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TERMS OF REFERENCE

Title:  Operations Specialist 
Project:  Snow Clearance & Avalanche Prevention
Duty station:  Salang, Parwan Province, Afghanistan (with frequent travel to Kabul)
Supervisor:  SCAP Project Manager

1. General Background of Project / Assignment

CTG Global’s client in Afghanistan, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), is responsible for implementing a number of projects on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan and the aid donor community.  The Afghanistan Operations Centre (AGOC) has been set up as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPShas been designated as the Implementing Agency.

The Afghanistan National Development Strategy has considered security, governance, economic growth, and poverty reduction as the highest priorities for 2008-2013 fiscal years. The strategy placed particular emphasis on roads and called for more development efforts in the sector of infrastructure. The Salang tunnel and its road system is one of the most imperative elements in the transportation network in Afghanistan.

The objective of the Snow Clearance and Avalanche Prevention in the Salang Pass (SCAP) project is to provide specialized training and infrastructure assistance to the Ministry of Public Works of Afghanistan to ensure a safe and reliable transport route through the Salang pass during the harsh winter months.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Reporting directly under the direction of the Project Manager, the Operations Specialist is expected to fulfill the following responsibilities, but not limited to:

• Carry out detailed operational needs assessment for each activity as per implementation strategy;
• Conduct traffic control assessment in the Salang pass in Parwan province of Afghanistan;
• Draft contractual agreements for the local private companies to install road safety devices and the communications system;
• Prepare operational plans detailing recruitment, procurement and disbursement processes and schedules;
• Oversee traffic control gate and maintenance workshop construction;
• Oversee local contractors during repairs and construction works;
• Ensure that complete, accurate and timely archiving (hardcopy and electronic) of all documents and files relating to operational matters is performed;
• Train traffic control personnel;
• Design, test, and implement (as needed) the evacuation plan;
• Participate in standard operating procedures (SOP) production;
• Organize radio operators and train them in coordination with the Radio Technician;
• Train weather reporters in coordination with the local Communications Specialist;
• Provide project and field support in administration, finance, procurement, and human resources as tasked;
• Compile regular lessons learnt and disseminate among staff to improve delivery of operation support;
• Provide training manuals and regular reports with lessons learned and recommendations.

Applicants should send as soon as possible a letter of application and their CV to nadia.giske@ctgglobal.com. Telephone enquiries may be directed to Nadia Giske tel: +971 (0)4 331 0377

3. Qualifications and Experience

a. Education, Work Experience, and Special Skills

• Masters Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Operations, Management, Military Science, or relevant field.  Bachelors Degree plus additional 2 years, or Technical/Secondary Diploma plus additional 4 years of relevant experience, coupled with very relevant experience and technical certificates in project management, logistics, operations, disaster management and response, and military service may be considered in lieu of the Masters Degree requirement.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in operations, project management, disaster management, risk response, logistics, security or relevant field.
• Previous working experience in hazardous environments and extreme weather conditions highly preferable.
• Previous working experience in Afghanistan a distinct advantage.

b. Key Competencies

• Demonstrated experience in post disaster or post conflict settings;
• Strong familiarity with emergency operations, and UN  system;
• Understanding UNOPS finance, administration and procurement rules and procedures;
• Strong managerial competency with experience in results based management and results oriented approach to project implementation;
• Strong background in transportation logistics and control management;
• High level of understanding for winter highway clearance and operation of  equipment;
• Ability to develop, maintain and supervise accountability systems for materials and services;
• Experience in construction contracting and management;
• Good track record in managing personnel and providing backstopping;
• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high ranking members of national and international institutions, government and non-government;
• Positive and constructive attitude, self-reliance, and ability to work independently under the minimum supervision;
• High level of self-organization and provision of meticulous, accurate and timely results;
• Excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports;
• Cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work in a multi-cultural team environment;
• Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement;
• Proficiency in usage of computers, office software packages and advance project management software as well as in handling of web-based management system.
• Ability to live in severe weather conditions, and tolerate extreme cold and modest living conditions;
• Excellent knowledge of both written and oral English is required.

Applicants should send as soon as possible a letter of application and their CV to nadia.giske@ctgglobal.com. Telephone enquiries may be directed to Nadia Giske tel: +971 (0)4 331 0377