Programme Management Officer

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.  UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.  

UNOPS team in Thailand supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Located in Bangkok, the team supports UN agencies, international non-governmental organisations, and governments throughout the region. We provide a range of services, including human resources (HR), financial management, procurement and project implementation services.

UNOPS Thailand delivers large-scale and high volume transactional HR services on behalf of global partners.

To best serve partners' needs, our team utilises standardised and unified systems and processes to ensure the highest quality of services and cost-effectiveness for partners.

• To be the focal lead on projects that are funded, under consideration for funding and/or under development feeding into outcomes/results of the programme strategy.

• Enable responsive and flexible programming by applying the Programme’s policies and procedures, being relevant to the needs and dynamic context of the peace pathways.

• Manage a portfolio of projects ensuring that timely solutions posed and decisions are made in a consultative and evidence-based manner, and are implemented efficiently and effectively.

• Assess, appraise and develop project proposals relating to the approved programme strategy.

• Work closely with other Programme Team colleagues to mainstream gender, conflict sensitivity and risk mitigation efforts into projects and the programme’s systems, strategies and approaches.

• Bring technical expertise to the Programme Team based on direct peacebuilding, programming in conflict-affected communities and/or other sectors of work in the national contexts that intersect with the peace pathways.

• Provide technical and contextualised project support, advice and coaching to funded implementing partners and externally to applicants.

2. Manage and integrate Programme relationships (20%)

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders.

• Oversee Implementing Partners’ use of programme’s resources and project deliverables, verify that programme funds are used to meet the programme’s objectives and no other purposes, and ensure there is optimum value for money in investments made.

• Build and maintain strong technical working relationships, and interlinking projects in order to demonstrate complementarity and interconnection between thematic areas.

3. Monitoring, reporting and process improvement (10%)

• Identify and respond to expressions of demand and/or need for technical assistance by project partners in a timely manner.

• Provide contextual analysis and contribute to the preparation of reports on the projects being implemented, contributing to reporting results to the programme’s results framework.

• Contribute to the development, revision and implementation of the programme’s programming tools, frameworks, procedures and guidelines, as required.

• Contribute to the refinement of systems that support effective development and appraisal of proposals alongside other UNOPS units and teams.

4. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing (10%)

• Ensure efficient documentation, data management and effective communication of results in collaboration with other UNOPS units and teams.

• Contribute to the UNOPS’s learning culture, documenting and applying lessons learned for more effective funding and implementing partner management.

• Contribute to the revision of programme strategy and results framework as required.

• Document “success stories” for use by UNOPS in M+E and communications, assisting with communications as required.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Peace and Conflict Studies, Social Sciences, International Development Studies or related field is required.

• A first level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) combined with a minimum of 2 years of experience in the field of programme development in an international institution, donor agency, NGO or INGO is considered as an equivalent.

• A minimum of 1 year of programme management experience in conflict-affected settings, peace processes and/or governance transitional environments, is required.

• A minimum of 1 year of professional experience in the field of programme management or development in an international institution, donor agency, civil society, NGO or INGO
  is required.

• Direct experience with applying gender mainstreaming, conflict sensitivity/DNH, risk assessments/mitigation measures and gender inclusion into project design and implementation is highly desirable.

• Budget development and sub/grant management experience (even if small micro-grants at community levels) is highly desirable.

• Knowledge of peacebuilding and peace promoting programming and ability to work with peace process stakeholders is highly desirable.

• Experience with programme-driven M&E practices, data collection and management is an advantage.

• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.

• 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.

• This position is stationed in Bangkok, Thailand, which is a family duty station.

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. 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.