Project Manager

Background Information - Job-specific

South East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO)

The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCO) supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. EAPMCO was established in January 2023 following the merger of the Thailand Multi-Country Office, which covered 20 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific, and the Cambodia Multi-Country Office, which covered 4 countries South East Asia - 3 countries in the Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) and the Philippines.

EAPMCO currently covers 24 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises nine business units: EAPMCO Thailand, EAPMCO Indonesia, EAPMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, EAPMCO Papua New Guinea, EAPMCO China, EAPMCO Vietnam, EAPMCO Philippines and EAPMCO Mekong. In 2024, the UNOPS EAPMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 80 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services. The Multi Country Office head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight and assurance of the excellence of business processes and quality standards across all of the entire Multi Country Office locations. It is also responsible for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself.

Project Information

The project Manager is expected to manage multiple projects implemented in Indonesia and Timor Leste.

The Climate Village Project/ Program Kampung Iklim (PROKLIM): it has been led by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of The Republic of Indonesia (MOEF), since its inception in 2012. The programme encourages the active participation of multiple stakeholders to increase community resilience, the impact of climate change and the reduction of GHG emissions. UNOPS will assist the Government of Indonesia in effectively expanding PROKLIM’s coverage as well as strengthening sustainable livelihood activities. This project, funded by the Temasek Foundation, intends to implement its activities in 100 villages across 10 districts in South Sumatra.

The Global Pulse Asia Pacific: as the UN Secretary-General’s Innovation Lab: the hub utilises a set of capabilities on data, innovation, digital expertise, foresight and behavioural science. Serving the wider Asia Pacific region, the hub is a frontrunner in practising and advocating for inclusive innovation. Global Pulse Asia Pacific facilitates co-creation of forward-thinking solutions that inform policy and decision-making: from enhancing humanitarian crisis response, strengthening climate resilience, and improving the decision-making process in digital transformation, the hub will continue to apply innovation to accelerate the achievement of the sustainable development agenda for a better future.

DISHA - Data Insights for Social & Humanitarian Action: Global Pulse’s Disha is an initiative managed by UNOPS and the Executive Office of the Secretary General (EOSG) and across Pulse Labs that brings together UN agencies and private, public, and social sector partners for the development of data and AI products as digital public goods (DPGs). DISHA aspires to catalyze the formation of a cohesive and responsibly open ecosystem of data and AI products and services that reduces inefficiencies in the development of digital solutions for sustainable development and humanitarian action—with an initial focus on natural disaster response and recovery—to accelerate attainment of the sustainable development goals.

Support to UNEP in Timor-Leste: in this 4.5 years project, the overall objective is to support UNEP in providing procurement, supply, installation, and commissioning of items to support across project operations. This will include working on procurement processes, awarding suppliers, monitoring items production and delivery, overseeing customs clearance and handover, including the installation and commissioning of some of the goods provided.

Position Overview

Under the direct supervision of the Country Manager - EAPMCO Mekong, who is the Project Executive, the Project Manager is responsible for the overall delivery and oversight of assigned projects, ensuring compliance with the strategic intent and contractual obligations defined in the Project Initiation Documents (PID) and Legal Agreements. Operating on behalf of the Project Board, the Project Manager ensures that all project outputs are delivered within established tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk, and benefits.

The incumbent will lead cross-functional project teams, coordinate with national counterparts, donors, and implementing partners, and ensure a coherent and adaptive delivery approach. They will be accountable for developing and updating Implementation Plans, approving deliverables, assigning tasks to technical team members, and monitoring progress in alignment with UNOPS project management standards and partner expectations.

Depending on project configuration, responsibilities may include:

Managing technical studies, design reviews, or the supervision of infrastructure development or rehabilitation;

Overseeing procurement of goods, works, or services, including ICT and telecommunications equipment;

Coordinating training, capacity-building activities, and operational rollouts;

Supporting strategic and operational alignment with resilience, digitalization, and sustainability agendas.

Contract management of multiple suppliers and supervision of technical experts

Given the challenging and complex operating environment, the Project Manager is expected to apply professional judgment, contextual awareness, and adaptive management skills to ensure project relevance, efficiency, and long-term value to stakeholders.

The Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provides services to the different donors, partners and beneficiaries. The Project Manager acts on behalf of the Project Board to manage the project on an ongoing basis during the Implementation Stage. The main responsibility of a Project Manager is to ensure that the project outputs are delivered within the specified project tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits. He/she is expected to meet the organization’s performance and delivery goals.

The Project Manager is responsible to create the Implementation Plan, use the Project Initiation Documents (PID), Legal Agreement and have a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders to ensure the project(s) outputs are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and the partner(s). Success of the project(s) and hence Project Manager will be based on the defined Success Criteria.

The project manager will be managing project(s) which ultimate goal is to provide implementation services that contribute to the achievement of partners’ goals. The variety of projects is quite diverse and can range from management of grants, development of strategies to delivery of training or providing technical assistance.

While the complexity of those projects may vary, maintaining high standards in terms of quality, health, safety and sustainability is always expected.

Depending on the nature and configuration of the project, the project manager might be executing technical studies, reviews, designs, supervision or operation and maintenance services of one or several physical infrastructure assets, in one or multiple sites. Depending on the implementation modality it may involve large volumes of procurement of goods, services and HR services.

UNOPS operates in complex contexts where resources might be scarce, local capacity low and where professional judgement and experience in these environments are of uttermost importance.

Summary of functions:

Project Delivery and Performance

Procedures

Monitoring and reporting

Stakeholder engagement

Quality assurance

Knowledge management and innovation

Personnel management

Develop, complete and update implementation plan(s)

Implement the approved plan (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Board.

Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life span.

Manage the production of the required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary.

Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables complies with the quality requirements defined in the Implementation Plan.

Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers

Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages

Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly

Control project and work packages changes

Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advises mitigating measures to senior management/ Project Board so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved

Identify and report to the supervisor potential business opportunities for UNOPS
2.Procedures

Comply with all organizational policy and specifically the Project Management Manual

Prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by the Project Board.

Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and in the Implementation Plan

Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded

Manage budgets, cash flow and obligations to ensure that deliverables are met and payments to contractors and personnel are received on time.

Understand and manage UNOPS overheads, allocable charges, and related corporate charges as they apply to the project

Understand the unique structures of the UN and budget appropriately for personnel

Manage expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports)

Where the Project Manager has no delegation as a committing officer, s/he retains these responsibilities and will monitor and instruct/request others to carry out the relevant commitments and disbursements.

For project closure purposes, provide a formal handover of the project to the closure manager

Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow up on audit observations/recommendations

Prepare and issue regular project and/or financial reports in accordance with Partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting.

Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality).

Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by the organization’s standard procedures.

Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the dashboard system.

Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of projects' life span

Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies

Establish solid working relationships with the Project Board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholders

Enable the formulation of project communications plans. Coordinate internal project communications. Monitor the effectiveness of project communications

Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover outputs

Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements

Work with procurement/purchasing staff to ensure effective interface with suppliers' quality systems

Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables

Provide quality control for management outputs (project documents, reports, etc.)

Encourage routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of staff.

Actively interact with other Project Managers and the wider PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices

Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner. Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice

Research and logging of lessons learned throughout the project life span.

Provide feedback to Practice Groups on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies

Lead and motivate the project management team

Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established

Ensure that performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately and timely

Select, recruit and train team as required and taking into account gender parity and diversity objectives.

Ensure safety and security for all project personnel and comply with UNDSS standards

Advanced University Degree in a relevant discipline such as International Affairs, Social Sciences, Human Resources, Business Administration, Project Management, Engineering background, Computer Science, or other relevant fields.

A combination of Bachelor’s degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

Certification in Project Management (PRINCE2, PMI, etc.) is an asset.

Complete the UNOPS PMM, UNOPS PMM Infra perspective and oneUNOPS Projects trainings within (3) months from joining UNOPS.
Experience:

A minimum of five (5) years' experience in implementing complex projects/programmes.

Experience in developing countries or post-conflict environments is an asset.

Experience in writing reports, performing data analysis, and writing technical documents is an asset.

Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies is an asset.

Experience in risk management is an asset.

Experience working in multicultural teams is an asset.

Experience in managing teams is an asset.

Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to manage tasks associated with the development of projects.

Strong Problem Solving Skills.

Full working knowledge of English is essential.

Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset.

Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.

We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Jakarta is a family duty station.

Terms and Conditions

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.

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.