Senior Programme Manager

Job Highlight

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to private sector development in a challenging environment, working with a diverse team and international partners to achieve significant impact by managing a program delivering diverse services and ensuring successful outcomes within agreed tolerances of time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and benefits.

About The Project Office

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.

Role Purpose

As the Senior Programme Manager, the incumbent has ultimate institutional accountability for the strategic vision, political navigation, risk mitigation, and operational implementation of the UNOPS PSRP portfolio. The incumbent navigates a complex political economy environment, oversees multi-layered international and national implementing partner arrangements, and manages critical institutional relationships with the World Bank Group, international donors, and local partners.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Strategic Governance, High-Level Representation, and Political Navigation
• Assume ultimate portfolio accountability, lead and accept full executive accountability for the strategic orientation, technical integration, and financial performance of PSRP Components
• Serve as the primary institutional link representing UNOPS on the PSRP Steering Committee (PSC) .
• Co-chair the PSRP Management Committee (PMC) to institutionalize cross-component linkages, ensure financial and private sector workstreams are mutually supportive, and resolve complex systemic blockages.
• Advocate for project objectives and represent UNOPS in coordination platforms, including the Multilateral Development Bank (MDB+) Platform, the Private Sector Working Group of the Afghanistan Coordination Group (ACG), and the Afghanistan Technical Consultative Group.
• Direct ongoing political economy risk assessments and design principled operational adjustments to manage impacts from evolving regulatory requirements, trade disruptions, policy uncertainties, and de facto institutional dynamics.
• Lead relationships and regular coordination and communication with the World Bank and other project stakeholders throughout the project period.
• Programme implementation and delivery
• Lead the development of the Project Operations Manual, other required project guidance documents, including the Investment Co-financing Facility Operational Manual, and oversee their implementation across all implementing partners, and absolute adherence. Oversee and negotiate necessary revisions to these documents with the World Bank.
• Govern Multi-Layered Sub-Grants, direct a complex sub-granting architecture and manage high-value agreements with international and national Implementing Partners (IPs), ensuring strict alignment with project development objectives (PDO). Oversee procurements of a significant volume of consulting services, feasibility studies, and financial systems designs), guaranteeing that all activities strictly follow UNOPS procurement rules.
• Enforce Rigorous Fiduciary Controls, oversee the design of strict internal financial management systems and risk mitigation strategies to safe-keep grant proceeds within Afghanistan’s high-risk environment.
• Oversee implementation of the Funds Chain platform, .
• Safeguards, Environmental & Social Compliance, and Auditing
• Command Environmental & Social (E&S) Safeguard, direct the PIU’s dedicated safeguards team to implement the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Labor Management Procedures (LMP), and the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP).
• Enforce Strict Protection Frameworks, assume absolute accountability for the enforcement of a comprehensive Sexual Exploitation and Abuse / Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) Action Plan and Accountability Framework.
• Direct Project Audits, act as the principal focal point for international external audits, UNOPS Internal Audit and Investigations Group (IAIG) specific reviews, and the Third-Party Monitoring Agent, for the swift and complete resolution of systemic control issues.
• Directing the Knowledge Agenda and Innovation Pipeline
• Govern Evidence-Based Outputs, oversee the generation and technical clearance of core knowledge products and dedicated gender/job assessments.Champion Upstream Experimentation, guide the Proof of Concept (PoC) facility and investment co-financing studies to safely test and scale high-impact interventions.
• Executive Personnel Leadership and Structural Accountability
• Provide Executive Mentorship, recruit, structure, and lead, the , multidisciplinary Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of international and national specialists, ensuring a strong culture of compliance, integrity, and gender parity.
• Enforce Duty of Care, maintain absolute oversight of safety, security, and medical evacuation protocols for all project personnel in direct compliance with UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) standards.
  
  

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), preferably in Project Management, Business Administration, International Development, or a related field with 12 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent), preferably in Project Management, Business Administration, International Development, or a related field with 10 years of relevant experience is required.
  
  

• Project management certification from a globally recognized institute is desired.
• Professional certification from a reputed institute in the technical topic relevant to the job area is desired.
  
  

• Senior-level, progressively responsible experience in program management, large-scale operations, or international development leadership is required.
• Minimum of 5 years directing multi-million dollar economic development or private sector portfolios within Fragile, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) settings is required.
• Experience in project/programme management, with a focus on private sector development, or economic development in complex environments is required.
  
  

• Proven experience directing complex multi-layered implementation arrangements, contract management across international/national NGOs, and rigorous fiduciary frameworks is desired.
• Direct experience leading large-scale programs funded by the World Bank (IDA/ARTF) or other international financial institutions is highly desired .
• Extensive experience working in the UN common system or international financial institutions at a senior management level is desired.
• Experience working in any of the following areas:
• Private sector engagement and development in fragility, conflict, and violence contexts
• Value chain mapping and development (carpets/light manufacturing and agribusiness)
• Inclusive and sustainable industrial development
• Early-stage business acceleration
• Start-up and SME financing
• Digital livelihood initiatives
• Livelihoods programming targeting vulnerable groups
• Financial systems, including international regulatory framework, compliance, service providers, and digital payments
• Trade facilitation
• Regulatory reform & policy advocacy
• International and IFI investments incl. investment analysis, financing structures, blended finance
• Project concept development and piloting
• IFI investment requirements & studies, incl. social rate of return
• Islamic finance and insurance solutions (Takaful), incl. in FCV contexts
• Capacity building for the private sector and NGOs in FCV contexts
• Private capital mobilization
• Jobs creation
• Experience in Afghanistan or other conflict-affected countries.