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General Information

Position Title
Senior Programme Manager
Job Category
Programme
Duty Station(s)
Colombo
Seniority Level
Senior Level
ICS Level
ICS 11
Contract Type
ICA - LICA - Specialist - Regular
Contract Level
LICA 11
Posting Start Date
11-Mar-2026
Posting End Date
27-Mar-2026
Duration
one year

Job Highlight

This is a unique opportunity to lead a diverse portfolio of projects in Sri Lanka, contributing to the country's sustainable development goals. The position offers significant leadership responsibilities, stakeholder engagement at a high level, and the chance to shape the strategic direction of UNOPS programmes in the Sri Lanka Multi Country Office.

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 Senior Programme Manager will lead and oversee projects and programmes under the Sri Lanka portfolio, ensuring effective programme delivery and performance. This role involves providing strategic advice to senior management, managing external stakeholder relationships, and ensuring adherence to UNOPS procedures and quality standards. The position requires a strong focus on monitoring, reporting, and knowledge management to drive innovation and achieve programme objectives.

Role Purpose

The Senior Programme Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and successful delivery of the UNOPS delivery programme in Sri Lanka. This includes strategic planning, programme implementation, stakeholder management, and ensuring the quality and impact of all projects within the portfolio.

Functions / Key Results Expected

1. Programme Delivery and Performance


  • Lead and oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring of all projects within the Sri Lanka portfolio, ensuring alignment with UNOPS strategic objectives and client requirements.


  • Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards, utilizing effective project management methodologies and tools.


  • Monitor project performance against key indicators, identify risks and issues, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure successful project outcomes.


  • Provide strategic advice and guidance to project teams, ensuring effective problem-solving and decision-making.

2. Procedures


  • Ensure all projects adhere to UNOPS policies, procedures, and best practices, including procurement, finance, and human resources.


  • Implement and maintain robust internal controls to ensure compliance with UNOPS regulations and donor requirements.


  • Promote a culture of accountability and transparency in all programme activities.

3. Monitoring and Reporting


  • Establish and maintain a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework to track project progress and impact.


  • Prepare regular progress reports, financial reports, and other documentation as required by UNOPS and donors.


  • Conduct regular site visits and project reviews to assess performance and identify areas for improvement.

4. Stakeholder Engagement


  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, donors, implementing partners, and local communities.


  • Represent UNOPS at meetings, conferences, and other events, promoting the organization's mission and capabilities.


  • Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure project success.

5. Quality Assurance


  • Implement and maintain a quality assurance system to ensure projects meet the highest standards of performance and compliance.


  • Conduct regular audits and reviews to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions.


  • Promote a culture of continuous improvement and learning within the programme team.

6. Knowledge Management and Innovation


  • Promote knowledge sharing and learning within the programme team, capturing best practices and lessons learned.


  • Identify opportunities for innovation and improvement in programme delivery, leveraging new technologies and approaches.


  • Contribute to the development of knowledge products and publications to disseminate programme results and lessons learned.

7. Personnel Management


  • Lead, manage, and mentor a team of project managers and support staff, fostering a high-performance culture.


  • Conduct performance appraisals, provide feedback, and identify training and development needs for team members.


  • Ensure effective recruitment, onboarding, and retention of qualified personnel.


Skills

Communication, Leadership, Project Management, Reporting, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Planning
Strategic Perspective
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.
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

  • Masters degree or equivalent in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, or a related field with 7 years of relevant experience.
  • Bachelors degree or equivalent in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, or a related field with 9 years of relevant experience.


Desired

  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Experience Requirements

Required

  • Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in programme management, including experience in leading and managing complex projects or programmes.
  • Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement, relationship management, and strategic planning.
  • Proven track record of successful project delivery, meeting deadlines, and achieving results.
  • Working with donors
  • Working with local governments



Desired

  • Experience working in the South Asia region.
  • Experience with UNOPS or other UN agencies.


Language Requirements

LanguageProficiency LevelRequirement
EnglishFluentRequired
SinhaleseFluentRequired
TamilFluentRequired

Additional Information

  • Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
  • Please note that 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. 
  • 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. 
  • UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse 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 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.