Technical Coordinator (Infrastructure)

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.

UNOPS Myanmar is one of UNOPS’ leading offices in Asia, acting as the fund manager for some of the largest development programmes in the country. In addition, UNOPS is the Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in Myanmar and for the Global Fund’s regional artemisinin-resistance initiative towards the elimination of Malaria, which works to accelerate progress toward malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure, and project management services to a wide range of organizations in the country, including international development partners, other UN agencies and INGOs. UNOPS plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

The UNOPS Myanmar 3PI (Partnership, Project Management, Procurement and Infrastructure) Team is dedicated to building essential infrastructure, including WASH facilities, shelters, education and health facilities in remote and hard-to-reach areas. These interventions also encompass renewable energy and sustainable solutions and aim to address gender and protection issues for marginalized populations across Myanmar. The 3PI Team also supports rapid onset emergencies, such as cyclones and earthquakes and has procured and distributed medical supplies, essential non-food items (NFIs), hygiene kits, to remote, hard-to-reach regions following these emergencies. The 3PI Team is also implementing projects to support communities to recover following the April 2025 Mandalay earthquake. These projects support community based reconstruction of key infrastructure assets such as roads, water supply systems, informal schools and rural health clinics.

Under the supervision of the Senior Programme Manager (SPM) or delegated authority, the Technical Coordinator will provide technical coordination, technical support and quality assurance oversight for infrastructure-related activities implemented by the 3PI team and associated projects and programmes. The incumbent will support infrastructure interventions across the humanitarian-development nexus in Myanmar, including community infrastructure, emergency response and recovery programming, and infrastructure delivered through grants and partnerships.

The Technical Coordinator is responsible for supporting respective Project and Programme Managers in all aspects of the project lifecycle, providing technical expertise and ensuring the quality and compliance of infrastructure-related activities.

1. Technical Review, Engineering Support and Quality Assurance:

• Provide technical support and coordination to Project and Programme Managers throughout the infrastructure project lifecycle;

• Support planning, implementation and monitoring of infrastructure activities, including review of technical approaches, methodologies and implementation sequencing;

• Provide technical review and quality assurance support for infrastructure designs, drawings, specifications, Bills of Quantities (BoQs), construction methodologies and related technical documentation;

• Coordinate application of UNOPS design review requirements and support compliance with infrastructure standards, policies and procedures;

• Support compliance with Health and Safety, Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) and other applicable UNOPS requirements;

• Facilitate the assessment of the quality and adequacy of infrastructure design and construction activities;

• Identify, assess and support mitigation of infrastructure-related risks and implementation challenges;

• Support the engagement and oversight of local technical consultants and firms providing engineering and design services.

2. Technical Coordination and Resource Planning:

• Coordinate technical support services provided by the 3PI design/engineering team to projects and programmes;

• Support planning and prioritization of technical inputs and resources based on project needs, delivery timelines and agreed levels of effort;

• Coordinate and monitor the work of specialists (engineers) engaged through retainer contracts, including development of task notes, review of outputs and monitoring of deliverables;

• Coordinate and provide technical support to projects requiring additional engineering, design or implementation assistance;

• Support application of UNOPS project management methodologies, tools and systems relevant to infrastructure delivery.

3. Stakeholder Engagement and Reporting:

• Maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including project teams, implementing partners, consultants, donors and government counterparts;

• Support coordination and communication with stakeholders regarding technical activities, progress, risks and implementation issues;

• Contribute to project and programme reporting, including preparation of technical inputs, activity reports and mission reports;

• Represent UNOPS in technical coordination meetings, clusters, workshops and relevant fora as required.

4. Capacity Building and Knowledge Management:

• Support strengthening of technical capacities of UNOPS design/engineering personnel, implementing partners and relevant stakeholders in the same field;

• Develop, maintain and disseminate technical guidance materials, lessons learned and standard tools;

• Coordinate and deliver technical trainings and knowledge-sharing initiatives;

• Contribute to documentation of case studies, lessons learned and operational good practices.

5. Proposal and Partnership Support:

• Develop and review technical inputs for infrastructure proposals, concept notes and new initiatives;

• Review and contribute to technical sections of project documents, including implementation approaches, costing considerations, technical risks and quality assurance measures;

• Identify technical opportunities, partnerships and innovative approaches relevant to infrastructure programming.

Required

• A professional or technical diploma in Civil Engineering (CEng, PE, P. Eng.), Architecture, Construction Management or relevant discipline with 11 years of relevant experience OR

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management or relevant discipline with 7 years of relevant experience OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above with 5 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• Certification in PRINCE2® Practitioner and/or other PM certification is an asset.

Required

• Relevant experience is work in engineering, design, infrastructure and works or any other related field is required.

Desired

• Knowledge of UNOPS systems, processes (in particular Design Review) is desired.

• Familiarity with the Myanmar context and how it informs UNOPS’s approach to delivering Infrastructure (especially through Grants) is desired.

• Understanding of and experience with structural modeling and calculations of the stability, strength and safety of existing structures, including loads, stresses and safety factors, among others is highly desired.

• Understanding of and experience in the development infrastructure sector is desired.

• Knowledge of sustainable and resilient approaches to structural engineering and green technologies is an asset.

• Knowledge of seismic-resistant design and calculations is an asset.

• Experience in Project and Programme Management and Operations support is a distinct advantage.

• Experience working in conflict-affected areas and with relevant stakeholders is a distinct asset.

• Previous experience in a similar position with the UN, NGO, civil society organizations or private sector is an asset.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
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• 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.
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• 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.
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• 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.
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