Programme Management - Senior Assistant

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.

The Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC) was established in 2018 to efficiently deliver grants and manage funds, and to provide quality pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.  The ARHC aims to significantly impact the targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goal on good health and well-being by expanding the population benefiting from UNOPS-managed health-related engagements across the Asia Region.

The ARHC portfolio manages the Principal Recipient (PR) Programme of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Asia, currently with grants in Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. UNOPS, as a PR, is responsible for delivering the targets set out in the grant agreements in collaboration with selected sub-recipients from the National Programmes, local and international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and United Nations agencies.

The Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC) is a dedicated UNOPS unit focused on delivering health programmes and procurement across the Asia Pacific region. Headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, ARHC operates through a network of personnel in UNOPS country offices, leveraging local support services. ARHC's mission is to improve health outcomes and contribute to SDG 3 by providing tailored solutions and advisory services. Its expertise encompasses programme and fund management, pharmaceuticals and health sector procurement, and technical expertise in the health sector. Since 2011, ARHC has managed over US$1.68 billion in Global Fund grants for HIV, TB, and malaria programmes in the Greater Mekong Subregion, supporting national programmes, NGOs, and multilateral organizations. ARHC also extends its capabilities and services to UNOPS multi-country and country offices in the region, promoting regional collaboration and impact in the health sector.

Serving as the Global Fund Principal Recipient (PR) since 2011, UNOPS manages grants for Myanmar’s HIV, TB, and Malaria programs through its Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC) with full transparency and accountability. UNOPS has also been selected as the PR for the upcoming 2027–2029 HIV, TB, and RAI5E grants. 

Under the overall supervision of the PR Head of Programme and the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager, the Programme Management Senior Assistant shall be responsible for assisting programme management, operations and communications.

This position is open for UNOPS Internal Candidates and Myanmar Nationals Only.

The Programme Management Senior Assistant plays a vital role in supporting effective project implementation, monitoring, and reporting under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager. The incumbent ensures seamless operational workflow by maintaining accurate project records, assisting with financial administration, and facilitating logistics for project events and field visits.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager, the Program Management Senior Assistant shall perform the following duties and responsibilities;

• Assist in drafting project reports and memos.

• Prepare project communication, documentation, reports and contracts, checking accuracy and compliance with UNOPS formats and style.

• Maintain hard and computerized (soft) records for the project's operational and financial transactions for ease of reference and retrieval.

• Responsible for document management, including file closures, archiving and monitoring due dates for project progress, status reports and submission by UNOPS of substantive financing and budget utilization to clients.

• Assist in monitoring expenditures, verify accuracy of requests, completeness of documentation and availability of funding-Inform supervisor of budget status, process for action, inform client and actively follow up to completion.

• Prepare briefing materials as required for mission and/or discussions on project activities and status.

• Interact with colleagues, clients, and partners to exchange vital information on operational issues, seek cooperation to resolve routine operational issues and process problems, and refer complex issues to the supervisor with a recommended course of action. 

• Assist in briefing project personnel on UNOPS procedures.

• Assist in the administration and monitoring of all aspects of the project implementation, including finance, budget and administration.

• Arrange field visits and coordinate all related logistics and administrative matters as necessary (including preparation of travel documents).

• Issue statistical reports for M&E Purposes.

• Assist in day-to-day coordination of the project activities, i.e. assist in collecting and assembling data and reporting activities of the project.

• Initiate purchase orders (POs) in oneUNOPS for making payments to implementing partners.

• Assist in organising the meetings, trainings, workshops and events, including related logistics and administrative matters.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Regular updates to the supervisor.

• Regular reports prepared to the satisfaction of the direct supervisor.

• Maintenance of up-to-date records, both in hard copy and in the computerized system.

• Attending all relevant technical meetings and maintaining excellent contacts with all stakeholders.

• Efficiency & effectiveness in responding to the day-to-day needs of the project.

• Continuous review of performance by the direct supervisor.

Final Products

• Up-to-date records of project activities well maintained.

• Accurate/good quality reports & statistics submitted when and as required.

• Supervisor & clients regularly briefed on project activities, as necessary.

• Positive feedback from M&E Team on support provided by the contractor, particularly in timely submission of data required for M&E Purposes.

Required

• Secondary education is required. Or a Bachelor's degree, preferably in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, or Development Studies, will be considered an asset and may substitute for some of the required years of experience.

Required

• Secondary school education with a minimum of 5 years of experience in a similar field of work or exposure to project management, preferably with an International Organization.

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

Desired

• Previous successful involvement with and a good knowledge of NGOs & civil society.

• 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.