UNOPS

In Latin America and the Caribbean, UNOPS operates across 23 countries, delivering high-impact solutions that drive sustainable development. UNOPS focuses on building and improving resilient infrastructure—including roads, bridges, public facilities, sanitation systems, and housing—to enhance quality of life and foster inclusive growth. UNOPS also supports public health by procuring essential medicines and medical equipment, ensuring broader access to healthcare services. By strengthening institutional capacities, UNOPS promotes transparent, efficient, and equitable public management. As a trusted partner to governments and development stakeholders, UNOPS aligns its interventions with national priorities, helping countries advance the Sustainable Development Goals through practical, results-driven support.

Based in Panama City, Panama, the UNOPS Office of the Regional Director (ORD) for Latin America and the Caribbean provides strategic leadership and coordination across the region, enabling effective delivery of UNOPS’ mandate. Through portfolio oversight, integrated risk management, and the mobilization of expertise and resources, the ORD ensures regional coherence and operational excellence. The office supports country teams in aligning activities with organizational goals, strengthening the impact and efficiency of development efforts. It also leads regional positioning and representation in high-level forums, advancing visibility and engagement with key stakeholders. In close collaboration with other regional offices and headquarters, the ODR fosters cross-regional learning, promotes innovation, and drives strategic initiatives that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The incumbent supports the Regional Director in the day-to-day coordination of the regional agenda, including the identification of matters requiring attention, analysis of complex issues, development of practical recommendations, preparation of executive-level correspondence and reports, and coordination with relevant stakeholders across the region and at headquarters.  

The role also supports the identification and analysis of regional trends, risks and performance information, providing the Regional Director and the Office of the Regional Director with timely and accurate insights to inform decision-making, strengthen regional oversight and proactively address potential challenges.

The incumbent coordinates the preparation and follow-up of executive-level governance and management meetings, including Leadership Team and Management Community meetings. This includes developing presentations and briefing materials, consolidating and analyzing information, documenting decisions and action points, and monitoring agreed actions through completion.

In addition, the Project Management Specialist supports the effective management of the Regional Director’s calendar, official missions and strategic engagements, ensuring that priorities, meetings and travel arrangements are coordinated in a timely and coherent manner.

Overall, the incumbent is expected to ensure that the activities supported under the Regional Director’s Office are delivered in accordance with UNOPS rules, policies and procedures, and meet the required standards of quality, timeliness and accuracy. The Project Management Specialist reports directly to the Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Required

A Master’s degree or equivalent, preferably in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Finance, or another relevant discipline, is required.

Desired

A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree, provided the candidate has an additional two years of relevant professional experience.

Required

A Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in project management support and reporting is required.

Desired

Experience and demonstrated knowledge of UN/UNOPS rules and procedures in Procurement, Finance, HR Management and administrative rules and regulations is  an advantage.

• 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. 
• 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.