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 East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO), headquartered in Bangkok, supports UNOPS operations across 24 countries in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, and the Pacific. Established in January 2023, EAPMCO provides strategic direction, operational support, and quality assurance to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of projects across its portfolio. EAPMCO implements initiatives in priority areas such as energy transition, climate change, and sustainable development, drawing on UNOPS' core expertise in human resources, procurement, infrastructure, fund management, and programme management.

The Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP), a programme of UNOPS, brings together governments and philanthropies to work with partner countries in the region. We support the transition towards modern energy systems that can simultaneously ensure economic growth, energy security, and environmental sustainability. Enabling the transition toward greener energy systems will greatly contribute to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement objectives.

ETP focuses on Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, which are the countries in the region with the highest energy demand, a substantial pipeline for fossil fuel-based projects, and a significant and cost-effective potential for renewable energy and energy efficiency. ETP provides high-level technical advisory support, holistic support to Governments on financing and technical needs, capacity and skill development, and facilitation of dialogues in all related areas.

The main purpose of this role is to provide economic analysis and technical advisory support across ETP’s portfolio, with a focus on clean energy market development and energy transition policy.

The role will support ETP’s technical assistance to the Government of the Philippines, particularly the Department of Energy, by providing practical policy, regulatory or technical recommendations and supporting effective coordination with government counterparts. The incumbent will also proactively advise ETP on emerging opportunities to support the Philippine government on market mechanisms and the energy transition.

The incumbent will also provide regional thought leadership on carbon markets in Southeast Asia and offer expert guidance on ETP’s projects involving energy economics, economic modelling, and market mechanisms. This includes helping ETP review the quality and soundness of analytical approaches and advising ETP teams on the interpretation and application of modelling outputs across related workstreams, including just transition policies and market-based instruments.

The position operates under the guidance and direct supervision of the ETP Senior Programme Manager based in Bangkok, and will closely coordinate with the Country Coordinators based in Manila.

1. Policy and Technical Support on Market Mechanisms and the Energy Transition

   • Provide general support to activities related to clean energy and energy transition market mechanisms, including areas such as voluntary renewable energy markets.

   • Assist in translating analytical work into practical insights and considerations to inform engagement with government counterparts.

   • Contribute to identifying potential areas where ETP could support the Philippine government on clean energy market mechanisms and broader energy transition priorities.

2. Regional Expertise and Strategic Guidance

   • Provide technical guidance on carbon markets and related policy developments in Southeast Asia.

   • Support in tracking key regional trends and advise ETP teams on implications for programming, partnerships, and technical assistance.

   • Contribute to knowledge products and briefings that strengthen ETP’s regional positioning.

   • Contribute to the product review process with the VIP (Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines) ETP country teams.

3. Stakeholder Engagement and Knowledge Sharing

   • Provide support on quality-assurance on economic analyses, methodologies, and modelling work across ETP projects.

   • Review and assist ETP in communicating modelling outputs to support decision-making and stakeholder engagement.

   • Provide expert input to ETP’s project design and delivery to ensure analytical rigor and soundness of approach and methodology.

Required

• A Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Energy Economics, Management, Public Policy, Development, Finance, Engineering or similar field with 4 years of relevant experience OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 2 years of relevant experience is required

Required

• Relevant experience in conducting economic modelling and simulation, including market analysis and research on clean energy and electricity markets, is required.

• Experience in the Philippines energy sector is required.

• Demonstrated experience in implementing and managing projects on climate change, energy transition, and/or clean energy market mechanisms (e.g., renewable energy certificates, green power programs, or similar instruments) is required.

• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace is required.

Desired

• Proven ability to synthesize information from diverse sources, conduct policy and technical analysis, and contribute to the preparation of high-quality reports, presentations, and knowledge products is desirable.

• Familiarity with energy transition topics such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, grid modernization, or enabling policies and institutions is desirable.

• Experience in data collection and stakeholder mapping exercises, as well as the ability to track and monitor project outputs and results against set objectives, is desirable.

• Demonstrated experience working with international and multilateral development organizations, particularly in areas related to energy development and energy regulatory frameworks, is an advantage.

• 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.
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• 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.