Civil Engineer at World Food Programme — Philippines

About The Role

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

6 October 2026-23:59-GMT+08:00 Philippine Standard Time (Manila)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP?

WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

This vacancy announcement is intended for talent pooling purposes.

Job Title: Engineer

Type of Contract: Special Service Agreement

Grade: SSA-9

Unit/Division: Supply Chain

Duty Station: Cotabato, Philippines

Duration: Eleven (11) months
This position is open to Filipino nationals only.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT AND ROLE

The Engineer will report directly to the Supply Chain Officer, under the overall supervision of the Head of Supply Chain and the Head of Field Office. Technical guidance, support, and quality assurance will be provided by the Headquarters Engineering Unit.

To support its operational and programmatic priorities, the WFP Philippines Country Office (PHCO) is planning to implement a broad range of engineering interventions, including:

Refurbishment of WFP office facilities;

Establishment of Multi-Agency Humanitarian Response Depots;

Co-design and development of Central School Kitchens and School Kitchens; and

Oversight of the establishment and deployment of Kitchen-in-the-Box (KITB) facilities.

To facilitate the successful implementation of these initiatives, an Engineering position has been established to provide technical support to the Country Office. The role will encompass engineering design and review, project planning and management, contract administration for construction-related activities, and the provision of broader engineering and technical expertise.

Given the nature and scope of the projects, the position requires a strong field presence, including regular site visits and on-site supervision of construction and rehabilitation activities. The Engineer will play a key role in ensuring the quality, safety, and timely delivery of engineering works, while providing ongoing technical support across a range of engineering initiatives undertaken by the Country Office.

JOB PURPOSE

To provide construction and engineering expertise and contribute to efficient delivery and quality outputs.

WFP operates to the highest levels of international construction standards while taking account of local constraints and methods of work.

The Engineer shall be responsible for ensuring that the projects are progressed to an acceptable standard and to the highest quality in accordance with the contracts between WFP and the selected construction/consultancy companies.

The Engineer will act as the Employer focal point at site level for the construction management and oversight of all activities related to the works.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Within delegated authority, the Engineer will be responsible for the following duties (not limited to)

Engineering tasks

Conduct detailed site assessments and prepare comprehensive back-to-office reports, including findings, recommendations, and required follow-up actions.

Develop project plans, implementation schedules, and work methodologies to support effective project delivery.

Oversee and monitor the implementation on site of the project in accordance with WFP specifications, relevant international standards and the project contract.

Provide technical guidance and direction to contractors and design consultants.

Perform day-to-day supervision of the contractor’s activities, ensuring adherence to design requirements, construction specifications, safety, quality, and environment and social management plans

Review and validate the contractor’s detailed designs, shop drawings, method statements, material approvals, and as-built documentation, ensuring technical correctness and compliance with project specifications and structures code standards.

Check and approve test results for materials (e.g., concrete strength, soil compaction, pipeline pressure tests) as per the quality control procedures described in the project documents.

Monitor the installation, testing, and commissioning of mechanical and electrical systems, ensuring compliance with approved designs, technical specifications, operational requirements, safety standards, and applicable regulations

Maintain detailed site daily records, work progress reports, testing logs, and minutes of site meetings.

Participate in weekly progress meetings and coordinate with the contractor, community representatives, WFP Engineering, and other stakeholders.

Attend meetings and prepare and review reports, minutes and correspondence;

Liaise with stakeholders, both internal and external to the organization;

Undertake administrative tasks as required, and provide project management services for the projects where and when requested;

Support the commissioning and final handover process, including verification of tests on completion, training of local user groups, and preparation of taking-over documentation.

Undertake any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Health & Safety

Ensure that the contractors abide by the internationally recognized standards of health and safety for work, adjacent properties, all site personnel and the public.

Immediately report to the WFP Philippines Country Office (PHCO) any significant breaches of health, safety, environmental, or quality requirements observed during project implementation.

Ensure that all health and safety incidents, accidents, near misses, and corrective actions are properly documented, investigated, and reported through established project reporting mechanisms.

Promote a strong culture of safety, quality, and risk management across all project sites and activities.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

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Has worked effectively under supervision on a large number of varied design and construction projects and taken responsibility for work elements which have been assigned.
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Has attained advanced academic qualifications relevant to engineering.
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Has contributed to projects demonstrating knowledge of engineering specializations in relation to fire safety, seismic blast or environmental requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education

Advanced University degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related engineering discipline; or

First University degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related engineering discipline, combined with additional years of relevant professional experience.

Professional accreditation as a Professional Engineer, Chartered Engineer, or an equivalent certification recognized by a national or international regulatory authority is highly desirable.

Postgraduate qualifications or specialization in construction management, structural engineering, project management, or a related field would be an asset.

Experience

Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible postgraduate experience in civil engineering, construction supervision, infrastructure development, or related engineering fields for holders of an advanced university degree; or

Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience for holders of a first university degree.

Experience in construction supervision, contract management, infrastructure rehabilitation, or engineering project management is required.

Experience working in humanitarian, development, or emergency-response contexts, particularly with United Nations agencies, international organizations, or INGOs, is highly desirable.

Experience working with government counterparts, local authorities, contractors, and community stakeholders

Knowledge and Skills

Strong technical knowledge of engineering design, construction methodologies, and works supervision.

Good understanding of relevant engineering standards, building codes, quality assurance, and health and safety requirements.

Proficiency in AutoCAD (2D) and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Strong project coordination, planning, and organizational skills.

Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Ability to analyze technical issues, identify solutions, and provide practical recommendations under tight timelines.

Language: Fluency in both oral and written English and Filipino is required. Proficiency in at least one local language or dialect spoken in Mindanao is required to facilitate effective communication and engagement with local communities.

Compensation Package Overview

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Remuneration will be in accordance with WFP’s salary scale and will be communicated during the offer stage.
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Medical coverage, extendable to eligible dependents.
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Leave benefits and other applicable entitlements.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.
Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: [email hidden]

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.

We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at [email hidden]. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.

At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.