BCP Infrastructure Project Manager

BCP Renovation and Reconstruction
30 May 2024

Kyiv

ERA BACKGROUND 

Ukraine’s efforts to win the future – emerging from Russia’s full-scale war ready to accelerate its development as a sovereign, independent, democratic, and prosperous state – require a dynamic, inclusive economic recovery. Through partnerships with the government and robust private sector engagement, ERA has supported economic growth and resilience in Ukraine since 2018. Following Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and subsequent occupation of the part of Ukraine, ERA shifted from its focus on Eastern Ukraine to cover development priorities across the country that address Ukraine’s urgent needs in export logistics and infrastructural improvements.

AGRI-UKRAINE GRAIN EXPORT LOGISTICS

USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is one of USAID’s core partners implementing the $350 million Agriculture Resilience Initiative – Ukraine (AGRI-Ukraine) that was established in 2022 to bolster Ukrainian agricultural exports and alleviate the global food security crisis exacerbated by the war. Under AGRI-Ukraine, ERA partners with public and private companies to complement and leverage urgently-needed grain transportation and transshipment investments.

INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS ERA also directly supports the Government of Ukraine, including the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), the State Customs Service and Ukrainian Railways, to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs). Modern and more efficient border infrastructure and customs procedures will reduce export costs and increase export capacity, enabling  Ukraine to scale trade and advance its path to EU integration.

BCPs Renovation and Upgrade:

  • Infrastructure Improvements: deliver equipment, architecture and engineering design and construction services at 9 priority (6 road and 3 rail) and up to 12 additional BCPs that improve traffic management systems, cargo processing, and terminal infrastructure and equipment for cargo and passenger processing, to increase exports and manage traffic more efficiently along the borders of Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
  • Standardization and Efficiency with Rapid Upgrades: target total of 42 BCPs with immediate upgrades such as prefabricated office structures and restrooms, pavement repairs, signage, barricades, and equipment for weighing and scanning that address urgent needs and improve user experience and perceptions of Ukraine.
  • Equipment and Traffic Management Systems:  procure mobile truck scanners, fixed and dynamic scales, luggage and hand-held scanners, and rail cargo equipment to increase export capacity and meet international standards for cargo processing; and develop and implement modern traffic management systems at select, high volume BCPs.

About the job

BCP Infrastructure Project Manager will work with the BCP Director and Senior Manager for BCP Rapid Upgrades to oversee and coordinate project design management performed by engineering firms and construction from inception to completion, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and according to specifications. The position requires travel to BCP at the western border of Ukraine. The role is placed in Kyiv or Lviv and reports to Senior Manager for BCP Upgrade.

Responsibilities:

Project Planning and Scheduling:

  • Develop project scope of work, schedule, estimated cost, and resource allocation requirements.
  • Define project objectives, deliverables, and milestones.
  • Identify and mitigate project risks.
  • Review and monitor the level of effort (LOEs) submitted by the engineering subcontractors for reasonableness and time frames during the pre-design, design, and construction phases.
  • Develop and update progress monitoring control schedules (MS Project, Excel)  for design and construction work for multiple projects.
  • Track work progress using several factors such as time, cost, actual progress, etc., and monitor compliance with workplan timing and budget.

Project Execution:

  • Lead project kick-off meetings and regular status meetings.
  • Coordinate activities among team members and stakeholders.
  • Monitor project progress and performance using various methods such as time, cost, and physical progress.
  • Resolve issues and conflicts as they arise.

Communication:

  • Communicate project status, issues, and risks to ERA, USAID, and stakeholders.
  • Provide regular updates to the project team and management.

Resource Management:

  • Review and track resource allocation by the engineering subcontractors on multiple projects simultaneously against approved LOEs and detect any overlaps.
  • Review the engineering developed estimated construction cost.

Quality Assurance:

  • Ensure that deliverables meet quality standards and Government of Ukraine and USAID requirements.
  • Implement quality assurance processes and procedures.
  • Conduct quality reviews and audits as necessary.

Budget Management:

  • Develop project budget, track expenses, and review progress payments
  • Ensure that projects are completed within budget.

Stakeholder Management:

  • Build and maintain relationships with project stakeholders.
  • Manage stakeholder expectations and address their concerns.

Documentation:

  • Develop simultaneous document review and filing process.
  • Maintain accurate project documentation, including plans, schedules, and reports.
  • Ensure that project documentation is up-to-date and accessible
  • Archive project documentation upon project completion.
  • Keep respective activity records in the DAI corporate system (TAMIS).

Job Expectations

In this position, you are expected to share the DAI’s 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 cultural diversity and treat everyone everywhere with professionalism and dignity to make the world a better place.

About you:

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
  • Project management certification (e.g., PMP) is desirable.
  • At least 8 years of experience in managing engineering design projects and preferably donor-funded projects in Ukraine or abroad
  • Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Excellent organizational, time management, multi-tasking and multiple project management  abilities
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Project Management tools and software and ability to add LOE, and cost in addition to time to the Microsoft PM.
  • Knowledge of engineering and construction principles and practices.
  • Familiarity with relevant GoU and USAID regulations and standards of design and construction, as well as knowledge of international technical assistance.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills in English and Ukrainian are required.
  • Excellent computer skills in MS Excel and MS Project; able to develop Microsoft Project Gantt charts to monitor engineering level of effort (LOE), schedules, and cost for several projects environment.
  • Strong technical, financial, analytical, quantitative, critical thinking, and conceptual skills to analyze issues, develop monitoring and control tools, and recommend and present solutions and/or options.

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: July 1, 2024

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English to ukraine@dai.com.

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: June 16, 2024.

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

USAID completes basic upgrade of Yahodyn–Dorohusk road border crossing point to boost processing of cargo for export  

BCP Renovation and Reconstruction
29 May 2024

In cooperation with the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine and the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine, the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA) has completed work on modernizing the Yahodyn-Dorohusk road crossing point (BCP) in Volyn Oblast, which borders Poland.

USAID ERA contractor installed 10 modular or prefabricated buildings, including four up-to-date restroom facilities with handicapped access and six modern offices for passport and document processing for truck drivers and passengers traversing the BCP. Each modular office is fully insulated and furnished, equipped with heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, and connected to utilities (electricity, water, and heating), providing excellent working conditions for the State Customs and Border Guard Services of Ukraine.  

Simultaneously, USAID ERA contractor repaired damaged sidewalks and curbs, rainwater drainage pipes, painted metal fences, and replaced the road surface, updated road markings, fences, and signs. The road repairs improve safety and provide significant cost savings for people crossing the border by reducing wear and tear on tires and vehicles in general. 

USAID ERA also provided waste sorting trash bins to enhance cleanliness and safety and installed 459 LED lights and fixtures, significantly boosting illumination and enhancing safety and security at nighttime. Furthermore, USAID ERA installed two mobile dynamic vehicle scales, vital and versatile equipment that can be used to supplement the fixed scales to weigh vehicles and cargo, providing flexibility in handling different weighing requirements.

Additionally, USAID ERA is upgrading the Yahodyn-Dorohusk rail BCP to meet Ukrainian Railways’ (UZ) needs of improving the processing of cargo and passenger movements. USAID ERA has so far installed one 50-KW diesel generator to ensure continuous operation during power outages and delivered 26 pieces of ICT equipment and other supplies, including multifunctional devices (MFD), printers, laptops, computers, notebooks, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).  

Background: Between 2023-2026, USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is dedicating $115 million to support the supports the Government of Ukraine, including the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (Ministry for Restoration), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways (UZ), to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs). 

USAID supplies trash bins and road barricades to enhance facilities at 13 border crossing points

BCP Renovation and Reconstruction
28 May 2024

USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), continues to upgrade Ukraine’s western border crossing points (BCPs). In April and May, ERA delivered a total of 36 waste sorting trash bins, 28 large garbage containers, and 208 water-filled road barricades to Rava-Ruska–Hrebenne (Poland), Chop–Zahony, VylokTiszabecsi, KosynoBarabash, and Dzvinkove–Lonia (all BCPs on the border with Hungary), Malyi BerezniyU’bla (Slovakia), SolotvynoSighetu (Romania), and SokyrianyOcnita, VashkivtsiHrimenkeuts, KelmentsiLarga, Starokozache–Tudora, Rososhany–Brichen, and Mamalyga–Kryva (all BCPs on the border with Moldova). 

The bins are already in use and improving cleanliness at the BCPs, and will help foster environmental responsibility and in alignment with established practices in Europe. The road barriers are enhancing safety for motorists, pedestrians, and BCP officials. This support is part of broader efforts of USAID ERA to improve the efficiency, accessibility, and logistics capacity for BCPs in support of the export of grain and other essential agro-commodities, which is crucial for Ukraine’s economic recovery. 

Background: Between 2023-2026, USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is dedicating $115 million to support the supports the Government of Ukraine, including the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (Ministry for Restoration), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways (UZ), to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs).   

USAID ERA provides nine inkjet printers to rail border crossing point in Zakarpattia Oblast  

BCP Renovation and Reconstruction
17 May 2024

On May 6, the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) delivered nine inkjet printers to a rail border crossing point (BCP) in Zakarpattia Oblast that will contribute to the day-to-day operations of Ukrainian Railways (UZ).  

Earlier this year, USAID ERA also supplied 103 pieces of computer equipment to this BCP and three other priority railway BCPs in the Volyn, Lviv, and Chernivtsi Oblasts. This equipment, including printers, system units, monoblocks, laptops, and uninterruptible power supplies, will streamline workflows, expedite cargo clearance, and increase both border capacity and passenger traffic. ERA also installed four 50-kW diesel generators at these BCPs to ensure uninterrupted daily operations during power outages and accelerate the processing of shipping documents, especially during grain shipments.  

Additionally, three sets of bogie exchange lifts (a total of 12 units) were installed at a rail border crossing in Chernivtsi Oblast, with plans to install another 20 bogie lifts by the end of May at the Ukraine-Poland border in the Lviv region. These wagon lifts are an effective way to replace bogies with wide gauge wheelsets (1535 mm) with European gauge wheelsets (1420 mm) and vice versa, which contributes to the accuracy of technological processes related to the rearrangement of wagons and, accordingly, to the efficiency of cargo transportation by rail between Ukraine and the European Union. 

USAID ERA is committed to improving the efficiency of Ukraine’s rail border crossings to accelerate the processing of shipping documents, particularly for grain exports, bolstering the country’s economic resilience.  

Background: Between 2023-2026, USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is dedicating $115 million to support the supports the Government of Ukraine, including the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (Ministry for Restoration), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways (UZ), to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs). 

USAID ERA installs 14 mobile truck scales at seven road border crossing points to enhance goods’ clearance   

BCP Renovation and Reconstruction
07 May 2024

The USAID Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA) has installed 14 mobile truck scales, also known as vehicle dynamic scales, at seven road crossing points (BCPs) to simplify clearance procedures for goods crossing Ukraine’s borders with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. ERA purchased the mobile truck scales through a competitive tender from a Ukrainian company. Additionally, the company developed and deployed licensed software for car plate number recognition and data transfer at the border crossing points.  

Thanks to their mobility, these scales are simple to use, easily deployed and moved to the most appropriate location at the BCP, minimizing the need to redirect trucks to stationary weighing stations. The scales are equipped with lighting, video surveillance, and screens. They can be used for a variety of vehicles and cargoes, providing flexibility in handling different weighing requirements without the need for specialized equipment. In addition, the scales are highly accurate in detecting discrepancies in cargo weight. The weighing results are available to the vehicle owner and customs officers, and the scales operate in real time, which allows data to be collected and analyzed at the BCPs. 

The installation of mobile scales at border crossing points will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, which is crucial for the accurate calculation of tax revenues and preventing misdeclaration of goods, and hence fraud. 

Background: USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is one of USAID’s core partners implementing the $350 million Agriculture Resilience Initiative – Ukraine (AGRI-Ukraine) that was established in 2022 to bolster Ukrainian agricultural exports and alleviate the global food security crisis exacerbated by the war. Under AGRI-Ukraine, ERA partners with public and private companies to complement and leverage urgently needed grain transportation and transshipment investments.

ERA also directly supports the Government of Ukraine, including Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (Ministry for Restoration), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways, to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs). Modern and more efficient border infrastructure and customs procedures will reduce export costs and increase export capacity, enabling Ukraine to scale trade and advance its path to EU integration.

Ukrainian manufacturer lights up export routes on Ukraine’s borders  

BCP Renovation and Reconstruction
24 April 2024

The USAID Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA) is actively enhancing Ukraine’s border infrastructure by modernizing the lighting systems at key Ukrainian border crossing points (BCPs). This initiative targets installing a total of 875 street LED lights at 17 BCPs on the border with Poland, Hungary, and Moldova. The first 310 LED lights have already been installed, and the lighting upgrade will continue through early May 2024.   

Previously, in December 2023, USAID ERA upgraded lighting systems at two BCPs bordering   Poland and Slovakia, by installing 479 LED lights. Most of the LED lights are manufactured by Ukrainian producers, one of which is the Ukrainian manufacturer OSP Vatra Corporation, LLC.

VATRA was founded in 1957 in Ternopil as the state-owned enterprise Elektroarmatura, which was engaged in the design, construction, and manufacturing of lighting equipment. Since 1965, the company has focused on the production of lighting equipment, starting with the development of lighting fixtures specifically for the chemical and mining industries. By 1978, the range was expanded to include high-power floodlights. Coming into the new century, the company already had a wide range of modern luminaires and floodlights designed to illuminate hazardous areas, industrial facilities, city streets, and roads, as well as administrative and public buildings. In 2006, the company expanded its portfolio by launching the production of LED lighting structures. Four years later, in 2010, the company launched the production of printed circuit boards for LED matrices. Since 2018, the company has been focusing on producing lighting equipment for airfields and runways as a strategic area.  

The main VATRA clients are agricultural and livestock associations ranging from cultivation to processing and logistics of food and related products, transport infrastructure (railways, sea, river and airport ports, transit corridors), road construction and municipal road and street lighting divisions, defense industry, sports and entertainment and recreation, industrial, mining and mining groups.  

An interesting fact is that the Ukrainian manufacturer VATRA produced about 10,000 floodlights for the sports facilities of the XXII Olympic Games held in 1980. It is thanks to VATRA, that Kyiv residents and visitors of the capital can admire gilded chandeliers with crystal elements of original design in the Palace of Culture “Ukraine” and the National Opera of Ukraine.   

VATRA’s portfolio also includes the manufacture and installation of lighting for Bunge (USA) – Bunge Ukraine (a grain terminal and oil extraction plant), ArcelorMittal – Kryvyi Rih (chemical products manufacturer), Zaporizhstal (oxygen compressor shop), and also for the M.V. Cargo logistics transshipment complex who works in cooperation with Cargil Corporation in Odesa region.   

During November-December 2023, through the USAID ERA’s lighting upgrade, VATRA products LED luminaires DSP65V (196 items) and DSP67V (82 items) were installed at one of the largest automobile checkpoints in the Volyn region. These high-quality products, providing efficient illumination of the checkpoint, has received many positive reviews from the State Customs and Border Guard officials, as well as travelers and other users of the BCP. 

Modern, high-quality and energy-efficient lighting at BCPs is one of the most important areas of modernization of this key infrastructure. Proper lighting affects the overall perception of the gateway to Ukraine, and supports easy and secure customs clearance of cargo and passenger traffic. By installing energy-efficient lighting, energy costs and the overall cost of maintaining lighting systems can be greatly reduced.   

“The USAID ERA support opens up a new horizon of opportunities for VATRA to manufacture and supply lighting products worthy of international recognition, with an additional positive social and public impact due to the important work of our collective labor. 

At present, the domestic sales market accounts for 97% of our total production. The largest trading partner in foreign markets is the official distributor in Poland.  

In 2023, VATRA secured a trade volume at the level secured before the full-scale invasion by Russia. Our team and production capacities are adapted to working in difficult logistical and energy conditions.” – said Oleh Kumchyk, VATRA’s Commercial Director. 

VATRA’s company and product profiles perfectly meet the needs of USAID ERA, and the objectives of boosting Ukraine’s economy through export, coupled with the active participation of local industry. VATRA has its own scientific and technical capabilities, which are used to develop, prepare production, and master new equipment at a high technical level. It consists of a design and technology center with a design department, design and technology bureaus, a special tooling design department, a special design bureau for tooling and tooling design, a research and testing laboratory, an experimental laboratory, a quality and competitiveness department with a comprehensive research laboratory, a metrology bureau, and a standardization bureau.  

The production facilities of VATRA are focused on a virtually closed production cycle with minimal dependence on third-party supplies and include foundry, plastic parts production, machining, manufacturing, stamping and welding, tooling production, foundry tooling production, electroplating and painting production, and a transport facility that handles internal and external transportation, overhead and floor electric transport, and automobile transportation from the enterprise’s premises. 

 

The surface-mounted devices (SMD) production assembly department specializes in the manufacture of special printed LED boards for the entire range of products. The assembly department assembles products on assembly lines and individual workstations using special electrical and pneumatic equipment.  

The innovation of VATRA’s production is achieved by using LEDs as a light source with a special luminaire design that provides appropriate heat dissipation, which stabilizes the longevity of such a light source without significant degradation of the light flux throughout its service life. 

The quality of VATRA’s products is ensured and controlled in accordance with the requirements of certification standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 28000, ISO 37001, ISO 50001. The products are manufactured in accordance with the state regulations and regulations of the State Standard of Ukraine (DSTU) and VATRA’s own technical specifications. 

VATRA is the only major manufacturer of explosion-proof lighting in Ukraine possessing full compliance with the necessary certification and permitting requirements. Several of VATRA’s luminaires for lighting in potentially explosive environments have been tested and certified according to the equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX) directive, which gives VATRA the opportunity to sell these products in the European Union.  

Improving lighting systems at BCPs is important for the safety of travelers and employees, especially at night. High-quality lighting will allow the State Customs officers to process information faster, reducing waiting times and increasing throughput at the border.  

Earlier this year, USAID ERA replaced 33 old modular buildings at four priority BCPs, some of which will be used as offices for employees of the State Customs and Border Guard Services of Ukraine. Under these general upgrade activities, road signs have also been replaced, and water barricades, waste sorting bins, and commodity scales have been installed at some of the BCPs to speed up customs procedures. Further, USAID ERA contractors have begun pavement repair and miscellaneous improvement work at some of these key BCPs. The work involves repairing damaged pavements, stormwater slotted drains, and canopy cover over the checkpoints, and painting the barriers and metal fence, placement of traffic lane lines and markings, and replacing security fences. 

Background: USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is one of USAID’s core partners implementing the $350 million Agriculture Resilience Initiative – Ukraine (AGRI-Ukraine) that was established in 2022 to bolster Ukrainian agricultural exports and alleviate the global food security crisis exacerbated by the war. Under AGRI-Ukraine, ERA partners with public and private companies to complement and leverage urgently needed grain transportation and transshipment investments. 

ERA also directly supports the Government of Ukraine, including the Ministry for Restoration (MoR), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways, to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs). Modern and more efficient border infrastructure and customs procedures will reduce export costs and increase export capacity, enabling Ukraine to scale trade and advance its path to EU integration.