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.

The Community Resilience and Livelihoods Project (CRLP) is a large-scale, multi-sector programme implemented by UNOPS under the Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO), funded by the World Bank. The project delivers small-scale infrastructure, livelihoods, and resilience interventions across rural and urban areas, operating in a complex, high-risk environment. 

The Head of Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) serves as the operational backbone of CRLP, providing integrated implementation support, delivery assurance, planning coordination, compliance oversight, and performance monitoring across the programme, ensuring alignment with both UNOPS and Donor (World Bank) requirements. 

The Head of PIU comprises a multi-disciplinary team covering quality assurance and engineering, monitoring, health, safety, social and environmental (HSSE) compliance, ICT and management information systems, grievance redress and accountability mechanisms, diversity and inclusion and SEA/SH prevention, project management support, and related operational functions.

Reporting to the Deputy Programme Director (DPD), the Head of Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) provides programme-wide implementation leadership through direct oversight of the PIU’s multi-disciplinary functions, including quality assurance and monitoring, health, safety, social and environmental (HSSE) compliance, ICT and management information systems, grievance redress and accountability mechanisms, diversity and inclusion and SEA/SH prevention, project management and operational support.

Through leadership of these functions, the Head of PIU establishes the systems, discipline, and coordination that enable effective day-to-day delivery across CRLP. The role ensures that delivery activities led by the heads of the Rural and Urban Teams are planned, sequenced, monitored, and supported in line with approved project documents, implementation plans, schedules, budgets, and UNOPS policies and procedures.

Working in close partnership with the Rural and Urban Teams, the Head of PIU provides a consistent programme-level framework for planning, coordination, monitoring, and assurance. The role promotes realistic planning, clear sequencing, and timely problem-solving, supporting delivery teams to focus on execution while benefiting from strong implementation controls and operational support.

In this capacity, the Head of PIU:

• Leads and maintains integrated programme-level implementation plans and schedules, including the programme Gantt chart;

• Coordinates implementation workflows across PIU functions, delivery teams, and UNOPS support services;

• Tracks progress against milestones and delivery targets, identifying dependencies, risks, and emerging issues;

• Ensures consistent application of implementation controls, documentation standards, and segregation of duties;

• Coordinates audits, reviews, and assurance processes and follow-up of agreed management actions.

The Head of PIU provides structured implementation performance analysis to the DPD, supports escalation of cross-cutting operational issues, and plays a central role in sustaining delivery momentum, strengthening internal controls, and supporting informed senior decision-making. The role provides direct line management to PIU staff, builds implementation capacity, and drives continuous improvement of delivery systems and workflows.

Required

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Business Administration, Management, Engineering, or other relevant discipline with seven (7) years of relevant experience. OR

• First Level University Degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) with nine (9) years of relevant experience is required

Desired

• A globally recognized professional certificate (e.g. PRINCE2, PMI, etc) or membership in Project Management.

Required

• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in project and/or program management and coordination.

• Knowledge and familiarity with UNOPS and / or World Bank procedures.

• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary teams.

• Demonstrated experience working in at least one of the role’s functional task areas.

Desired

• Experience in programme implementation.

• Prior experience in building strong, trusted relationships with Donor representatives, UN officials, de facto authorities etc.

• Previous experience in the humanitarian / development sector.

• Knowledge and understanding of the political, social and economic context of Afghanistan.

• 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.