Architect
Yangon
- Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
- Location: Yangon
- Grade: LICA 8
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Occupational Groups:
- Closing Date: 2026-01-06
General Information
Job Highlight
This Vacancy Announcement is to establish a roster of qualified candidates for potential assignments within the UNOPS Myanmar Multi-Country Office (MMCO). We anticipate multiple opportunities may arise over the coming months, and this roster will allow us to identify and deploy suitable candidates quickly. Applying to this VA does not guarantee a specific position.
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About the Region
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.
About the Project Office
Established in 1996, UNOPS Myanmar is a key partner in the country’s humanitarian and development efforts, with a strong, long-standing presence on the ground. UNOPS supports both chronic and sudden-onset needs across Myanmar, offering flexible and responsive solutions. UNOPS manages several major development funds, including the Livelihoods and Food Security Fund, the Access to Health Fund, and the Joint Peace Fund. Through the Asia Regional Health Cluster, UNOPS also serves as the Principal Recipient for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and implements the Regional Artemisinin-Resistance Initiative Towards Elimination of Malaria (RAI3E) programme. UNOPS Myanmar's core strengths lie in fund and programme management, infrastructure, and procurement, delivering tailored, high-impact solutions to support the priorities of government and development partners.
Job Specific Context
Myanmar Multi-Country Office (MMCO)
UNOPS Myanmar is one of UNOPS’ leading offices in Asia, acting as the fund manager for some of the largest development programmes in the country. In addition, UNOPS is the Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in Myanmar and for the Global Fund’s regional artemisinin-resistance initiative towards the elimination of Malaria, which works to accelerate progress toward malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure, and project management services to a wide range of organizations in the country, including international development partners, other UN agencies and INGOs. UNOPS plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
3PI
The UNOPS Myanmar 3PI Team is dedicated to building essential infrastructure, including WASH facilities, shelters, and health facilities in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Our interventions also encompass renewable energy solutions aimed at addressing gender and protection issues for marginalized populations in IDP camps. Additionally, the 3PI Team has procured and distributed medical supplies, essential non-food items (NFIs), hygiene kits, and remote hard-to-reach regions and areas in Myanmar. The 3PI Team is also implementing a program designed to assist displaced populations. The program focuses on fostering resilience and self-reliance among internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities.
Role Purpose
Provide essential architectural design, quality assurance, and technical coordination for specialised infrastructure projects within the Programme/3PI Unit, ensuring compliance with international best practices and local Myanmar building codes.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager, the Architect will support the design, development and implementation of infrastructure components under the portfolio, in full accordance with UNOPS guidelines and procedures and other applicable national and international standards.
This includes but is not limited to supporting the development and review of infrastructure designs, liaising with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the quality of designs, monitoring and assuring infrastructure quality during the construction phase, providing independent technical evaluation and recommendations to uphold the integrity of infrastructure implementation and participating in business development efforts as necessary. More specifically, the Architect will be accountable for the following:
1. Technical Responsibilities
- Support the Senior Programme Manager in ensuring the compliance of both the design development and implementation/construction phase with UNOPS regulations, as well as Myanmar national codes and standards, as necessary and oversee this process.
- Contribute to producing the requisite project deliverables, including comprehensive risk assessments on design documents, identify potential issues, and collaborate closely with project teams to formulate mitigation strategies that ensure project success.
- Foster effective communication and collaboration among diverse design disciplines, including architecture, structural engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering, to ensure a harmonious, integrated design approach.
- Play a pivotal role in coordinating with design consultants and their performance during the design development phase, particularly in the domains of architectural, spatial sustainability, energy building efficiency disciplines, operations and maintenance, and Health and Safety considerations.
- Assist the Senior Programme Manager in providing technical expertise to the team in monitoring quality assurance design implementation/construction phase.
- Review equipment and material technical specifications to ensure adherence to quality standards.
- Explore and assess cost-effective design alternatives and opportunities for value engineering, aiming to optimise project outcomes in terms of cost, performance, and sustainability.
- Support the Senior Programme Manager in coordinating technical design review approvals and in continuously evaluating and enhancing the design review process, streamlining workflows, and identifying potential areas for efficiency improvements to improve the overall efficacy of the design review function.
- Provide impartial technical evaluations and recommendations, devoid of any conflicts of interest, and uphold the integrity of technical opinions in the face of project pressures.
- Actively participating in progress reviews and project coordination meetings, and subsequently creating meeting minutes.
- When necessary, collaborate with the procurement team to assess bids and contribute to evaluation reports.
- Support business development efforts as necessary, including liaison with potential clients, preparation of preliminary cost estimates, preliminary design documentation, and other tasks as necessary.
- Undertake travels outside Yangon to other Duty Stations and projects sites in Myanmar, as required
- Execute any other responsibilities as assigned by the Supervisor.
2. Technical Documentation and Reporting
- Developing technical documentation and guiding projects in creating their designs.
- Generating comprehensive and accurate bills of quantity while keeping estimating rates up to date.
- Assist the Supervisor in preparing monthly and quarterly progress reports.
- Cooperating with fellow Infrastructure practitioners to collect and maintain construction data.
3. Knowledge sharing and management
- Engage in the project evaluation process by identifying and highlighting project-related challenges and actively participating in a continuous improvement cycle.
- Support in delivering training and knowledge transfer to national/contractor personnel, offering guidance on sound design, construction, and engineering practices, as well as promoting environmental management practices, sustainability and resilience measures and appropriate health and safety standards.
- Contribute to the dissemination and exchange of best practices and lessons learned to enhance development planning and knowledge development.
- Participate in relevant Communities of Practice, fostering interaction with fellow Infrastructure practitioners and the broader community to share case studies, lessons learned, and best practices through the Knowledge System.
- Provide constructive feedback to Practice Leads on policies and supporting guidelines to enhance UNOPS policies continuously.
Impact of results
The Architect's capacity to efficiently deliver outcomes is pivotal to ensuring the project is completed on time, within budget, and with exceptional quality, surpassing the expectations of all parties involved. This, in consequence, elevates UNOPS' standing as a proficient provider of project services and management, reinforcing its competitive position as the favoured collaborator for sustainable development and project services.
Skills
Competencies
Education Requirements
Required
Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Architecture or related fields with 2 years of relevant experience OR
Master’s degree (or equivalent) in the above or related fields with 0 years of relevant experience is required.
Desired
A globally or nationally recognised professional certificate in the subject matter is desired.
Experience Requirements
Required
Minimum 2 years of working experience in Architectureor related areas.
- Knowledge of construction norms and standards of Myanmar.
- Knowledge of CAD software (AutoCAD or an alternative).
Desired
Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organisations in a developing country is desired.
Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.
Language Requirements
| Language | Proficiency Level | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| English | Fluent | Required |
| Burmese | Native | Required |
Additional Information
- Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
- Please note that 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.
- 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.
- Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.