Country Manager

The Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR), based in Geneva, is responsible for the effective management, coordination and oversight of UNOPS operations across the region. The ECR region spans the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Caucasus, and Türkiye, where UNOPS works with partners to achieve sustainable impact in health, education, environmental management, housing, rule of law, good governance, economic development, and social inclusion. With a wealth of experience in procurement, infrastructure, project and grant management, UNOPS in the region directly implements projects, provides technical advisory services and capacity building to advance the Sustainable Development Goals in support of national governments.

Since opening in 2019, the UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) in Vienna has served as a hub for operations across 12 countries in South-East Europe, Türkiye, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. AUMCO delivers technical expertise, operational support, and sustainable infrastructure solutions for governments, donors, and international financial institutions. Flagship initiatives include Blueing the Black Sea—a GEF and World Bank partnership to reduce pollution and promote sustainable development—and Türkiye’s post-earthquake recovery programme, enhancing protective services for women and children. In Albania, projects revitalise cultural heritage and advance digital justice, while in Kosovo, new university infrastructure supports higher education. In Georgia, AUMCO facilitates the Eastern Partnership European School and strengthens rule of law and digital health access. Across Central Asia, activities range from health system strengthening in Uzbekistan to hazardous waste management in Tajikistan. AUMCO also supports UNOPS’ global Water, Environment, and Climate portfolio, reinforcing its role as a regional and thematic centre of excellence.

Since establishing its presence in Tashkent in 2023, UNOPS has been supporting healthcare infrastructure and service delivery across Uzbekistan. Key initiatives include: - COVID-19 Emergency Response – Strengthening resilience to pandemics by upgrading over 150 Sanitary-Epidemiological Committee facilities. The project delivers infrastructure improvements, diagnostic equipment, an ICT-based national epidemiological surveillance system, and expanded patient treatment capacity. - Oncology Services Development – Enhancing access to quality cancer care by equipping 14 regional hospitals with advanced medical, diagnostic, radiological, and ICT tools, establishing a national cancer registry, and providing capacity building for medical staff. - Hospital Infrastructure Design in Kashkadarya – Supporting healthcare reform through feasibility studies, site investigations, and technical designs for new hospitals in Karshi and Beshkent, aligned with national and international standards. Through these efforts, UNOPS is helping Uzbekistan strengthen its health systems and improve the quality of care for its citizens.

The Austria Multi-Country Office 

The Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) is part of the UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Region (ECR). Specifically, AUMCO aims to enable achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through global programmes and tailored interventions in the Balkans, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, focused on:

• Infrastructure

• Procurement 

• Project Management (full service, back on track)

• HR and Transactional Services

• Grants Management 

• Technical and Advisory Services

Uzbekistan Office 

Under the purview of AUMCO, the UNOPS Uzbekistan Office, established in Tashkent in October 2022 supports the Government of Uzbekistan’s development efforts in the country, through the provision of effective project management, infrastructure, and procurement services. At present, the office has signed and has been implementing three engagements contributing to SGD3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) while actively working with the Government of Uzbekistan and development partners in diversifying its portfolio in line with the country’s development priorities, including education.

The Country Manager reports to the Multi-Country Office (MCO) Director, who provides strategic direction, oversight and guidance. Working in close collaboration with the MCO’s Head of Support Services (HoSS) and Head of Programme (HoP), the Country Manager is accountable for planning, executing and monitoring the delivery of all engagements. The incumbent actively pursues new business, building key relationships and ensuring the timely, cost-effective and sustainable delivery of services to all partners and stakeholders.

People Leadership

• Create, foster and role model a culture of trust, empowerment and accountability within the Project Office. 
• Build engagement and foster a diverse and inclusive work environment, respectful of all, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
• Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment and 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. 
• Promote teamwork, collaboration and diversity by providing timely guidance and supervision to the team to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
• Plan, recruit, manage and develop a flexible and diverse workforce, with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance

Project Office Portfolio Management

• Under the guidance and oversight of the MCO Director and HoP, develop proposals and prepare project agreements in connection with identified opportunities.
• Plan and propose required resources (human, financial and administrative) to achieve goals set for the Project Office. 
• Establish the strategies and implementation plans for the Project Office.
• In collaboration with the partners, develop the objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected to ensure timely and partner oriented services. 
• Oversee, monitor and direct appropriate measures to maintain the safety and security of UNOPS, assets, property, information and personnel and their eligible dependents within the respective area of responsibility.  
• Under the guidance of the MCO Director and with the support of the MCO Head of Support Services and the MCO Head of Programme, the Country Manager manages the overall HSSE performance in the Project Office while overseeing the implementation of all HSSE requirements.
• Consult - if most senior UNOPS person in-country - with the UNOPS Chief of Security acts as the UNOPS Security Focal Point (SFP) within the country of operation, including participating actively in the Security Management Team (SMT) and performing duties on security as outlined in the Framework of Accountability in the UN Security Management System Policy Manual

Alliance Building, Networking and Advocacy for Business Development 

• Keep abreast of and assess the needs of the relevant national government and other UNOPS partners operating in the country, to identify and plan with them (and under the guidance of the MCO Director) areas for leveraging UNOPS services/competencies in project service delivery and management that will facilitate their achievement of sustainable results.
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through active networking, advocacy and effective communication of UNOPS competencies in project service delivery and management to develop opportunities and engagements with new and existing partners.
• Keep the MCO Director informed/advised on opportunities and/or challenges and risks to strengthen UNOPS capacity for portfolio management and business development.

Service Delivery and Quality Assurance 

• In close collaboration with the MCO HoSS and HoP, establish and maintain appropriate arrangements for ensuring excellence of business processes and quality standards, as well as ensure direct operational support for delivery of the Project Office projects/programmes, including leveraging regional or corporate support facilities wherever available.
• Monitor and oversee project/programme implementation, review progress, assess constraints and take corrective action, ensuring early warning of risks to the MCO, for action and/or intervention. 
• Take responsibility for financial decisions/ exercise financial control to ensure the fiscal health/ sustainability of the Project Office, including submitting financial reports to the MCO Director. 

Representation and Inter Agency Coordination

• Participate, as delegated by the MCO Director, in inter-agency and external meetings/ bodies to contribute to the harmonization of policies, practices and approaches within the UN System, such as the implementation of the  United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, Integrated Strategic Framework (UNSDCF), and ‘’Delivering as One.’’ 
• On behalf of the MCO Director, participate in any UN country team meetings or interagency management groups to contribute to discussions and initiatives to strengthen coherence, inclusiveness, aid effectiveness and security measures.
• In alignment with the MCO Director, keep the UN Resident Coordinator informed of UNOPS activities within [country name] through regular communication and formal reporting on business acquisition and implementation of activities led by UNOPS as part of the UNSDCF or equivalent.

Risk Management 

• Drive high-quality, well-informed decisions that align with organizational goals for effective and measurable outcomes to the regional assessment exercise for UN Resident Coordinators.
• Ensure corporate reporting, information flow and appropriate escalation of awareness of emerging risks and topics. 
• Champion risk management through a 'tone at the top' leadership approach, promoting alignment with applicable standards and policies.

Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation to ensure UNOPS is continually incorporating best practice approaches.
• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for corporate, regional and national development planning and knowledge building.
• Plan, implement and organize strategic capacity building of personnel, partners and stakeholders.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 12 years of relevant experience OR 
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 10 years of relevant experience is required.

Required

• Relevant experience is work in strategic and managerial leadership in public affairs, management, business development planning and operations in a large corporate or international organization, or related areas

Desired

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

• 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.