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 supervision of the PR Head of Programme, the Programme Manager shall be responsible for managing the Global Fund-supported health programmes and coordinating between PR UNOPS and Sub Recipients.

The Programme Manager provides strategic, technical, and operational leadership for the planning, implementation, monitoring, and performance management of Global Fund-supported programmes, ensuring the achievement of results within approved scope, time, budget, quality, and risk parameters. The role oversees the full programme lifecycle, coordinates multidisciplinary teams and key stakeholders including National Programmes, Sub-Recipients, donors, and other partners, and ensures compliance with UNOPS policies, Global Fund requirements, and national strategies.

The Programme Manager is responsible for programme performance, financial and operational planning, risk management, monitoring and reporting, while promoting evidence-based decision-making, continuous improvement, institutional capacity strengthening, and the sustainability and accountability of programme results.

1. Programme Delivery and Performance

The Programme Manager is responsible for the effective management and delivery of one or more Global Fund-supported programmes, ensuring implementation is aligned with approved Grant Agreements, national strategic priorities, donor requirements and UNOPS policies.

The incumbent will:

• Lead the planning, implementation, coordination and monitoring of assigned programme portfolios, ensuring timely delivery of outputs and achievement of programme objectives, leveraging adaptive modalities and technological tools.

• Coordinate implementation across Sub-Recipients (SRs), National Programmes and technical partners to ensure activities remain aligned with approved workplans, budgets and performance frameworks.

• Monitor programme implementation against scope, schedule, budget, quality and risk parameters, utilising real-time digital dashboards and advanced data analytics to proactively identify implementation challenges and recommend timely corrective actions.

• Lead grant-making, reprogramming and grant closure processes, ensuring alignment with Global Fund guidance and country priorities.

• Review annual work plans, implementation plans, budgets and operational documents submitted by SRs and National Programmes, ensuring technical quality, feasibility and compliance with donor requirements.

• Coordinate programme implementation with cross-functional teams including Finance, Procurement, Supply Chain Management (PSM), Monitoring and Evaluation, Human Resources and Compliance to ensure integrated programme delivery.

• Promote gender equality, equity, community engagement, safeguarding, environmental sustainability and human rights principles throughout programme implementation.

• Identify opportunities for programme innovation, operational efficiencies and continuous improvement to strengthen programme performance and maximize impact.

2. Financial, Grant and Procurement Management

The Programme Manager supports effective financial and grant management throughout the programme lifecycle.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead annual planning, budgeting and forecasting processes.

• Monitor programme expenditures, commitments and burn rates against approved budgets.

• Review financial reports and expenditure trends to identify implementation risks and recommend mitigation measures.

• Support preparation of cash forecasts and disbursement planning.

• Coordinate grant revisions, budget reallocations and portfolio optimization exercises.

• Work closely with Procurement and Supply Management teams on forecasting, quantification and procurement planning for health products and programme commodities.

• Contribute to preparation of Terms of Reference, technical specifications, bid evaluations and contract management where applicable.

• Support internal and external audits and ensure implementation of agreed audit recommendations.

3. Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Management

The Programme Manager plays a key coordination role between UNOPS and national and international stakeholders.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and maintain strong partnerships to foster a cohesive, integrated public health strategy with National Programmes, Ministry of Health, Global Fund Country Teams, Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCM) / Communicable Diseases Working Group (CDW), WHO, UN agencies, civil society organizations, development partners and implementing partners

• Attend technical working groups, programme review meetings, grant negotiations and other coordination platforms as delegated.

• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration between PR units, SRs and technical partners.

• Support stakeholder consultations during grant making, implementation, grant-making and reprogramming processes.

• Promote knowledge sharing and dissemination of programme achievements, lessons learned and best practices.

4. Programme Monitoring, Reporting and Quality Assurance

The Programme Manager ensures effective monitoring of programme performance and compliance with donor requirements.

Responsibilities include:

• Monitor programme implementation against agreed indicators, milestones and deliverables.

• Review programme performance data and work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation team to identify implementation gaps, risks and opportunities for improvement.

• Ensure timely preparation and submission of quality Progress Updates (PUDRs), management reports, donor reports and other programme deliverables.

• Support programme performance reviews, grant rating assessments and portfolio reviews.

• Coordinate routine implementation reviews, field monitoring missions and supportive supervision visits.

• Ensure compliance with Global Fund policies, UNOPS procedures and national programme requirements.

• Promote data quality, accountability and evidence-based decision-making across programme implementation.

• Support implementation of recommendations arising from audits, Local Fund Agent (LFA) reviews, technical assistance missions and programme evaluations.

5. Technical Leadership and Capacity Development

The Programme Manager provides technical and operational leadership to strengthen programme implementation.

The incumbent will:

• Provide technical and project management guidance to National Programmes, SRs and implementing partners on programme implementation, grant requirements and operational planning.

• Support development and revision of implementation guidelines, operational tools and standard operating procedures.

• Identify institutional and technical capacity gaps and coordinate appropriate capacity strengthening initiatives.

• Organize and facilitate workshops, technical meetings and learning events.

• Mentor programme personnel and contribute to strengthening programme management capacity across partners.

• Promote organizational learning by documenting lessons learned, innovations and good practices.

• Contribute to the standardization, to the extent possible, of NP, SRs, and IPs programme management capacity development efforts across the programmes.

6. Digitization, Data Governance and Analytics

• Support the M&E function in the development, implementation and continuous improvement of databases, electronic information systems, digital health platforms and other technology-enabled tools used by UNOPS and implementing partners.

• Support the development and maintenance of real-time digital dashboards, automated reporting tools and interactive data visualizations to monitor programme performance, identify emerging trends and provide timely information for management decision-making, in coordination with M&E functions.

• Assess existing and proposed digital tools and system enhancements, identify opportunities for automation and improved analytics, and recommend fit-for-purpose, sustainable and cost-effective solutions.

7. Personnel Management

The Programme Manager will:

• Supervise Programme Officers, Associates and other assigned personnel.

• Manage staff performance, development and coaching in accordance with UNOPS policies.

• Foster an inclusive, respectful and collaborative working environment.

• Promote staff wellbeing, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding.

• Ensure compliance with UNDSS security requirements and organizational duty of care responsibilities.

8. Knowledge Management and Continuous Improvement

The Programme Manager contributes to organizational excellence through:

• Developing programme briefs, analytical reports, briefing notes and presentations for senior management, donors and other stakeholders.

• Supporting strategic planning, portfolio analysis and resource mobilization efforts.

• Documenting lessons learned and contributing to Communities of Practice and organizational knowledge-sharing initiatives.

• Driving the creation of digital knowledge repositories to document and disseminate best practices across integrated public health programming.

• Monitoring developments in global health financing, Global Fund policies and disease programme strategies to inform programme implementation.

• Identifying opportunities to strengthen programme effectiveness, operational efficiency and sustainability.

Required

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Medical & Health Sciences, public health, epidemiology, health economics, health management, health social science, social science or other related discipline with 5 years of relevant experience. OR

• Bachelor’s degree in the above listed subjects combined with additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a master’s degree.

Required

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience is work in the implementation of complex projects/ programmes, public health or related areas.

• Experience in programme planning, implementation, and control and reporting is required.

• Experience of managing programmes in a multi-stakeholder context is required.

• Proficiency in project management tools for tracking deliverables, timelines, and resource allocation across integrated health portfolios.

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.

• Familiarity with Power BI or Tableau to track and present high-level portfolio progress and operational bottlenecks to stakeholders.

• Advanced use of enterprise collaboration tools to manage cross-functional communication and document control.

• 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.
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