Project Management Office (PMO) - Specialist

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 Project Management Office (PMO) Specialist contributes to the development and continuous improvement of strategic, operational and governance frameworks to ensure that all projects and programmes are effectively designed, prioritized and implemented in alignment with UNOPS and partner objectives. The role supports the management team in strategic planning and portfolio oversight, providing delivery assurance to ensure projects are executed according to UNOPS standards and promoting best practices in project management. The PMO Specialist also ensures the consistent application of project management methodologies, policies and tools across all operations, enabling evidence-based decision-making, optimal resource utilization, and effective delivery of sustainable results. 

• Development and Planning 
• Contribute to strategic oversight, advice and direction on project and programme management activities in line with service agreements and project documents.
• Support the development, implementation and, when required, revision of project budgets and staffing plans, ensuring alignment and synergy across operations.
• Establish and maintain resource tracking systems within the PMO to enhance planning, forecasting and delivery tracking.
• Identify and anticipate risks and issues, providing timely advice and mitigation measures to the supervisor.

Project Set-Up and Closure

• Facilitate the preparation of high-level project and programme plans, consolidating lower-level plans into integrated milestones.
• Develop, monitor and maintain project dependencies and interdependencies.
• Provide support on project assets, finance and administrative matters throughout the project lifecycle.
• Serve as the focal point for project closure activities.
• Oversee all closure processes, ensuring the proper disposal of assets, final operating, initiation of financial disbursements during Defects Liability Periods and handover of projects to HQ for final financial closure.
• Ensure timely updates of project information in UNOPS systems (e.g. oneUNOPS).

Monitoring and Reporting

• Prepare, review and issue regular project and programme reports in accordance with donor requirements and UNOPS standards.
• Continuously assess project performance using scope, cost, schedule and quality criteria.
• Implement and maintain effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems aligned with project logical frameworks.
• Ensure that all projects define, update and track milestones and performance targets throughout their lifecycle.
• Analyze delivery data and performance dashboards, identifying trends, risks and corrective measures.
• Provide analytical reports and financial insights (e.g. delivery forecasts, locally managed cost projections) to support decision-making by project and support services teams. 
• Coordinate the implementation of project management initiatives and requests from the Regional Office and HQ teams.

Quality Assurance 

• Ensure that projects and programmes comply with UNOPS standards, policies and audit requirements.
• Collaborate with procurement, finance and audit teams to maintain quality control and compliance with supplier and internal systems.
• Coordinate quality reviews of project documents, reports and deliverables, ensuring consistency and accuracy.
• Provide quality assurance for management products, ensuring adherence to corporate standards and client expectations. 
• Participate as authorized in continuous process improvement initiatives and operational excellence efforts.

Personnel Management (as applicable)

• Assist in supervising, guiding and motivating project team members to achieve high performance and accountability.
• Contribute to recruitment, onboarding and performance management of personnel, ensuring gender balance and diversity principles are upheld.
• Promote a respectful, inclusive and safe working environment that aligns with UNOPS’ zero-tolerance policy for misconduct, discrimination and harassment.
• Ensure compliance with United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) safety and security standards for all project staff and operations.

Knowledge Building and Sharing

• Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on project management.
• Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned.
• Conduct research on project management-related topics and contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries and briefing notes.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 7 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 5 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

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

Required

• Relevant experience is work in project management or related areas.  
• Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems are required.

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.