Deputy Programme Director - CRLP

Organizational Context

The Asia Pacific Regional Office oversees UNOPS operations across 17 countries, focusing on high performance and operational excellence. The Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) has shifted its focus to life-saving initiatives and basic human needs, including managing large-scale cash-for-work programmes. The Community Resilience and Livelihoods Project (CRLP) is a significant, multi-sector programme funded by the World Bank, operating in a complex environment.

Job Purpose

The Deputy Programme Director (DPD) provides senior leadership, oversight, and continuity for the Community Resilience and Livelihoods Project (CRLP), reporting to the Programme Director (PD). The DPD acts as the PD's principal deputy, supporting effective programme delivery, coordination across teams, and alignment with governance arrangements. This role involves managing senior delivery and implementation staff, promoting effective people management, and ensuring consistent application of programme priorities. The DPD contributes to programme governance by supporting risk management, quality assurance, and follow-up to audits. The role also supports stakeholder engagement with partners like the World Bank and UN agencies, and may represent CRLP in various forums, ensuring continuity during transitions or leadership absence.

Responsibilities

The Deputy Programme Director serves as the Programme Director's principal deputy, assuming full leadership responsibility during the PD's absence to ensure continuity. This involves providing senior oversight of rural and urban delivery portfolios, ensuring alignment with project agreements, budgets, and risk tolerances, and identifying cross-cutting issues. The role includes direct line management of senior staff, setting performance expectations, and promoting mature people management. The DPD supports programme governance by overseeing follow-up to audits and managing strategic, operational, and safeguarding risks. Additionally, the role supports engagement with key stakeholders, including the World Bank, and represents CRLP in coordination forums. The DPD also assists in programme planning, amendments, scale-up activities, and leads change management initiatives during transitions.

Work Experience

Extensive experience in senior programme or project management within complex international settings is required, along with demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary teams and experience in fragile or conflict-affected environments. Experience with World Bank-funded programmes and familiarity with UNOPS or UN system procedures are desirable.

Skills

Change Management, Conflict Resolution, Program Management, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Planning, Team Leadership

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