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.

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 Project Support Officer will provide administrative, operational, and project management support to ensure the smooth implementation of project activities.This role involves maintaining project documentation, supporting budget tracking, coordinating stakeholder meetings, and ensuring compliance with UNOPS and donor policies. The Project Support Officer works closely with project management to facilitate efficient workflows and reporting

To provide comprehensive operational, administrative, and project management support to the Private Sector Resilience Program (PSRP). The role assists in the smooth implementation of project activities, supports the monitoring of financial and procurement processes, facilitates effective stakeholder coordination, and contributes to accurate reporting, ensuring alignment with project objectives and compliance with UNOPS and donor requirements.

1. Project Planning & Implementation Support

• Advise Project management on UNOPS Policies and Procedures, Financial Rules and Regulations (FR&R), and World Bank donor requirements for efficient project implementation;

• Support the annual project planning process, workplan updates, and operational readiness tracking in line with PSRP objectives;

• Identify and advise on alternative options and innovative approaches according to Activity needs within UNOPS FR&R;

• Manage work packages within the project as and when required by Project management;

• On behalf of the Project and as directed by Project management, participate in periodic visits to project sites to review compliance with recognized procedures;

• Establish and monitor an internal control system for all administrative actions and project workflows.

2. Financial Management & Budget Tracking

• Monitor project financials, track commitments and disbursements, and advise Project management on expense obligations and cash flow to ensure deliverables are met;

• Track overall project expenditure, alert Project management to financial shortfalls or over-expenditures, and propose budget realignments, amendments, and revisions when necessary;

• Ensure accurate data entry and review of financial information and expenditures in the oneUNOPS ERP system;

• Produce routine financial reports, budget forecasts, and administrative reports according to UNOPS and World Bank reporting frameworks;

• Ensure full maintenance and organization of supporting project financial and operational documents for audit and review processes in compliance with UNOPS and World Bank guidelines;

• Ensure conformity of project disbursement requests with procedures, work plans, and resource availability, liaising with the Finance Unit for processing.

3. Procurement & Operational Support

• Support procurement processes for specialized technical services, including document preparation, submission review for Purchase Orders/Contracts, and tracking through oneUNOPS;

• Assist in managing the grant-making lifecycle, including proposal evaluations, grantee screening, Call for Proposals support, grantee monitoring, and drafting Grant Support Agreement amendments;

• Prepare Terms of Reference (ToR) for required project inputs (personnel, consultancy services, procurement of goods/services, training/seminars) with expert or client support as required;

• Assist Project management in monitoring HR requirements, providing induction briefings to newly recruited personnel, and supporting consultants throughout their assignments;

• Manage travel for all Project Team personnel in accordance with UN and UNOPS Security Policies;

• Proactively coordinate with internal support units (Finance, Procurement, HR, ICT and Cost Recovery) and support UNOPS management information systems for real-time asset and operational tracking.

4. Project Monitoring, Data & Reporting

• Continuously monitor project quality indicators and undertake monthly assurance tasks on behalf of Project management;

• Maintain project registers (Risk Register, Quality Register, Issue Logs, Decision Logs) and manage information flows to support quality assurance processes;

• Manage the compilation, consolidation, and analysis of relevant project data;

• Provide substantive administrative and data inputs to assist Project management in preparing World Bank and UNOPS progress reports, weekly activity reviews, and quarterly reports;

• Support Project management in maintaining the Electronic Blue File, Procurement, HR, and Finance files, standard filing structures, and official records to preserve institutional memory;

• Assist Project management in the preparation of project completion reports and ensure compliance with contractual obligations.

5. Stakeholder Coordination & Knowledge Management

• Organize, facilitate, and keep minutes for internal PIU, World Bank task team, and key stakeholder meetings, workshops, and consultations;

• Liaise with Programme Management Office (PMO) team members to complete project assurance tasks and resolve operational bottlenecks;

• Support the compilation of lessons learned as per defined reporting formats and contribute to expertise in tools and techniques;

• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for planning and knowledge building across organizational channels

Required

• An advanced university degree (e.g. Master), preferably in Accounting, Business Administration, Project Management, Finance Development studies, Economics, Commerce or related field discipline 

• A first-level university degree, preferably in the above-mentioned areas or related field, in combination with additional two (2) years' experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Desired

• Knowledge of UN systems/policies/norms and the World Bank’s ESF for social safeguards 

Required

• A minimum of two (2) years’ professional experience in project management, project support, support services, or administration with a Master’s Degree or four (4) years with a first-level university degree.

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (e.g. MS Office newer versions, Google Suite Applications) 

Desired

• Experience working with the World Bank, UN agencies or other donor agencies, government ministries, and/or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) 

• Experience working with private sector partners, grant programmes, grievance redress mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement.

• 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.
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• 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. 
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• 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.