| Job Location: | Kabul |
|---|---|
| Nationality: | Afghan |
| Category: | Program |
| Employment Type: | Full Time |
| Salary: | |
| Vacancy Number: | VA No. 2224 |
| No. Of Jobs: | 1 |
| City: | Kabul |
|---|---|
| Organization: | UNOPS |
| Years of Experience: | A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in project and/or program management and coordination. |
| Contract Duration: | Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance |
| Gender: | Male/Female |
| Education: | 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 Degr |
| Close date: | 2026-03-09 |
Background Information - UNOPS
UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.
UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management, and human resources.
Working with us
We are proud of our people. With a wealth of knowledge and skills in various disciplines – engineering, finance, human resources, ICT, leadership, project management, procurement, and more – they help tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time. Their work around the world supports progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
At UNOPS, we offer a range of short- and long-term opportunities in various environments and duty stations – from Denmark and Kenya to Mexico, Switzerland, Myanmar, Senegal, Uganda, and many more.
Diversity
With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labor force — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We continually strive to maintain our gender-balanced workplace. We encourage qualified underrepresented groups as per UNOPS Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy to apply for our vacancies.
Afghanistan
With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the people of Afghanistan through the delivery of projects and services that improve the lives of people in need. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency. At present, UNOPS AFCO activities cover a range of sectors including humanitarian, basic human needs, cash for work, infrastructure, development, procurement and HR services.
The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to improving the lives of girls, boys, men and women living in Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the humanitarian response and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve the lives of Afghans in need.
Job Specific Context
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.
Role Purpose
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.
Functions / Key Results Expected
1. Programme Coordination
Provide programme-wide oversight of day-to-day implementation across rural and urban components.
Ensure alignment between delivery activities and approved project documents, implementation plans, schedules, and budgets.
Coordinate implementation workflows across delivery teams, the PIU, and UNOPS support services to maintain coherent and efficient execution.
Identify cross-cutting implementation issues and escalate them to the Deputy Programme Director as required.
2. Planning, Scheduling, and Performance Monitoring
Lead the consolidation and maintenance of detailed programme-level implementation plans and schedules, including the programme Gantt chart.
Monitor progress against milestones, outputs, and delivery targets.
Identify delivery slippages, dependencies, and bottlenecks and support corrective action planning with delivery teams.
Provide structured implementation performance analysis and reporting to the Deputy Programme Director and Programme Director.
Ensure timely provision of inputs, updating and reporting through the oneUNOPS system and other reporting requirements including UNOPS, UN, Technical Working Groups etc.
3. Procedures, Controls, and Compliance
Ensure implementation activities comply with UNOPS policies, procedures, and internal control frameworks.
Maintain robust documentation standards, audit trails, and segregation of duties across implementation processes.
Oversee PIU contributions to audits, reviews, evaluations, and assurance processes, and coordinate follow-up to agreed management actions.
Support effective application of environmental and social safeguards, SEA/SH prevention measures, and grievance redress mechanisms, in coordination with relevant technical leads.
4. Risk Management and Operational Assurance
Identify, assess, and monitor operational, delivery, and fiduciary risks within the programme implementation scope.
Support mitigation actions and escalation of significant risks through established governance and reporting channels.
Provide assurance to senior management that implementation risks and controls managed through the PIU are actively and effectively addressed.
5. Leadership and Management of the Programme Implementation Unit (PIU)
Provide direct line management to all PIU personnel, in accordance with the approved CRLP organisational structure.
Lead and coordinate a multi-disciplinary PIU team covering, inter alia:
Quality assurance and engineering functions
Monitoring, evaluation, and learning
Health, safety, social and environmental (HSSE) compliance
ICT, MIS, data management, and reporting systems
Grievance redress, accountability, and community feedback mechanisms
Diversity, inclusion, and SEA/SH prevention functions
Project management, administrative, and operational support roles
Set clear priorities, allocate work, and ensure effective coordination across PIU functions.
Ensure PIU outputs are timely, high-quality, and aligned with programme delivery needs and priorities.
Ensure PIU staff operate in accordance with their approved TORs, UNOPS policies, and CRLP requirements.
6. Interface with Delivery Leadership (Rural and Urban Teams)
Work in close partnership with the Heads of Rural and Urban Teams to support delivery effectiveness.
Respect and reinforce delivery ownership of the Rural and Urban Teams.
Promote consistent planning, monitoring, and reporting standards across delivery components.
7. Personnel Management and Leadership
Provide effective people management in line with UNOPS performance management frameworks.
Support work planning, performance reviews, coaching, and professional development of PIU staff.
Foster a collaborative, accountable, and professional working culture within the PIU.
Promote staff well-being, duty of care, and adherence to UNOPS values and code of conduct.
Promote a culture of zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation and abuse.
8. Knowledge Management and Continuous Improvement
Promote knowledge building and sharing through lessons learned and good practice.
Contribute to UNOPS knowledge management initiatives.
Drive continuous improvement of delivery systems, workflows, and tools.
Skills
Knowledge Management, Program Management, Project Management, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Planning, Team Leadership
Education Requirements
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.
Experience Requirements
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.
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.
Language Requirements
Language Proficiency Level Requirement
English Fluent Required
Dari Fluent Desirable
Pashto Fluent Desirable
Please click on the below link for actual vacancy announcement to see the complete details and submission guideline as this is only an attempt for attracting female applicants for gender parity in organization. Please make sure you fill your profile/application properly with all relevant details in order to be considered for the next stage of recruitment/selection.
