Background

This project represents the third phase in a strategic partnership focusing on promoting surveying works and geospatial capabilities, and a myriad of actions and products stemming from these two areas of work. The key objective of this intervention is to maintain provision of advisory services in developing the national capacities for effective geo-spatial surveys, generating the national geo-spatial data infrastructure, generating multi-purpose knowledge from such surveys to efficiently boost national efforts in achieving the key directions provided by 2030 Saudi Vision, as well as promoting the national implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This position will be responsible for Implementing and Managing Geospatial-Database in GASGI-Technical Departments, analyse complex problems and make recommendations to solve them, establishing geodata management systems and the implementation of geospatial information data driven reporting.

The completion of the previous phase has been instrumental in nurturing the idea of developing the foundation of financial sustainability whereby the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information (GASGI, ex GCS) will achieve a high level of efficiency in all its geospatial products. It is through this quality and efficiency that GASGI wishes to expand the availability and marketing of its products and to broaden the public awareness about its products and services. The core areas around which all aspects of this project act upon are: Geodesy, Geospatial Services, Hydrography, Map Production, Institutional Excellence, Establishment of GASGI Academy.

Advisory services are provided towards achievement of financial sustainability and contribution to the national economy. Moreover, advocacy promoted for a wider visibility of GASGI Capacity development will also focus on training in the core areas of land survey; geodetic survey; topographic survey’ and Cadastral survey.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide consultations in oceanographic surveys, oceanographic data and project management.
  1. Provide consultations in Oceanographic/Hydrographic and Marine Scientific Research in Marine Waters under Saudi Jurisdiction.
  2. Prepare oceanographic surveying standards, services and practices for both offshore and onshore activities according to best international practices adopted by PSMSL/GLOSS/IOC and IHO.
•   C2. Project and Data Management
  1. Oversee the National Tide Gauge Network Maintenance Project.
  2. Oversee and extend expert guidance and advice in oceanographic data processing and prepartion of Nautical Publications such as National Tide, Tidal Current Tables, Tidal Atlases as per latest IHO-Standards
• Capacity development 
  1. Evaluate quality control and assurance practices for oceanographic/geospatial data and nautical charts/publications related to Marine Sciences (e.g. tides/currents/meteorology
  2. Prepare in-house development and training courses for GEOSA Staff
•  Technical support and guidance 

1. Prepare technical specifications for oceanographic projects to meet the requirements of the PSMSL/GLOSS/IHO
2. Providing technical advice on the production of nautical tidal publications
3. Provide technical advice on oceanographic surveying instrumentation, observation platforms, tide and meteorlogy sensors/calibration
4. Continuous investigation of new technologies

• Regulatory compliance and legal aspects
  1. Industry guidance, specifications and related professional information aquaring and sharing
  2. Prepare Standard Operating Procedures

1. Write and submit scientific reports to the Management on related oceanographic data collection, surveying and on related matters.

A.Expected Outputs and Deliverables

B.Institutional Arrangement

• The Marine Science Advisor has a dual reporting line to the Marine Sciences/Hydrographic Department, GEOSA, and the UNDP program analyst performs the quality assurance role to the project.

C.Duration of the Work

• The expected duration of the assignment is expected to be 6 months with the possibility of extension.

D.Duty Station

• The assignment will be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As His/her QA/QC activities will be implemented within the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information (GASGI)
• If unforeseen travel outside the consultant’s home-based city is requested by UNDP and not required by the Terms of References (ToR), such travel shall be covered by UNDP in line with applicable rules and regulations and upon prior written agreement. In such cases, the consultant shall receive living allowances not exceeding the United Nations (UN) Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rate for such other location(s).

• Note: A written approval from UNDP and relevant authorities will be required to facilitate the consultant's travel to any locations than stated on this TOR on official missions where necessary.

Working Arrangements:

• All mission travels must be approved in advance and in writing by the Supervisor.
• United Nations Development of Safe and Security – BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to the commencement of travel.
• The Consultant is responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director.
• The consultant is also required to comply with the UN security directives.
• The consultant is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP.
• The consultant will be responsible for submitting his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies.
• The consultant is responsible for required health and life insurance related to work or travel.
• The consultant is expected to have his/her own Laptop/Computer.

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

A.Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

B.Recommended Presentation of Offer

For purposes of generating Offers whose contents are uniformly presented and to facilitate their comparative analysis, it is best to recommend the preferred contents and presentation of the Offer to be submitted, as well as the format/sequencing of their presentation.  The following documents may be requested:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
3. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment. A methodology is recommended for intellectual services, but may be omitted for support services [Note: this is optional for support services]; 
4. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.  If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP. 

C.Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

D.The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
3. The Professional Certificates mentioned above, as applicable.

E.Instructions for online submissions

Step 1:  Please prepare all required documents electronically.

Step 2: Combine all documents in ONE SINGLE FILE (preferably in PDF; however, Word format can also be accepted) and upload to the UNDP Jobs links

Step 3: After that, you will receive an auto-reply from the UNDP jobs if your offer is received successfully.

Interested applicants are advised to carefully review this advertisement and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described. 

Given the volume of applications that UNDP receives, only shortlisted offerors will be notified.

UNDP reserves the right to reject any incomplete applications.

Please be informed that we don’t accept applications submitted via email.

Interested Offerors are required to submit an application via UNDP Jobsite system as the application screening and evaluation will be done through UNDP Jobsite system. Please note that UNDP Jobsite system allows only one uploading of application documents, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file. Your online application submission will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an email acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application if necessary. Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows you to upload a maximum of one document.

Any request for clarification/additional information on this procurement notice shall be communicated in writing to UNDP office or send to email Weiwei.liu@undp.org  the Procurement Unit would endeavor to provide information expeditiously, only requests receiving at least 3 working days prior to the submission deadline will be entertained. Any delay in providing such information will not be considered as a reason for extending the submission deadline. The UNDP's response (including an explanation of the query but without identifying the source of inquiry) will be posted on the Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice page as provided above. Therefore, all prospective Offerors are advised to visit the page regularly to make obtain updates related to this Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Interested applicants are advised to carefully review this advertisement and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described. 

The interested offeror must read the Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice, which can be viewed at https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=97820  for more detailed information about terms of references, instructions for the offeror, and to download the documents to be submitted in the offer online.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.