Technical Specialist- Environmental

South East Asia Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO)

The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCO) supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. EAPMCO was established in January 2023 following the merger of the Thailand Multi-Country Office, which covered 20 countries across  North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific, and the Cambodia Multi-Country Office, which covered 4 countries South East Asia - 3 countries in the Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) and the Philippines.  EAPMCO currently covers 24 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises nine business units: SEMCO Thailand, EAPMCO Indonesia, EAPMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, EAPMCO Papua New Guinea, EAPMCO China, EAPMCO Vietnam, EAPMCO Lao PDR, EAPMCO Philippines and EAPMCO Cambodia.

In 2024, the UNOPS EAPMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 80 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services. The Multi Country Office head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight, and assurance of the excellence of business processes and quality standards across all of the Multi Country Office locations. It is also responsible for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself. 

UNOPS in Indonesia

UNOPS established its operations in Indonesia in 2005 in response to the catastrophic Indian Ocean tsunami. UNOPS has invested over $200 million in Indonesian projects, emphasizing advanced infrastructure development, sophisticated fund management, strategic procurement, and comprehensive capacity building. These projects address critical domains including environmental protection, climate resilience, energy transition, health system enhancement, educational facility reconstruction, and post-disaster recovery and management. UNOPS Indonesia also plays a vital role in enhancing post-COVID-19 economic resilience, advancing sustainable energy solutions, and providing advisory support, technical assistance, and transactional services to other UN agencies.

All Indonesian projects are delivered through the country teams based in Jakarta, Indonesia and backstopped by UNOPS South East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Southeast Asia Regional Program on Combating Marine Plastics (SEA-MaP Regional Project)

The World Bank funds the SEA-MaP Regional Project. It supports the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations Member States) (AMS) in their efforts to combat marine plastic pollution and address associated adverse effects by contributing to the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Action Plan (RAP) for Combating Marine Debris in the ASEAN Member States (2021 – 2025). The SEA-MaP Regional Project aims to reduce plastics consumption, increase recycling, and minimize leakages to prevent land and sea-based marine plastic pollution in the ASEAN region. It helps strengthen institutional capacity, harmonize standards and guidelines, and promote innovative financing and technology solutions across AMS. 

ASEAN implements the SEA-MaP Regional Project through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat (ASEC) within the ASEAN structure and mechanisms for collaboration and consultation across the AMS and with development partners. A Project Steering Committee (PSC) is co-chaired by the Chair of the ASEAN Working Group on Coastal Marine Environment (AWGCME) and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) and includes members of the AWGCME. In addition, a Project Management Unit (PMU) is established within the ASEC with project oversight, monitoring, and reporting responsibilities. 

ASEAN implements the SEA-MaP Regional Project with the technical support of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Through the Regional Implementation Support Unit (RISU), UNOPS assists the ASEC-based PMU of the SEA-MaP Regional Project and provides back-end technical support entailing project implementation and management, monitoring and evaluation, financial management, procurement services, environment and social risk management, knowledge, and capacity building. 

Technical Specialist - Environmental Role

The Technical Specialist - Environmental is envisioned as a linchpin to provide technical support to the PMU and its technical coordination with the AMS stakeholders, bridging technical gaps. This ensures that regional actions are well-coordinated, aligned with AMS needs, and effectively integrated into broader project goals. By focusing on technical aspects, the Specialist strengthens the quality assurance process and complements the team’s capacity for seamless project execution. The International Project Technical Specialist will report directly to the International Project Coordinator and work closely with the PMU, AMS stakeholders, and other technical advisors.

The role involves supporting the Project Coordinator in various areas, including providing technical inputs across the project portfolio and closely supervising and supporting contractors. Responsibilities include, among others: a) collaborating with relevant stakeholders and consultants; b) providing technical advice to the PMU on project activities and deliverables; c) bridging the gap between technical expertise and project management and ensuring that the PMU and the RISU are aligned on the project’s technical needs; d) contributing technical expertise to project deliverables ensuring technical and quality standards are met; e) offering strategic oversight, advice, and guidance on the technical aspects of project activities; f) coordinating across deliverables and guiding efficient and effective use of AMS time during consultation and dissemination;  g) ensuring regional-level capacity building activities are tailored to the needs of the AMS; h) conceptualizing and implementing mentoring, hands-on guidance, coaching, and advisory services to support contractor teams in coordination with the Technical Advisory Organization and retainer experts. Additionally, the role entails supporting coordination and communication with stakeholders, focusing on technical aspects – including supporting the PMU in communicating technical matters with the AMS; collaborating with the PMU to monitor and ensure the technical consistency of project implementation with assignment and project objectives; and preparing technical reports, briefs, and presentations that summarize research findings, progress, and recommendations for stakeholders.

• A minimum advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) or higher degree is required, preferably in relevant disciplines such as Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Marine Biology, Marine Ecology, Natural resource management, Sustainability Studies, or another relevant discipline.

• A first university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent), preferably in the above-mentioned fields with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree or higher degree.

1. Contract type: International ICA
2. Contract level: ICS 10 / IICA-2
3. Contract duration: Ongoing until 30 September 2026 with the possibility of extension subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.