The duty station is Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia 

Malaysian Nationals only. Qualified candidates who have legal residence in Sarawak are strongly encouraged.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the backbone of the UN development system and its premier development agency, partnering with countries to advance sustainable development through policy, technical expertise, implementation, and global partnerships. With a universal mandate and presence in over 170 countries and territories, UNDP works with governments to address complex challenges, strengthen institutions, and deliver inclusive, broad-based growth.
UNDP has partnered with Malaysia for more than six decades, contributing to its transition to an upper-middle-income economy. This partnership has spanned governance, energy, environment, biodiversity, climate, digitalisation, and inclusive growth, evolving from stand-alone projects to integrated solutions delivering systemic national impact.
The UNDP Country Office serves Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam, leveraging regional expertise and cross-border innovation. Work in Malaysia focuses on national priorities, in Singapore on digital innovation, and in Brunei on strategic technical cooperation. This multi-country platform positions the Country Office as both a national partner and regional connector.

The Country Programme Document (2026–2030) for Malaysia sets out the next phase of engagement. It reinforces UNDP’s role as a trusted advisor and delivery partner advancing scalable, results-driven solutions for inclusive prosperity, sustainability, and resilience.
UNDP and the State Government of Sarawak are pursuing a multi-year partnership to support integrated and sustainable development outcomes. The Sarawak Programme brings together ongoing initiatives and pipeline initiatives across multiple thematic areas to strengthen policy coherence, maximize synergies, and ensure cost-effective and results-oriented implementation consistent with UNDP efforts across Malaysia.

Under the guidance of the Resident Representative (or designate), the Programme Manager – Sarawak Programme, will act as focal point in coordinating the portfolio engaging with development partners, programme design, implementation, oversight and quality assurance. They will ensure the technical expertise of UNDP’s Country Office and wider UNDP networks is effectively mobilized in support of programme objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Programme Manager is responsible for ensuring effective delivery of programme and project implementation support services, transparent utilization of financial resources, and adherence to UNDP rules and regulations. The Programme Manager promotes a collaborative and client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP policies and procedures.

The Programme Manager works in close collaboration with Country Office programme and operations teams and plays a key role in identifying, mobilizing and coordinating technical expertise across the Country Office and UNDP’s Global Policy Network to support strategic programme development and delivery in Sarawak.

The Programme Manager liaises with Government counterparts, national and international experts, development partners and implementing partners, ensuring effective coordination, programme quality, and compliance with UNDP requirements.

The Programme Manager supervises project staff and coordinates the work of consultants, experts and service providers to ensure effective and efficient implementation of programme activities.

Ensure effective management and implementation of the Sarawak Integrated Programme

• Lead the planning, coordination and implementation of programme activities and associated projects in line with approved work plans, results frameworks and UNDP programming standards.
• Monitor programme progress and performance, identify implementation challenges, and propose adaptive or corrective measures in coordination with project teams, partners and the Country Office.
• Ensure compliance with UNDP policies and procedures, including requirements related to monitoring and evaluation, reporting, gender mainstreaming, risk management and social and environmental standards.
• Coordinate closely with Country Office programme and operations teams to ensure timely delivery of outputs and effective utilization of financial and human resources.
• Represent UNDP in technical meetings, coordination platforms and stakeholder engagements in Sarawak, as requested by the supervisor.

Support programme development, partnerships and resource mobilization

• Serve as the primary focal point for engagement with Government of Sarawak counterparts, development partners, private sector actors, civil society organizations and academic institutions.
• Contribute to the design and formulation of new programme and project initiatives aligned with national and state priorities, the UNDP Strategic Plan, and the Country Programme Document.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for partnerships and resource mobilization to expand the Sarawak programme portfolio.
• Facilitate consultations, stakeholder dialogues and technical discussions required for programme and project formulation.

Provide strategic advisory support and coordinate deployment of technical expertise

• Conduct analysis of development priorities, policy trends and partnership opportunities to inform programme positioning and portfolio development in Sarawak.
• Provide strategic advice to Country Office management on entry points for programme expansion, innovation and policy engagement.
• Identify and mobilize technical expertise from across the Country Office, the UNDP Global Policy Network, and external partners to support programme design, implementation and quality assurance.
• Ensure that UNDP’s technical advisory capacities are strategically deployed to strengthen programme quality, innovation, and policy impact in Sarawak.
• Maintain effective coordination with development partners, research institutions and technical networks relevant to programme priorities.

Facilitate knowledge management, communications and team coordination

• Promote knowledge generation, documentation of lessons learned, and dissemination of good practices from programme implementation.
• Contribute to preparation of knowledge products, briefing notes, and communications materials in collaboration with the Country Office communications team.
• Support organization of learning events, workshops and stakeholder engagements related to programme priorities.
• Supervise and coordinate project staff and consultants working under the Sarawak programme, fostering teamwork, performance and professional development.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 

Business Direction and Strategy

• Strategic thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions. Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP

Business Development

• UNDP representation: Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; ability to advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies
• Knowledge generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Business Management

• Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results
• Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
• Programme and project management: Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Partnership

• Strategic engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Economics, Environment/Environmental Science, Engineering, Business Administration, Renewable Energy, Natural Sciences, Business Administration, Public Administration, Development Studies, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or any other related subject areas is required.
  OR
• A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing advisory/technical support services and managing and implementing programmes / projects in the area of sustainable development.

Desired Skills:

•  Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement and partnership development with government and development partners.
• Experience in programme or project design and formulation, including development of results frameworks or theories of change.
• Experience working with sub-national or state-level government institutions is an asset.
• Knowledge in public policy development processes in Sarawak is an advantage.
• Proven field experience in development and implementation initiatives/projects either at national, sub-national/state, local, or community levels.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation, data analysis, and results-based reporting, including strategic management.

Required Languages: 

• Fluency in English and Malay, both written and verbal is required

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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