Programme Management Officer - Innovation (Retainer)

Job categories Programme Management

Vacancy code VA/2025/B5502/30660

Department/office APR, EAPMCO, Indonesia

Duty station Jakarta, Indonesia

Contract type Local ICA Specialist

Contract level LICA Specialist-8

Duration 6 months with a possibility of extension

Application period 01-Sep-2025 to 07-Sep-2025

Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.

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Background Information - Job-specific

Note: This position is based within UN Global Pulse Asia Pacific, the UN Secretary-General’s Innovation Lab, administered by UNOPS.

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. 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. With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO)

The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCO) supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. 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 entire 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.

UN Global Pulse (UNGP)

UN Global Pulse is an initiative of the Executive Office of Secretary-General (EOSG) founded in 2009. We work in support of the Secretary-General’s priorities, in advancement of the UN Charter. UN Global Pulse serves as a cross-pillar lead and hub for experimentation and digital innovation. We have a globally distributed team in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The teams work with digital innovation, strategic foresight, real-time data and artificial intelligence to further sustainable development, humanitarian and peace outcomes. Our vision is ‘A world in which responsible and inclusive digital innovation serves to empower people and protect the planet’. Our mission is to work at the intersection of digital innovation and science to inform, inspire and support the entire UN and those it serves, to anticipate and respond to the challenges of today and tomorrow.

The goals of the UN Global Pulse Network are: i) to generate knowledge, capabilities and approaches that support the transformation of the United Nations into a more agile and resilient ‘next-generation’ institution; ii) to create and accelerate the development of globally accessible approaches that help communities and partners anticipate and address emerging global challenges; and iii) to advocate for the global transformation of policies, practices and culture required to maximize the impact of digital innovation, minimize its risk of harm, and ensure pathways to scale and sustainability.

The UN Global Pulse Asia Pacific, administered by the UNOPS system, is a regional hub that works at the intersection of innovation and the human sciences to strengthen the ability of the United Nations and its stakeholders to respond and adapt to the challenges of today and tomorrow. As the UN Secretary-General’s Innovation Lab, the hub utilises a set of capabilities on data, innovation, digital expertise, strategic foresight, and behavioural science.

Serving the wider Asia Pacific region, the hub is a frontrunner in practising and advocating for inclusive innovation. Drawing on a decade of successes harnessing system design, as well as big data and artificial intelligence for platform development and data analytics, Global Pulse Asia Pacific facilitates co-creation of forward-thinking solutions that inform policy and decision-making.

From enhancing humanitarian crisis response, strengthening climate resilience, and improving the decision-making process in digital transformation, the hub will continue to apply innovation to accelerate the achievement of the sustainable development agenda for a better future.

UN Global Pulse Asia Pacific is seeking a Programme Management Officer - Innovation to play a key role in driving the design, coordination, and scaling of innovation initiatives within UN Global Pulse Asia Pacific. The candidate will report directly to UNGP AP’s Partnerships and Advocacy Manager and work closely with the Hub’s teams: 1) Social Systems; 2) Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning; and 3) Data Innovation and Policy teams. The Officer will ensure smooth project management and delivery, strengthen network-level experimentation, and support the scaling of innovative solutions. The role will also foster multi-stakeholder partnerships and contribute to advocacy efforts, ensuring UNGP’s innovation work is effectively implemented, communicated, and positioned to achieve meaningful impact.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of functions: Project management, liaison, and co...

Summary of functions:

Project management, liaison, and coordination support
Innovation process management
Partnerships and advocacy
Knowledge and learning

1.Project management, liaison, and coordination support

Provide project management support to UNGP’s innovation projects.
Participate in planning, execution, and monitoring of projects and initiatives.
Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among team members.
Participate in the development and maintenance of relevant project documentation, including concept notes, project plans, progress reports, and other deliverables.
Liaise with external vendors, agencies, and contractors to ensure timely delivery of services and materials, and take care of the related contractual responsibilities.
Evaluate project outcomes and gather feedback to identify areas for improvement and lessons learned.

2. Innovation process management

Participate in planning and delivering use cases and experiments to test the feasibility of new ideas and solutions and assess their potential impact.
Co-design and innovation facilitation to identify use case, policy and program challenges, and co-create innovative solutions with partners.
Support the end-to-end innovation process: from problem identification and co-design with government partners to piloting, testing, and scaling solutions while ensuring methodologies are participatory, evidence-based, and results-oriented.

3. Partnerships and advocacy

Support in identifying and establishing effective partnerships with key stakeholders to support the implementation of UNGP's strategy and work plan, and maintain these relationships over time.
Work in collaboration with the Creative Communications team to develop and review materials to communicate UNGP's work internally and externally.
Liaise with government counterparts, fostering relationships in relation to the programme/project

4. Knowledge and learning

Document lessons learned, share best practices, and foster a culture of experimentation and adaptive learning.
Support partners and counterparts in adopting innovation tools, data-driven approaches, and foresight methods to enhance innovation design and delivery.

Impact of Results

The effective and successful execution of duties by the Programme Management Officer – Innovation will strengthen UNGP-AP’s capacity to design, coordinate, and scale impactful innovation initiatives. The role will contribute to improved project efficiency, strengthened multi-stakeholder collaboration, and the successful translation of innovative ideas into scalable solutions. This will enhance UNGP-AP’s ability to advance data-driven and human-centered approaches that support the UN system and partners in addressing complex development and humanitarian challenges.

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and enc...

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education: A first-level university degree (Bachelors Degree or equiv...

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contract Agreement (LICA) Contrac...

Additional Information

Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. Applic...

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.
UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse 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.

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APPLICATION TIPS

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TOGETHER, WE BUILD THE FUTURE

UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.

Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

We are proud of our people. The UNOPS family brings together approximately 160 nationalities, represented by over 5,000 UNOPS personnel as well as some 7,800 personnel recruited on behalf on our partners. Spread across 80 countries, our workforce is rich in diversity and culture – with inclusion at its core.

We understand the importance of balancing professional and personal demands and offer several flexible working options.

Explore what we offer here.