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.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and with a secondary reporting line to the Procurement Manager, the Procurement Officer leads and executes procurement activities in full compliance with UNOPS rules, policies, and strategic objectives, ensuring transparency, accountability, and best value for money. He/she works with project managers to develop and oversee procurement plans aligned with project priorities, designing strategic, fit-for-purpose approaches that integrate sustainability considerations, and is responsible for managing the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, from requirements definition and sourcing to solicitation, evaluation, contract award, and post-award administration, while promoting efficiency, risk mitigation, and adherence to organizational standards.

He/she ensures the integrity of procurement operations by maintaining accurate records, tracking systems, and supplier databases, and by conducting market analysis through the United Nations Global Marketplace and other sources to strengthen vendor engagement and competition. He/she supports donor compliance and audit readiness by safeguarding complete and accurate documentation, coordinating solicitation processes, overseeing evaluations, contributing to contract negotiations, and preparing submissions to relevant procurement authorities; additionally, the role oversees the drafting of contractual instruments, including Long-Term Agreements, service and works contracts, and purchase orders, and ensures the timely publication of contract opportunities and awards on UNGM.

He/she monitors contractor performance to ensure delivery in line with contractual commitments and collaborates closely with logistics and project teams to verify the receipt, inspection, and accountability of goods and services, provides strategic guidance and practical solutions to project managers, proactively addressing risks and operational challenges, and supports strengthening organizational capability by supporting training initiatives and promoting knowledge sharing, lessons learned, and best practices to drive continuous improvement.

The Procurement Officer is responsible for the effective delivery of procurement services reflecting best practices in international public procurement; compliance with UNOPS procurement rules and regulations; appropriate risk management; and obtaining the best value for money. The incumbent analyzes and interprets relevant rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide range of issues related to procurement within UNOPS. By adhering to the highest degrees of personal and professional ethics, the Procurement Officer maintains a collaborative, quality-driven, client-focused and results-oriented approach to their procurement role.

Procurement Operations

• Execute procurement activities in line with UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies.
• Ensure proper design and functioning of a client-oriented procurement management system while implementing approved internal controls.
• Work with project managers to review their procurement plans and design appropriate procurement strategies, incorporating relevant sustainability considerations.
• Implement or support the different steps of the procurement process, including pre-purchasing, strategy and planning, requirements definition, sourcing, purchasing, solicitation, management of submissions, evaluation, review and award, post-purchasing, contract finalization and issuance, logistics, and contract management.

Procurement Process Management

• Prepare procurement plans on time and as expected.
• Monitor implementation of procurement plans for alignment with project timelines and strategic objectives.
• Review and validate requirements to ensure clarity, completeness and suitability from a procurement standpoint.
• Follow guidelines for embedding sustainability across the procurement process.
• Coordinate the end-to-end solicitation process, including Requests for Quote (RFQs), Invitations to Bid (ITBs), and Requests for Proposal (RFPs) in line with UNOPS policies.
• Coordinate the receipt and evaluation of quotations, bids and proposals.
• Participate in the negotiation of conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations. 
• Prepare submissions to the Contract and Property Committees (CPCs)
• Enter and update supplier information in the UNOPS ERP system - oneUNOPS (oU).
• Monitor contractor performance and certification of completed work for compliance with contractual terms and payment.
• Provide advice, remedial action, or solutions to project managers on procurement issues.
• Draft Long Term Agreements (LTAs) and/or service or works contracts and other instruments when necessary, and create purchase orders (POs) in the ERP system.

Use of E-Procurement Tools

• Utilize the e-sourcing module in line with goals and standards set by the Procurement Group.

Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Organize, facilitate or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on procurement.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing lessons learned and disseminating best practices in procurement.
• Collect and productively utilize feedback, ideas and internal knowledge about processes and best practices.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 0 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• A globally or nationally recognized professional certificate or membership (e.g. CIPS) is desired.

Required

• Relevant experience is work in advising on and implementing policies and procedures to deliver a range of complex procurement programmes and strategies within international/ multi-national organizations, or related areas. 
• 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. 
• 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.

• 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.