South East Asia MultiCountry Office (EAPMC

The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCsupports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. EAPMCO currently covers 24 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the MultiCountry Office comprises nine business units: SEMCO Thailand, EAPMCO Indonesia, EAPMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, EAPMCO Papua New Guinea, EAPMCO China, EAPMCO Vietnam, EAPMCO Mekong, and EAPMCO Philippines.

In 2022, the UNOPS EAPMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 7 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WAS, Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services.

The Multi Country Office head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight and assurance of the excellence of business processes and quality standards across all of the entire Multi Country Office locations. It is also responsible for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself.

UNOPS in Lao PDR
Established in 2017, but with a portfolio tracing back to 2007, UNOPS Lao PDR provides expert support to the Government of Lao PDR to ensure sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure activities in projects. With funding from various partners, such as Japan, the US, Korea, Luxembourg, Russia, the UK, and the Global Fund, UNOPS has implemented projects in the areas of health, rule of law, and sustainable tourism sectors. UNOPS EAPMCO is in the process of expanding its area of engagement in partnerships with different development partners, focussing on programs in the area of infrastructure development, fund management, and expert advice, with a focus on health, environment, governance, and digital transformations. For that, UNOPS is looking for qualified and committed experts who can contribute to fulfilling UNOPS mandate in the country and support the Government of Lao PDR in meeting its development aspirations.

Project Background Information

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (IN. Affairs of the U.S. Department of State provides support designated to enhance the Government of the Lao PDR’s capability to interdict trafficked goods, including drugs, wildlife, and persons; improve border security; and combat transnational crime, including financial crimes. Due to the Lao PDR’s central geographic location and its approximately 3,000 miles of land and riverine borders shared with China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, infrastructure improvements in the country have subjected it to increased threats from transnational crime. In cooperation with INL, the Department of Customs (Doof Lao PDR worked to improve border security, and in so doing, combat transnational crime.

These efforts are critically important for many reasons, including surging production of methamphetamine in Myanmar, increasing border security in neighbouring countries, altering trafficking routes through the Lao PDR, enduring local demand for illegally trafficked wildlife, and increasing demand due to rapid economic development and integration into the regional economy. One of the U.S. Embassy of Vientiane’s top priorities is to support the Government of the Lao PDR’s efforts to strengthen border security and professionalize the police force.

The first phase of the project funded by the Department of State (DoINL in Lao PDR, was implemented by UNOPS between 2020 and 2024, and included the construction of two warehouses for seized contraband goods (one in Vientiane and one in Luang Namthas well as the design of a new headquarter building and training center for the Department of Custom. UNOPS Lao PDR recently signed phase 2 of the project which includes the construction of this new headquarter and training center building as well as some minor construction works and equipment to complete the warehouse in Luang Namtha province. The new sevenstorey office building construction will follow the recently completed design as part of phase

The Project Manager for infrastructure projects will be managing project(whose ultimate goal is to deliver infrastructure physical assets or technical outputs. Those infrastructures are diverse and range from educational and health facilities to roads, bridges, irrigation systems or ports. While the complexity of those may vary, maintaining high standards in terms of quality, health, safety, and sustainability is always expected.

Depending on the nature and configuration of the project, the Project Manager might be executing technical studies, reviews, designs, supervision, or operation and maintenance services of one or several physical infrastructure assets, in one or multiple sites. Depending on the implementation modality, it may involve large volumes of procurement of goods, services, and HR services.

UNOPS operates in complex contexts where resources might be scarce, local capacity low, and where professional judgment and experience in these environments are of uttermost importance.

Project Managers (Infrastructurat this level are expected to manage infrastructure implementation projects that are of low to moderate complexity from stakeholder management, financial management, risk management, governance, resource management, and quality management perspectives.

Project Delivery and Performance

• Develop, complete and update implementation plan(
• Implement the approved plan (including the establishment of milestonewithin tolerances set by the Project Board.
• Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, and environmental and economic aspects into the project life span.
• Manage the production of the required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary.
• Ensure that the quality of work packages and deliverables complies with the quality requirements defined in the Implementation Plan.
• Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers
• Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages
• Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly
• Control project and work packages changes
• Accept goods, services, or works delivered by suppliers.
• Lead contract management duties including supplier performance evaluation.
• Act as the Employer’s Representative within the FIDIC works contracts.
• Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advises mitigating measures to senior management/ Project Board so that maximum benefit to partner(and other stakeholders is achieved
• Identify and report to the supervisor potential business opportunities for UNOPS.

Procedures

• Comply with all organizational policy and specifically the Project Management Manual
• Prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by the Project Board.
• Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(and in the Implementation Plan
• Draft the requirements definitions for procurement processes. Approving requisitions and requests for nonpurchase order payments; Evaluating submissions received, if appointed to the evaluation team.
• Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded
• Ensure the development and implementation of project financial management guidelines and control mechanisms, in conformity with UNOPS rules and regulations.
• Manage budgets, cash flow and obligations to ensure that deliverables are met and payments to contractors and personnel are received on time.
• Understand and manage UNOPS overheads, allocable charges, and related corporate charges as they apply to the project
• Understand the unique structures of the UN and budget appropriately for personnel
• Manage expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial report
• Where the Project Manager has no delegation as a committing officer, s/he retains these responsibilities and will monitor and instruct/request others to carry out the relevant commitments and disbursements.
• For project closure purposes, provide a formal handover of the project to the closure manager
• Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow up on audit observations/recommendations.

Education:

• Advanced University Degree in a relevant technical discipline (Architecture, Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, etc.).
• A combination of a Bachelor’s degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

Certification:

• Certification in Project Management (PRINCE2, PMI, etc.) is highly desired, or the selected candidate is required to achieve certification within the first (3) months of appointment.
• Professional certification from an accredited institution (PEng., CEng. , etis an asset.
• Complete the UNOPS PMM, UNOPS PMM Infra perspective, and oneUNOPS Projects trainings within (3) months of joining UNOPS.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years experience in implementing and managing infrastructure projects (Roads, Bridges, Health facilities, Buildings, Water services, Renewable energy and distribution, etc.) is required.
• Experience in contract management is an asset.
• Knowledge of FIDIC contracts is an asset.
• Experience in writing reports, performing data analyses, and writing technical documents is an asset.
• Experience in planning and applying Health & Safety procedures is an asset.
• Experience in developing Procurement strategies is an asset.
• Experience in risk management for infrastructure implementation projects is an asset.
• Experience working in multicultural teams is desirable.
• Experience in managing teams is an asset.
• Experience in developing countries or postconflict environments is an asset.
• Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies is an asset.
• Proficient in MS Project and Schedule Analysis is desirable.
• Technical acumen with the ability to understand and speak to technical project plans and documents is an asset.
• Strong problemsolving skills are desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Laotian languages is desirable.

1. Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IIC
2. Contract level: ICS 10 / IICA 2
3. Contract duration: Ongoing, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:

https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/jobopportunities/whatweoffer/Pages/IndividualContractorAgreements.aspx

The position is based in a family duty station.

Disclaimer: If the selected candidate is a national of the duty station, a Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICwill be issued.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• 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.

Terms and Conditions

• 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 completin 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.
• 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 (SDGin 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.