Senior Programme Manager

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.

The Private Sector Resilience Program (PSRP) is a flagship Series of Projects (SOP) financed by the World Bank (IDA and ARTF) designed to strengthen the resilience and job creation potential of Afghan Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with a particular focus on women, youth, and returnees. The Senior Programme Manager will lead the implementation, which involves complex grant-making to NGOs and private sector entities for value chain development (agribusiness and carpets), business acceleration, and contracting comprehensive analytics. As the Senior Programme Manager, the incumbent holds ultimate institutional accountability for the strategic vision and operational delivery of the PSRP portfolio. The role requires navigating high political-economy risks and ensuring strict adherence to principled engagement while managing a diverse portfolio of international and local implementing partners, and a team of experienced private sector experts and support services professionals.

As the Senior Programme Manager, the incumbent has ultimate institutional accountability for the strategic vision, political navigation, risk mitigation, and operational implementation of the UNOPS PSRP portfolio. The incumbent navigates a  complex political economy environment, oversees multi-layered international and national implementing partner arrangements, and manages critical institutional relationships with the World Bank Group, international donors, and local partners.

1. Strategic Governance, High-Level Representation, and Political Navigation

• Assume ultimate portfolio accountability, lead and accept full executive accountability for the strategic orientation, technical integration, and financial performance of PSRP Components

• Serve as the primary institutional link representing UNOPS on the PSRP Steering Committee (PSC) .

• Co-chair the PSRP Management Committee (PMC) to institutionalize cross-component linkages, ensure financial and private sector workstreams are mutually supportive, and resolve complex systemic blockages.

• Advocate for project objectives and represent UNOPS in coordination platforms, including the Multilateral Development Bank (MDB+) Platform, the Private Sector Working Group of the Afghanistan Coordination Group (ACG), and the Afghanistan Technical Consultative Group.

• Direct ongoing political economy risk assessments and design principled operational adjustments to manage impacts from evolving regulatory requirements, trade disruptions, policy uncertainties, and de facto institutional dynamics.

• Lead relationships and regular coordination and communication with the World Bank and other project stakeholders throughout the project period.

2. Programme implementation and delivery

• Lead the development of the Project Operations Manual, other required project guidance documents, including the Investment Co-financing Facility Operational Manual, and oversee their implementation across all implementing partners, and absolute adherence. Oversee and negotiate necessary revisions to these documents with the World Bank.

• Govern Multi-Layered Sub-Grants, direct a complex sub-granting architecture and manage high-value agreements with international and national Implementing Partners (IPs), ensuring strict alignment with project development objectives (PDO). Oversee procurements of a significant volume of  consulting services, feasibility studies, and financial systems designs), guaranteeing that all activities strictly follow UNOPS procurement rules.

• Enforce Rigorous Fiduciary Controls, oversee the design of strict internal financial management systems and risk mitigation strategies to safe-keep grant proceeds within Afghanistan’s high-risk environment.

• Oversee implementation of the Funds Chain platform, .

3.  Safeguards, Environmental & Social Compliance, and Auditing

• Command Environmental & Social (E&S) Safeguard, direct the PIU’s dedicated safeguards team to implement the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Labor Management Procedures (LMP), and the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP).

• Enforce Strict Protection Frameworks, assume absolute accountability for the enforcement of a comprehensive Sexual Exploitation and Abuse / Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) Action Plan and Accountability Framework.

• Direct Project Audits, act as the principal focal point for international external audits, UNOPS Internal Audit and Investigations Group (IAIG) specific reviews, and the Third-Party Monitoring Agent, for the swift and complete resolution of systemic control issues.

4. Directing the Knowledge Agenda and Innovation Pipeline

• Govern Evidence-Based Outputs, oversee the generation and technical clearance of core knowledge products and dedicated gender/job assessments.Champion Upstream Experimentation, guide the Proof of Concept (PoC) facility and investment co-financing studies to safely test and scale high-impact interventions.

5. Executive Personnel Leadership and Structural Accountability

• Provide Executive Mentorship, recruit, structure, and lead, the , multidisciplinary Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of international and national specialists, ensuring a strong culture of compliance, integrity, and gender parity.

• Enforce Duty of Care, maintain absolute oversight of safety, security, and medical evacuation protocols for all project personnel in direct compliance with UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) standards.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), preferably in Project Management, Business Administration, International Development, or a related field with 12 years of relevant experience OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent), preferably in Project Management, Business Administration, International Development, or a related field with 10 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• Project management certification from a globally recognized institute is desired.

• Professional certification from a reputed institute in the technical topic relevant to the job area is desired.

Required

• Senior-level, progressively responsible experience in program management, large-scale operations, or international development leadership is required.

• Minimum of 5 years directing multi-million dollar economic development or private sector portfolios within Fragile, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) settings is required.

• Experience in project/programme management, with a focus on private sector development, or economic development in complex environments is required.

Desired

• Proven experience directing complex multi-layered implementation arrangements, contract management across international/national NGOs, and rigorous fiduciary frameworks is desired.

• Direct experience leading large-scale programs funded by the World Bank (IDA/ARTF) or other international financial institutions is highly desired .

• Extensive experience working in the UN common system or international financial institutions at a senior management level is desired.

• Experience working in any of the following areas:

  • Private sector engagement and development in fragility, conflict, and violence  contexts

  • Value chain mapping and development (carpets/light manufacturing and agribusiness)

  • Inclusive and sustainable industrial development

  • Early-stage business acceleration

  • Start-up and SME financing

  • Digital livelihood initiatives

  • Livelihoods programming targeting vulnerable groups

  • Financial systems, including international regulatory framework, compliance, service providers, and digital payments

  • Trade facilitation

  • Regulatory reform & policy advocacy

  • International and IFI investments incl. investment analysis, financing structures, blended finance

  • Project concept development and piloting

  • IFI investment requirements & studies, incl. social rate of return

  • Islamic finance and insurance solutions (Takaful), incl. in FCV contexts

  • Capacity building for the private sector and NGOs in FCV contexts

  • Private capital mobilization

  • Jobs creation

• Experience in Afghanistan or other conflict-affected countries.

• 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.
  

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