construction Contract Specialist also coordinates USAID ERA’s efforts with Government of Ukraine partners such as the Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure (SARDI), State Customs Services, State Border Guard Services, Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Railways” (UZ) and Ukrainian See Ports Administration (USPA) for the improvements to be done at the BCPs, construction contractors’ activities, and site access permits.  

The Position is based in Ukraine and reports to the Senior Manager for the BCP Rapid Upgrades Team Lead.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Technical Support:

• Develop Request for Proposal packages for the rapid upgrades improvements projects and ensure they are in compliance with USAID and Government of Ukrains laws and regulations.
• Develop Scope of Work, BoQ, Specifications, other technical documentation for the procurement related to BCP rapid upgrades improvements activities.
• Administer the projects through the life cycle, from the development/review of plans, specifications, and cost estimates to construction completion and acceptance.
• Coordinate BCP rapid upgrade activities with the governmental partners and other international donors and funder and their projects, including but not limited to the World Bank, European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to improve cargo and grain trade and exports, passenger traffic, and perceptions of Ukraine. 
• Ensure the RFP packages for repair, upgrades, and construction and nonconstruction activities comply with USAID and GOU rules and regulations.
• Prepare Scope of Work for independent consultants to prepare specific technical documents for rapid upgrades and oversee the work of independent consultants.
• Organize public events, reports, and other communication efforts to raise awareness of critical infrastructure needs. 

Procurement and Grants Management:

• Coordinate gathering information for grant design, procurement, monitoring, and Environmental Assessments of ERA program activities related to energy production and efficiency.
• In coordination with the Procurement and Environmental Teams, monitor procurement technical assistance progress and ensure that activities are aligned with the USAID ERA plans and performance indicators.
• Manage procurement for rapid upgrade projects, including coordination with suppliers/contractors engaged and collection of match documentation.

Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Support and collect necessary data to report against Activity performance indicators.
• Support beneficiaries in designing the proposed project’s monitoring and evaluation plan.
• Monitor implementation of direct interventions and grant activities.
• Provide required information and data for M&E reporting in the required format.

Communication:

• Introduce a rapid upgrade program to relevant stakeholders, including government authorities, local business owners, and business service providers. Foster ongoing positive cooperation with these stakeholders.
• Ensure all the activities and items are properly branded in coordination with the Communication Team and obtain approval from the beneficiaries for the banding.
• Represent ERA in a professional manner in coordination with the Communication team.
• Highlight project achievements working with the Communication Team regarding inputs/outputs outcomes of the activities.

Reporting:

• Produce reporting documents on rapid upgrade activities and performance results.
• Prepare accurate and timely field reports and other project documentation as required; maintain project files.
• Keep respective activity records in the DAI corporate system (TAMIS).

Job Expectations

In this position, you are expected to share the DAI four core values:

• Integrity: commit to civil and ethical behavior, play by the rules, and do the right thing;
• Responsibility: be accountable to clients, partners, grant recipients, beneficiaries, colleagues, and communities where we work. If you fall short, you own up, fix the problem, and get it right the next time;
• Excellence: adhere to the highest technical and professional standards in innovation, learning, and service;
• Global Citizenship: respect the cultural diversity and treat everyone everywhere with professionalism and dignity to make the world a better place.

About you

• MA degree and 5 years of experience or BA with 8 years of experience in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated technical experience in preparing construction projects, including but not limited to general logistics facilities, grain railway logistics facilities, trans-border crossing infrastructure, seaport infrastructure, social infrastructure reconstruction, building or repairing of highways, and WASH infrastructure.
• Proven experience in infrastructure project development and implementation on projects in Ukraine with international donors’ funding and preferably with USAID. 
• Proven understanding of the Ukrainian rules and regulation requirements for preparing and administrating the project and some knowledge of international requirements for construction projects. 
• Excellent professional communications and negotiation skills and who can relate to people at all levels of an organization.
• Ability to work independently and in close cooperation with a team in person and/or remotely. 
• An energetic, thinking-forward, problem-solver, and creative individual with high ethical standards and appropriate professional image.
• An extremely well-organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus.
• An average level of English fluency and excellent Ukrainian language fluency is required.

WE OFFER

Contract length: 12-month employment agreement with a possibility of extension.

Benefits Package:

• 28 calendar days of annual leave
• 10 days of internal well-being paid leave per annum
• Medical Insurance for ERA staff and their families
• Life Insurance for ERA staff
• Coverage of all expenses for the business trips
• Military reservation is possible and granted if you are on a relevant military register

Start date: February 2024

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English to [email protected].

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

Closing date for applications: January 30, 2024.

For further information about DAI GLOBAL LLC, please consult our website era-ukraine.org.ua.