Senior Security 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.

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.

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.

Lead security for UNOPS operations, ensuring personnel and assets are protected through expert risk management and proactive planning within the UN Security Management System.

The Security Senior Officer manages, coordinates and provides expert advice on all security and safety matters affecting UNOPS operations and projects.. The incumbent operates within the framework of the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS), ensuring that UNOPS personnel, assets and programmes are protected through sound risk management, proactive security planning, and effective coordination with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), government authorities and other partners.

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.

The Security Senior Officer manages, coordinates and provides expert advice on all security and safety matters affecting UNOPS operations and projects.. The incumbent operates within the framework of the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS), ensuring that UNOPS personnel, assets and programmes are protected through sound risk management, proactive security planning, and effective coordination with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), government authorities and other partners.

Security Risk Management and Advisory

• Conduct and regularly update Security Risk Assessments (SRAs) for UNOPS offices, project sites and travel routes, identifying threats, vulnerabilities and appropriate mitigation measures.
• Develop and maintain local security management arrangements consistent with UNSMS standards and adapted to the local operating context.
• Provide technical security advice and guidance on programme design, project implementation, and operational decision-making.
• Support the inclusion of safety and security components in project proposals and budgets to ensure sufficient resourcing for risk mitigation measures.
• Review and update Security standard operating procedures (SOPs) and ensure compliance with Security Risk Management (SRM) requirements, Residential Security Measures (RSMs), and other mandatory frameworks.
• Prepare and submit security situation reports and analyses to the Field Security Advisor and relevant UNOPS management.

Operational Security Coordination

• Maintain active liaison with UNDSS, host government security agencies, humanitarian actors, and other stakeholders to share information and coordinate operational security measures.
• Support the coordination of personnel travel security clearances, ensuring compliance with UNDSS procedures and timely submissions through the TRIP platform or other authorized systems.
• Advise on safe access strategies for field missions in high-risk areas, including risk mitigation planning, convoy coordination, and communication protocols.
• Ensure that UNOPS compounds, offices and residences meet required safety standards and are equipped with adequate physical and procedural safeguards.
• Develop, implement and oversee an annual security work plan and budget, including priorities such as fire safety, emergency preparedness and mandatory mitigation measures.
• Manage and account for security equipment, including communication and monitoring systems, ensuring functionality and compliance with operational needs.
• Attend Security Management Team (SMT) meetings and other coordination fora, representing UNOPS and providing updates on security developments.

Support to Project Managers on Implementing Partner (IP) Security Aspects

• Provide technical guidance to project managers on security risk considerations related to implementing partners (IPs), in line with donor/ partner and UNSMS requirements.
• Advise on the integration of risk management provisions in IP documentation, terms of reference (ToRs) and operational plans.
• Review IP security reports or deliverables, identify potential risks, and propose mitigation measures as needed. 
• Clarify that IPs retain full responsibility for their own security management, personnel safety, and duty of care in line with contractual obligations (with UNOPS maintaining an advisory role only).
• Support project managers in assessing whether IP security arrangements meet minimum standards while refraining from direct oversight or enforcement of IP security operations.

Incident Management and Reporting

• Serve as a key focal point for incident reporting, documentation and analysis of security and safety incidents affecting UNOPS personnel, assets or programmes.
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of Security Incident Reports (SIRs) and maintain an accurate incident log for monitoring and trend analysis.
• Support investigations and inquiries into security incidents or accidents as required, ensuring that lessons learned are incorporated into operational planning.
• Maintain effective emergency communication systems and ensure that all personnel are familiar with incident reporting and escalation procedures.
• Support coordination and leadership during evacuations, relocations or other crisis responses, ensuring alignment with UNDSS protocols and UNOPS contingency plans.

Training, Awareness and Capacity Development

• Deliver security briefings and inductions to newly deployed personnel, consultants and visitors.
• Conduct refresher sessions on personal security, travel safety, fire prevention, and emergency procedures.
• Lead the training, mentoring and capacity development of security personnel to enhance local capability.
• Promote security awareness among personnel and IPs, fostering a culture of vigilance, compliance and proactive risk management. 
• Coordinate with UNDSS to organize joint security awareness and preparedness training, including simulations and drills. 

Compliance, Monitoring and Documentation

• Maintain up-to-date security documentation, including personnel and dependent contact lists, warden systems, and emergency notification procedures.
• Monitor adherence to mandatory security mitigation measures, ensuring that UNOPS premises and personnel remain compliant with UNSMS requirements.
• Support country leadership and the Field Security Advisor in ensuring operational and documentation compliance with UNSMS and UNOPS security policies.
• Review, update and test the business continuity plan (BCP) to ensure readiness for emergencies and operational disruptions.
• Maintain accurate and current multi-sourced country files on security assessments, plans and advisories for decision-making and audit purposes.

Knowledge Building and Sharing

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

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 4 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• Professional security certification (e.g. UNDSS SSAFE, HEAT, CPP, or equivalent) is desired.

Required

• Relevant experience is work in security management, law enforcement, military or related areas.
• Experience in security risk assessment, crisis management, and coordination with UNDSS or UN field security structures is required.
• Experience in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems is 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.

• 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. 
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse 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.

• 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.