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General Information

Position Title
Project Management Support - Associate
Job Category
Project
Duty Station(s)
Colombo
Seniority Level
Associate
ICS Level
ICS 06
Contract Type
ICA - LICA - Support - Regular
Contract Level
LICA 6
Posting Start Date
15-May-2026
Posting End Date
31-May-2026
Duration
Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance.

Job Highlight

Drive impactful project outcomes through expert planning, coordination, and stakeholder collaboration.

About the Region

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.

About the Country/Multi-Country Office

The South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) supports UNOPS operations across six countries: Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. SAMCO delivers a broad range of services and technical expertise in climate change, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), infrastructure, procurement, human resource management, and fund management. Each country office is staffed with local technical experts and maintains strong partnerships with national governments, ensuring context-specific solutions and effective project implementation.

Job Specific Context

The Vriddhi programme strengthens civil society organisations in Sri Lanka, by enabling networking, collaboration and support, working towards social cohesion and reconciliation. Through its intervention, Vriddhi aims to foster resilient communities and a more inclusive civic space across Sri Lanka. 

The Project Management Associate will be working closely with other team members in protection, project management, financial management and grants management for civil society partners. More specifically, the Project Management Associate will be responsible to provide support for the day to day project activities with the civil society partners including the coordination of the training, technical support, provision of equipment, and grant implementation follow up.

Under the supervision of the Project Manager and in close coordination with other members of the project team, the Project Management Associate will provide support for the delivery of all activities as per UNOPS agreed policies, processes and standards. He/she will have a high sense of integrity, confidentiality and the ability to engage sensibly with local stakeholders including local authorities and local communities. 

Role Purpose

The Project Management Support Associate provides substantive support to the planning, coordination and delivery of project activities. The role collaborates closely with project stakeholders to maintain effective coordination, facilitate operations and ensure activities are delivered efficiently in line with the project’s results framework and internal processes.


Functions / Key Results Expected

Planning and Preparation

  • Support senior technical leads (e.g. lead engineers) or project managers in stakeholder engagement, training needs assessment, and development of capacity-building programmes.
  • Contribute to budget preparation, procurement processes, and identification of risks with mitigation measures. 
  • Assist in drafting project agreements, amendments, and budget revisions in consultation with relevant stakeholders.


Training and Implementation Support

  • Coordinate logistics for training sessions, workshops, and meetings (venues, materials, accommodation, catering, assessments, certification)
  • Support the development of training materials and the integration of thematic inputs into delivery.
  • Liaise with service providers, retainers and project stakeholders to ensure effective project implementation.
  • Facilitate internal and external communications to minimize operational disruption and maintain consistent project delivery.


Monitoring, Reporting and Compliance

  • Develop and update monitoring tools, progress tracking sheets, and risk/ issue registers.
  • Collect, prepare and archive documentation related to training and project activities.
  • Contribute to drafting and quality assurance of reports, meeting minutes, and donor/partner submissions.
  • Track project milestones and alert managers on deadlines and reporting requirements.
  • Ensure compliance with UNOPS policies, procedures and donor requirements.


Operational and Logistical Support

  • Coordinate procurement, travel, transport and inventory management in support of project operations.
  • Support HR-related project requirements (e.g. drafting terms of reference for positions, monitoring deliverables, recruitment activities, etc).
  • Manage project files, shared drives, and document management systems to ensure real-time tracking and accessibility.


Knowledge Building and Sharing

  • Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on project management.
  • Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned.
  • Conduct research on project management-related topics and contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries and briefing notes.

Skills

Data Analysis, Project Implementation, Stakeholder Management
Respect
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Collaboration
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Partnerships
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Excellence
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Adaptability
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Decision-making
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Communication
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

  • Secondary school (or equivalent) with 6 years of relevant experience OR
  • Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years of relevant experience is required.


Desired

  • A globally recognized professional certificate or membership in Project Management is desired.


Experience Requirements

Required

  • Relevant experience is work in project management or related areas.  
  • Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems is required.



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.


Language Requirements

LanguageProficiency LevelRequirement
EnglishFluentRequired
SinhaleseFluentRequired
TamilFluentRequired

Additional Information

  • 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.
 
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 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
  • For more details about the contract types, please click 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 (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.