Project Management Support - Senior Officer

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.

In November 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved the Verification of Claims and Expenditures Project (VCEP) to verify outstanding claims from contractors, consultants, suppliers, and project management offices for works and services completed in Afghanistan under ADB-financed and administered projects prior to 15 August 2021. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) serves as the executing agency for VCEP. Subsequently in November 2025, ADB approved the Payment of Verified Expenditures Project (PVEP) to settle financial obligations validated under VCEP. UNOPS is the executing agency for both projects, ensuring continuity between verification and payment processes. The primary objective of VCEP is to verify claims, advances, and eligible expenditures incurred before 15 August 2021 across various contract types, including civil works, goods supply, and consulting services. Building on this, PVEP aims to facilitate the secure, transparent, and compliant disbursement of funds to eligible entities for amounts officially verified under VCEP. Together, these projects support accountability and financial integrity in development financing. They ensure that funds are used appropriately and in accordance with agreed terms, while identifying potential irregularities and strengthening oversight. This contributes to improved project governance, enhanced transparency, and increased confidence among stakeholders. The initiative aligns with UNOPS’s mandate to promote the efficient and transparent use of development resources and contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): Strengthening accountability, transparency, and effective public financial management. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Supporting financial stability through timely payments to contractors, consultants, and suppliers, preserving the local technical workforce, and promoting market stability. SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Demonstrating strong collaboration between UNOPS and ADB and providing a replicable model for addressing complex legacy liabilities in fragile contexts. Overall, the project represents a coordinated effort to resolve legacy financial obligations from primarily infrastructure investments in Afghanistan, reinforcing trust in development systems and ensuring that past commitments are honored in a transparent and accountable manner.

The Project Management Support Senior Officer (Operations Senior Officer) supports the effective implementation, coordination and monitoring of project operational activities to ensure successful delivery of results within scope, time, cost and quality parameters. The role provides analytical and operational support in project planning, execution and reporting; contributes to risk and performance management; and ensures timely communication with partners and stakeholders. Through proactive client focus and problem-solving, the Project Management Support Senior Officer (Operations Senior Officer) helps drive efficient project operations and achievement of results in line with organizational and donor/ client expectations.

1. Project Delivery and Performance

• Contribute to the development, execution and updating of detailed implementation plans, ensuring that all project outputs are delivered on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
• Integrate sustainability, social inclusion, and gender equality considerations into all project stages.
• Support full implementation of Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) standards across all activities.
• Provide input for the narrative progress reports and other reporting requirements as requested by the Senior Project Manager.
• Coordinate the timely preparation and submission of narrative and financial reports, ensuring compliance with UNOPS and donor/partner standards.

2. Finance and Administration

• Provide support in the management of the Finance and ensures compliance to UNOPS Financial Rules & Regulations and finance procedures, liaise with AFCO Finance and Finance Practice Group as required to resolve issues and challenges;
• Monitors status of project budgets, and ensure that budget revisions are done on time and in line with UNOPS procedures;
• Ensures that all relevant internal and control mechanisms in projects are duly established and implemented;
• Prepare updated financial reports in compliance with reporting requirements to donors, or as specified in the agreement (i.e. Project Delivery Reports; Financial Monitoring Reports, progress Reports, etc).
• Ensures that UNOPS rules and procedures are fully applied in all project support services and operations areas, including following up on and implementing project audit recommendations.
• Support project internal audits, ensuring documentation and processes meet compliance standards.
• Provide logistical and operational support for missions, workshops, and dialogues, including the preparation of materials and reports
• Oversees the proper recording of all project assets. Ensure timely preparation and submission of periodic inventory reports.
  

3. Procurement and Contract Management

• Closely monitors and ensures that the Project Purchase Orders (POs) are duly reviewed/closed quarterly.
• Coordinate and supervise services related to travel, event management, administrative surveys, transportation, building/facility/space management, and office supplies.
• Ensure provision of relevant transport services required by the project.
• Raise requisitions for procurement, and facilitate requests for issuance of contracts and/or amendments on documents.
• Make sure that project personnel are provided with the required ICT services and equipment to fulfil their duties and responsibilities in an effective manner.
  

4. HR and Personnel Administration

• Provide support in the preparation of a learning plan for VCEP Project personnel based on business needs and capacity issues;
• HR Data Sheet Management: Maintain the consolidated Project HR Data Sheet (Forecast Spreadsheet) to track all personnel positions, contract types, and associated financial commitments.
• Leave and Entitlements: Oversee staff leave tracking and entitlements (AL, HL, CSL, USL, RW), ensuring compliance with policies and coordinating updates with the AFCO staff tracker.
• Recruitment Status: Liaise with HR team to monitor the status of recruitments and separations, including managing and tracking detailed hiring timelines.
• Management the personnel under 3rd Party contracts in coordination with HR and Procurement.
• Ensuring that all Project UNOPS Personnel on official duty travel must comply with the UNSMS policies requiring Security Clearances for travel.
  

5. Knowledge Management

• Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned.
• Provide direct supervision of the team members, ensuring effective work planning, prioritization, and delivery of services.
• Facilitate capacity development and learning initiatives to strengthen team capabilities and adapt to evolving operational requirements.
• Support knowledge sharing, process documentation, and continuous improvement initiatives within the Project unit.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 4 years of relevant experience.

• A master's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years of relevant experience.

Desired

• A globally recognized professional certificate or membership in Project Management.

Required

• A minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in project management or related areas with a Bachelor's degree.

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in project management or related areas with a Master's degree.

• Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems.

Desired

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country.

• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• 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. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• 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.