Grants Management Senior Associate

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.

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.

The Vriddhi programme strengthens civil society organisations in Sri Lanka to promote social cohesion, inclusive governance and human rights. Implemented by UNOPS, the initiative provides targeted grants, protection mechanisms and capacity-building support to civil society actors working at community and national levels. The programme also facilitates dialogue between civil society and public institutions while strengthening coordination through regional networks and information management systems. Through these interventions, Vriddhi aims to foster resilient communities and a more inclusive civic space across Sri Lanka.

The successful candidate will ensure the integrity, quality, and compliance of grant-related transactions, by providing guidance to implementing partners, and supporting monitoring and reporting efforts.

1. Grant Administration & Operational Coordination

• Coordinate the operational execution of Calls for Proposals, including compiling documentation, receiving submissions, managing eligibility screenings, and organizing background files for the Evaluation Committee.

• Lead the preparation and drafting of standard grant agreements, amendments, and award documentation in alignment with UNOPS templates and policies for Officer/Manager approval.

• Independently track and manage the complete grant lifecycle—from launch through implementation to operational and financial closure—ensuring compliance with milestone prerequisites, asset verification, and closeout protocols.

2. Financial Monitoring & Verification

• Perform detailed reviews and verifications of partner financial reports, expenditure statements, and supporting documentation against approved budgets and contractual terms, flagging discrepancies for Officer review.

• Verify milestone completion and payment documentation, process payment requisitions in systems, and liaise with Finance teams to ensure timely disbursement.

• Coordinate partner capacity assessments and financial audits; conduct initial due diligence reviews and draft preliminary findings on budget reallocation requests or red flags for Officer/Senior Officer determination.

3. Monitoring & Operational Quality Control

• Conduct routine monitoring of grantee progress reports (narrative and financial), verifying execution against approved work plans, indicators, and target milestones.

• Conduct field visits and online monitoring sessions using established M&E tools to verify on-the-ground operational progress and compliance.

• Identify project delivery delays, compliance bottlenecks, or budget variances, and formulate operational risk logs and proposed adjustments for Manager review.

4. Partner Support & Capacity Building

• Serve as the primary focal point for grantees on operational matters, providing practical guidance on UNOPS financial rules, reporting templates, and administrative procedures.

• Facilitate orientation sessions and capacity-building workshops for grantees on grant compliance, reporting requirements, and financial documentation.

5. Information Management & Portfolio Reporting

• Maintain and oversee the real-time integrity of data in the Grant Management System, tracking tools, and digital repositories.

• Consolidate portfolio performance data and operational KPIs to draft preliminary inputs for project dashboards, donor progress reports, and briefing notes

Required

• A Bachelor's Degree preferably in Business Administration, Project Management, Economics, Social Science, Development Studies, Finance, or any other related fields is required 

Desired

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in Business Administration, Project Management, Economics, Social Science, Development Studies, Finance, or any other related fields is an added advantage.

Required

• At least two (3) years of experience in project support, operations support, and grant management with the first degree or one (1) year of experience with a masters degree

Desired

• Experience of working with civil society  is desired.

• Experience of working in the development and humanitarian sector/working with UN, Donors and NGOs is desired.

• Demonstrated experience in conducting financial and budget analysis Experience in project support functions (finance, human resources, procurement & logistics)  is desired.

• Experience with internet navigation and office applications (Google Workspace)  is desired.

• 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.