Programme Director

The Asia Pacific Regional Office, based in Bangkok, Thailand, provides strategic leadership and oversight for UNOPS operations across 17 countries, ensuring high performance, operational excellence, and alignment with organizational goals. Operations currently span Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands. Across these countries, we work closely with key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and maximize impact through five main operating units: Afghanistan (AFCO), Myanmar (MMCO), South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO), and the Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC). Through these entities, we provide agile, client-focused service delivery across diverse sectors - including infrastructure, health, procurement, and project management - supporting the implementation of sustainable development solutions across the region.

Since 1995, UNOPS has maintained an active presence in Afghanistan, delivering efficient, agile services in support of both humanitarian response and development efforts. Prior to August 2021, the Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) implemented projects across a broad range of sectors, including infrastructure, procurement, capacity building, and environmental protection. In response to evolving humanitarian needs, AFCO has shifted its focus to supporting life-saving initiatives and basic human needs. Current priorities include managing large-scale cash-for-work programmes, procuring emergency supplies, and providing inter-agency coordination, communication, and accountability support.

Under the direct supervision of the Country Director, the Programme Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Community Resilience and Livelihoods project, and for the liaison/coordination and communication with the funding partner (the World Bank), implementing partners (I/NGOs and private sector contractors), and project beneficiaries. In consultation with the Country Director, the Programme Director will also liaise with local and national authorities including with the de facto Authorities, in line with United Nations guidelines. The Programme Director will manage a large team with expertise in different areas: program, contract and grants management, financial management, procurement and supply chain, social mobilization and training, engineering, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, regional coordination, gender, grievance redress, security risk management and environmental and social risk management. The Programme Director is responsible for the overall coordination, procurement and granting arrangements, engagement with communities, fiduciary, environmental and social risk management, quality assurance, monitoring and reporting, and managing technical assistance activities.

The Programme Director acts on behalf of the Project Board to manage the project on an ongoing basis and to ensure performance of the project fund in the areas of financial (budget/cash flow/expenditure), work planning and resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), programmatic/administrative (including audit results) and procurement operations. 

Overall, the main responsibility of the Programme Director is to ensure that the project outputs are delivered within the specified project tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits. The Programme Director will engage, discuss, negotiate, liaise and represent UNOPS with the private sector, civil society including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other relevant stakeholders (including UN agencies and de facto authorities) to promote excellence, good practice and policy dialogue.

The Programme Director is responsible for the overall coordination, procurement and granting arrangements, engagement with communities, fiduciary, environmental and social risk management, quality assurance, monitoring and reporting, and managing technical assistance activities for the Community Resilience and Livelihoods project. The Programme Director acts on behalf of the Project Board to manage the project on an ongoing basis and to ensure performance of the project fund in the areas of financial (budget/cash flow/expenditure), work planning and resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), programmatic/administrative (including audit results) and procurement operations.

1. Stakeholder engagement and communication

• Engage and work closely with the World Bank Task Team Lead, ensuring consistent communication and collaborative problem solving, in the interest of sustained delivery of project services across Afghanistan. 

• Engage, discuss, negotiate and liaise with I/NGO partners and wider civil society, UN Agencies and co-ordination/working groups, private sector and other relevant stakeholders to promote excellence, good practice and policy dialogue.

• Where necessary and in consultation with the Country Director; liaise and manage relations with the De facto Authorities in line with United Nations guidelines, including  representing UNOPS and CRLP to the DfA at both a national and local level. 

• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of an effective communications strategy and plans to maintain effective relations with external and internal stakeholders.

• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover outputs.

• Engage RO/HQ technical expertise in a timely manner, on an as required basis, to ensure compliance with UNOPS guidance and best practice. 

2. Personnel management and leadership

• Lead the team of over 140 personnel, based in Kabul and across the country, including guiding and supporting the team leads in their leadership and management.

• Establish strategic team objectives, key performance indicators and measurement standards toward delivering expected results. 

• Continuous assessment of the performance and effectiveness of the project, recommending changes and/or corrective actions in the team structure and/or financial operations to enhance and maintain effectiveness in the changing environment.

• Attract, retain and develop talent with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance, offering guidance to enable responsible, effective and efficient performance.

• Ensure principles of human rights, gender equity, peace, voice and accountability, ‘doing no harm’ and aid effectiveness in all activities.

• Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments.

• Where necessary and in consultation with the Country Director, act as OiC for UNOPS AFCO and/or engage with the UN Country Team/Humanitarian Country Team/relevant sub-committees.

3. Project delivery and performance

• Develop, complete, implement and update project implementation plan(s).

• Embed sustainability dimensions, including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects, into the project life span. 

• Ensure that women and vulnerable groups receive assistance.

• Manage the production and community development aspects of the required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary.

• Ensure that the quality of work packages and deliverables complies with the quality requirements defined in the Implementation Plan.

• Identify and anticipate in a timely manner potential risks and issues and advise on mitigating measures so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved.

• Identify and discuss with the Country Director potential programme/business opportunities for UNOPS.

• Ensure the smooth and effective transition or completion of the project and its orderly and efficient closure as required.

4. Procedures 

• Ensure compliance with all organisational policies, and specifically the Project Operations Manual (POM).

• Prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by UNOPS/Project Board.

• Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and in the Implementation Plan.

• Oversee the work of the Procurement Advisor in drafting the requirement definitions for procurement processes. Approve requisitions and requests for non-purchase order payments; evaluate submissions received, if appointed to the evaluation team (if applicable).

• Ensure that grants are awarded and managed in line with UNOPS procedures.

• Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded as per the UNOPS requirements.

• Oversee the Financial Advisor in ensuring the development and implementation of project financial management guidelines and control mechanisms, in conformity with UNOPS rules and regulations (if applicable) and to manage expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports).

• Manage budgets, cash flow and obligations to ensure that deliverables are met and payments to contractors, grantees and personnel are received on time.

• Understand and manage UNOPS overheads, allocable charges, and related corporate charges as they apply to the project.

• Ensure audit is carried out and completed in accordance with the project agreement and as per the donor requirements 

5. Monitoring and reporting

• Put in place and continuously implement solid reporting mechanisms in the project on a regular basis against set targets and indicators.

• Prepare and issue regular reports in accordance with the funding partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting.

• Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality).

• Lead monitoring and reporting of the project's activities to ensure compliance with UN principles of operating in Afghanistan.

• Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the dashboard system.

• Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of projects' life span.

• Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables.

• Provide quality control for management outputs (project documents, reports, etc.)

6. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Knowledge building and sharing on the development and implementation of the Project, synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contributions to UNOPS and WB knowledge management initiatives.

• Provide technical guidance and on-the-job training to ensure work standards are achieved, both in terms of quality and quantity of inputs/outputs processed.

3. Impact of Results

The Community Resilience and Livelihoods Project operates in 10 cities, 29 provinces, 94 rural districts, and works with 9,457 Community Representative Groups (CRGs), with the aim of creating over 33 million labour days and livelihood support for more than 1.3 million beneficiary households - with 14.6 million people benefitting from the project. 

The Programme Director works towards the effective and successful achievement of results by adhering to project management methods and strategies, reducing risks, ensuring cost efficiencies and improving success rates.  Furthermore, successful achievement of results confirms UNOPS role as a key and trusted partner to the World Bank, and UNOPS position as a critical service provider, in challenging, fragile contexts.    

Required

• An Advanced University degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) combined with fifteen (15) years of relevant experience OR 

• A First level University degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) combined with seventeen (17) years of relevant experience is required.

Required

• A minimum of 15 years of experience that combines strategic and managerial leadership in international development, business development, operations and/or program management in a large international and/or corporate organisation.

• The ability to consistently exercise discretion and confidentiality with sensitive information is essential.
  
  

Desired

• Experience and understanding of the political, social and economic context of Afghanistan is advantageous.

• Experience in community development and livelihoods is a distinct advantage.

• Experience in programme implementation and/or fund management is an advantage.

• Ability to build strong, trusted relationships and operate in an influential manner with the de facto authority, UN officials, donors and NGO partners is advantageous.

• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary teams is an advantage.

• Knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNOPS procedures is an advantage.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. 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.

• 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. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click 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.