Programme Management Officer - Grants

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.

The South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) supports UNOPS operations across six countries: Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. SAMCO delivers a broad range of services and technical expertise in climate change, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), infrastructure, procurement, human resource management, and fund management. Each country office is staffed with local technical experts and maintains strong partnerships with national governments, ensuring context-specific solutions and effective project implementation.

Vriddhi programme aims to strengthen civil society in Sri Lanka as a driver of inclusive governance, human rights protection, and peaceful conflict resolution. By enhancing the capacity, protection, and governance of civil society organisations—particularly those serving conflict-affected and marginalized communities—the programme supports their ability to operate freely, engage constructively with the state, and advocate for rights and reforms.

Key activities include protection mechanisms and incident monitoring, financial grants, capacity building and advisory support as well as network coordination and governance. 

The incumbent will be responsible for abiding with UNOPS grants policies, administrative instructions, processes and procedures. Under the supervision of the Project Manager and in close coordination with other UNOPS team  members, the Programme Management Officer will ensure compliance with all activities as per UNOPS agreed policies, processes and standards. He/She will have a high sense of integrity, confidentiality and the ability to engage sensibly with all partners and grantees. This position is based in Colombo. 

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Project Manager the incumbent provides operational support in relation to all grants management processes for the entire duration of the project e.g. determination of call requirements, launch of Call for applications / proposals, evaluation of bids and selection from UNOPS side as well as monitoring and evaluation of applicants' performance, especially in activities listed below 

1. Grant Management 

• Draft specifications and launch Calls for applications;

• Shortlisting (including: technical evaluation, feasibility evaluation, assessment of ToC, underlying assumptions, extended outcomes, capacity of Grantees to deliver);

• Preparation of necessary documentation related to shortlisted proposals;

• Evaluate the bids and select from UNOPS side;

• Monitor and evaluate the grantees' performance;

• Support Senior Project Manager in reviewing Grantees narrative reports; 

• Support preparation of other narrative reports related to the small grant component;

1. Financial Management 

• Provide support during review of Grants budget and financial reports;

• Provide support on financial monitoring of the Project, identification of operational and financial problems, and development of solutions

• Provide support on budget reallocation requests from Delivery Partners or analysis of financial reports;

• Provide Support in planning, budgeting and monitoring of the project, tracking the use of financial resources;

• Provide support in coordination of audit reports and Grantee’s Financial Capacity Assessments (Due Diligences).

1. Monitoring and Evaluation- Small Grants

• Assist in the active assessment of portfolio performance with a view to assure quality assurance, support the quarterly quality assurance process.

• Develop and maintain the M&E framework and tools including field monitoring checklists and reporting templates for small grants; 

• Ensure monthly, midterm and end term progress reviews of small grants, and contribute to produce reports to UNOPS and Vriddhi donors.

• Compile the results of small grants to be presented in quarterly and annual reports, project dashboards, project web-sites and other wider communications across the partner countries and regions;   

• Ensure regular update to the Grant Management System reflecting management status and results of small grants.      

1. General Support 

• Working in close collaboration with team and build collaborative team spirit;

• Support/Assist the Project Manager to respond to relevant queries; extract and analyze information accordingly;

• Draft inputs such as talking points, slide decks, blog entries and other type of informational/operational demands in coordination with other team members;

• Identify Risk, Lessons Learned and Issues;

Required:

• A Bachelor's Degree preferably  in Business Administration, Project Management, Economics, Social Science, Development Studies, Finance, or any other related fields is required.

Desired:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in Business Administration, Project Management, Economics, Social Science, Development Studies, Finance, or any other related fields is an added advantage.

Required:

• At least two (2) years of experience in project support, operations support, and  grant management . 

Desired:

• Experience working with civil society 

• Experience working in the development and humanitarian sector/working with UN, Donors, NGOs 

• Demonstrated experience in conducting financial and budget analysis

• Experience in project support functions (finance, human resources, procurement & logistics) 

• Experience with internet navigation and office applications (Google Workspace)

• 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.