Job - National Expert for Laboratories Management Systems Capacity Building, UNDP, Armenia

Background

The overarching goal of the Russian Federation-UNDP Trust Fund for Development(UNDP-RTF) Regional Project is to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) by promoting energy efficiency (EE) in the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), namely Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Belarus, through realization of energy saving potential in lighting, household appliances and engineering equipment of buildings.

To achieve the said goal, the following complex measures are implemented:

• development and introduction of modern energy efficiency standards for lighting, household appliances and engineering equipment of buildings,      
• establishment of testing laboratories’ system and implementation of measures to protect the market against low efficiency equipment,
• consumers awareness raising on options and benefits of energy efficient technologies, estimation of reduction of GHG emissions.

The project will focus largely on capacity development and assisting governments, standardization institutions, manufacturing, distributing, retail, consumer and environmental stakeholders in the EEU region to implement the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures available. The project covers country components for Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, as well as the regional component for all four participating countries. The project will be implemented by UNDP through DIM modality. The UNDP CO in Armenia as Lead Country is in charge of overall project implementation, whereas the UNDP CO in Kyrgyzstan is in charge of the national component implementation.

One of key projects’ interventions is support for establishment and further development of the system of energy consuming appliances testing laboratories in the project partner countries in light of development of common energy efficiency regulatory framework in the EAEU. The developed system of testing laboratories is an effective supporting tool for promoting of energy efficient appliances in the EAEU market as well as for setting of regulatory mechanisms to protect the market against low efficiency equipment. The support for establishment of testing laboratories in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan is envisaged through the relevant national Project components. After consultations with the key national stakeholders the following priorities for testing capacities development in Armenia were defined: i) lighting devices photometrical laboratory to check compliance with the requirements of Eurasian Economic Union’s Technical Regulation “On Energy Efficiency” and ii) mobile laboratory to check street lighting project’s compliance with the relevant national norms and regulations.

The project implemented a capacity assessment of potential partner laboratories to reveal the major gaps in quality and competitiveness of the testing services they provide. The findings have elicited the insufficiency in management systems and the consequent necessity to ensure their proper implementation and timely maintenance – in line with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 «General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories» standard (hereafter ISO/IEC 17025 standard). Thus, among other capacity building measures, the Project now focuses on supporting the selected partner laboratories in implementation of ISO/IEC 17025 standard’s requirements. The support will be provided via targeted engagement of both international and local expertise.      

Duties and Responsibilities

Under overall supervision of the Climate Change Programme Coordinator, under coordination of the Project Task Leader and in close cooperation with the International Expert on Support to Development of Energy Appliances Testing Laboratory Network (hereafter Laboratories Development Expert) the incumbent will be responsible for provision of professional expertise to the Project in support of project partner laboratories (i.e. a photometric and a mobile lighting laboratory) to improve the existing management systems to assure full compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 standard.

The incumbent will perform the following tasks:

• In close cooperation with the Laboratories Development Expert develop the list of management system documentation (i.e. high level documentation, procedures and records templates) to be elaborated to implement ISO/IEC 17025 compliant management system.
• Conduct gap analysis of the management systems of the selected project partner laboratories. Based on the identified gaps jointly with the Laboratories Development Expert elaborate action plans for implementation of ISO/IEC 17025 compliant management system. Agree the developed action plans with project partner laboratories’ management.    
• Support quality managers of project partner laboratories in implementation of ISO/IEC 17025 compliant management systems’ action plans.
• Conduct management systems’ internal audits, develop the relevant corrective action programs and support the quality managers of project partner laboratories to carry out the relevant corrective actions.
• Support the project partner laboratories in accreditation processes (if needed).  

Expected Deliverables 

• The list of documents/procedures/templates of records to implement ISO/IEC compliant management system is developed. Gap analysis of the selected project partner laboratories is done. Action plan for ISO/IEC 17025 implementation is prepared and agreed with partner laboratories’ management. 
• Support to partner laboratories in implementation of ISO/IEC 17025 fully compliant management system is provided, internal audits of the partner laboratories’ management systems is conducted, corrective action programs are developed. 

Competencies

• Proven knowledge of the national legislation and regulations for accreditation.
• Proven knowledge of widely known quality management systems and standards.  
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities,
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• High degree of independence and responsibility.
• Result oriented, fact based management approach.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:   

• Advanced university degree in management systems, management, engineering or other related field.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of experience in provision of consulting services for management systems implementation.
• At least 5 years of experience in ISO/IEC 17025 standard requirements implementation. Proven background for implementation of ISO/IEC 17025 standard requirements in at least 3 Armenian laboratories.    

Languages:

• Full proficiency in Armenian and Russian. Proficiency in English is an asset. 

NDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS WILL BE EVALUATED BASED ON THE FOLLOWING METHODOLOGY:

Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants' technical qualifications,  experience and financial proposal. The contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as technically responsive/compliant/acceptable to the requirements of the ToR and received the highest cumulative (technical and financial) score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation - max. 70 points.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation - max. 30 points. 

Note:  The candidate is requested to provide lump sum price proposal for the task based on daily consultancy fee for his/her services.

Note: Please note you can upload only one document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach).