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 Project Management Support Senior Officer will play a crucial role in the successful execution of the Verification of Claims and Expenditures Project (VCEP). The incumbent will serve as a key interface between the technical verification teams and the Programme Management Support, ensuring seamless communication, efficient data management, and adherence to UNOPS policies and procedures. The incumbent will be responsible for supporting the Project Management Support Specialist and the Senior Project Manager in all aspects of project administration, planning, and reporting. The incumbent will ensure compliance with UNOPS regulations and maintain accurate records of all project activities. All verification processes and project disbursements must adhere to established UNOPS regulations, including procurement guidelines, financial rules, and reporting requirements.

The Project Management Support Senior Officer will conduct substantive analysis, judging the validity of conclusions, and synthesizing proposals to meet demands related to project planning, reporting, and knowledge management within the VCEP project.

1. Planning

• Create detailed project baselines, work breakdown structures (WBS), and milestones using Google Sheets and specialized software (MS Project).
• Track project milestones, outputs and deliverables, and alert management to delays or risks.
• Create high level plans and milestone reports as required by management.

2. Reporting and coordination

• Develop and maintain calculation sheets using Google Sheets to facilitate data analysis and reporting on verified claims and expenditures. These sheets will be used to track key metrics, identify trends, and generate reports for management review.
• Support the development and review of operational reports, financial reports, forecasts, and project presentations.
• Provide inputs for project reporting to the Deputy Project Manager for quality review before submission to the Senior Project Manager.
• Review and quality assure project reports and deliverables prior to submission, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with UNOPS standards.

3. Knowledge Management and Record Keeping

• Collect, clean, structure and validate project data to ensure accuracy, consistency and reliability.
• Ensure all business processes are backed up by required supporting documents and maintain an effective records system.
• Support the planning and coordination activities, and follow up on the progress and quality of the products provided by the team members.
• Support the Senior Project Manager and other Output Team Leads in order to ensure that the overall verification process is running smoothly.
• Perform any other task assigned by the Project Management Support Specialist.
  

Required

• Advanced University degree (Master's Degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Project Management, Economics, Public Administration, Engineering, or a relevant field, with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.

• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Project Management, Economics, Public Administration, Engineering, or a relevant field, with a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience.

Desired

• Project Management Certification (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2)

Required

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in providing administrative and project operational support in areas such as planning and reporting, procurement, contract management, or asset management with a Master's Degree.
  

• A minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience in providing administrative and project operational support in areas such as planning and reporting, procurement, contract management, or asset management with a Bachelor's Degree.

• Proven skills in contract administration and/or project management.

Desired

• Experience in planning, creating project schedules and reports.

• Knowledge of UNOPS/UN rules and regulations.

• Experience within the international development and/or humanitarian sector.

• 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.