I. Position Information
Job Title: Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RBAP)
Department: RBAP Directorate
Reports to: Administrator
Grade Level: ASG
Direct Reports: Deputy Regional Director, RRs and other key RBAP Directorate positions
Position designation: with no mobility requirement
Duty Station: New York, USA
Career Track: Managerial and Executive
Career Stream: Policy/Programme and Corporate Operations – Partnership Building & Strategic Planning
Contract Modality: FTA International
Contract Duration: 2-year FTA
Application Deadline: November 27, 2026
II. Background and Organizational Context
UNDP works in nearly 170 countries and territories. Anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and committed to the principles of universality, equality and inclusion, UNDP’s priorities are set in its Strategic Plan (2026–2029), to help countries achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations, and building resilience to crises and shocks. The Strategic Plan sets out a vision for the further evolution of UNDP’s contributions over the next four years, responding to a changing development landscape and the evolving needs of its partners.
The Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RBAP) oversees 24 Country Offices and one Regional Service Centre, covering 38 countries and territories. Across the region, UNDP helps countries build national systems and capabilities and share their own solutions to urgent development challenges. As countries develop local capacity, they draw on the expertise and networks of UNDP and our wide range of regional and global partners. UNDP’s regional priorities include advancing democratic governance and inclusive growth; climate, energy and environment transformations; expanding public and private sector development financing, disaster and conflict risk reduction and addressing development deficits including through digital access and the advancement of women.
III. Position Purpose
The Regional Director is the leader of UNDP in the region as well as a member of UNDP’s corporate leadership, and as such, serves as a role model for demonstrating corporate values, ethical behaviors and substantive development expertise. The Regional Director reports to the Administrator, is a member of UNDP’s Executive Group, and contributes to shaping and monitoring overall corporate strategic directions; provides oversight of UNDP activities and results in the region, oversees the RBAP regional programme, and ensures alignment of country office operations with the regional and corporate strategy and priorities of the organization. The scope and principal functions of the position include, inter alia:
· Participating in UNDP’s highest-level corporate decision-making body, the Executive Group (EG), helping to shape and implement strategic directions for the Organization as a whole;
· Building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to carry out UNDP’s mission, support countries in their development pathways and achieve results;
· Navigating complex political environments and managing sensitive political and institutional relationships, particularly in diverse and rapidly evolving regional contexts;
· Identifying and leveraging innovative financing opportunities and partnerships to advance development priorities, including engaging with the private sector, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), and other development finance partners, to mobilize resources, financing and investment for sustainable development.
· Managing the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, including providing oversight of country office operations, and working collaboratively across UNDP to achieve outcomes in line with UNDP’s Strategic Plan, including by shaping strategic direction for UNDP’s engagement in the region; identifying development challenges and priorities; defining strategic policy, knowledge and programming priorities at the regional and country level; and implementing measures to improve the quality and effectiveness of results and financial sustainability of operations;
· Building and extending external partnerships, advocacy and communications for UNDP in the Asia Pacific region, with a focus on knowledge-sharing, joint financing and development activities and resource mobilization, and representing UNDP as required in high-level events and fora relating to the region;
· Engaging in collaborative platforms in the region to support the UN Development System, providing leadership in the Regional Platform for Integration (RPI), and supporting the effective implementation of United Nations development system reforms at regional and country levels.
IV. Key Duties and Accountabilities
1.) Corporate:
· Oversees the continued monitoring of development trends and issues in the region, and leads the development of strategies and UNDP’s positioning.
· Maintains close coordination and liaison with senior managers in the UN system, including with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Department of Field Support, and Peacebuilding Support Office on issues related to conflict prevention and peacebuilding in the Asia Pacific Region.
· Maintains close engagement and partnerships with the Permanent Missions of Asia Pacific countries, advocating as needed for corporate and regional priorities.
· Defines region-specific strategies and advocates and collaborates with other Bureaus and relevant HQ units to further Bureau objectives.
· Represents the Administrator in key policy, programme, management, advocacy forums and conferences, entering into commitments on behalf of UNDP. Represents, when requested, the organization in high-level events.
2.) Regional:
· Leads the development, implementation and monitoring of UNDP’s strategic objectives as it translates to the region; oversees the Regional Programme and drives strategic partnerships including to advance development financing to enable UNDP’s programmes and operations in the region.
· Provides intellectual guidance for Asia and the Pacific policy and knowledge products including Regional Human Development Reports.
· Engages in collaborative platforms at the regional level, including with regional and subregional entities and coalitions. Builds and maintains strategic partnerships for UNDP in the Asia Pacific region for knowledge-sharing, joint activities and resource mobilization.
· Actively participates in the economic and political transformations taking place in the Asia Pacific with an in-depth understanding of the various issues influencing development trends in the region.
3.) Support to Country Offices:
· Provides leadership, vision and strategic guidance to the Resident Representatives and senior managers in Country Offices, engaging with key stakeholders as required to manage risks and seize partnership opportunities to advance UNDP’s support at country level.
· Ensures alignment of Country Office operations and delivery with the UN development system reforms including with the Resident Coordinator system, United Nations Country Teams, and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks.
· Ensures Bureau oversight of Country Office performance and timely action to problem-solve and anticipate challenges to protect UNDP’s results, reputation and credibility in the region.
· Provides direct performance management of RRs; linking the monitoring of corporate, regional and CO performance targets with individual CO leadership performance and review.
· Defines and leads the implementation of organizational change management in the region.
4.) Management leadership
· Oversees, through the Deputy Regional Director, and in partnership with relevant corporate units, the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH), Thailand, ensuring quality support to Country Offices and regional activities.
· Frames and approves, with the RBAP senior management team, the Bureau’s annual work plan and budget and monitors its implementation.
· Guides the implementation of strategies for Bureau financial sustainability, resource mobilization and delivery. Ensures oversight of the generation and expenditure of extra-budgetary income.
· Supports implementation of UN reform initiatives in the region, in line with corporate policies and guidance from regional platforms and United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG).
· Leads by example and encourages excellence, professionalism, competence, integrity and ethics and values enshrined in the UN Charter.
· Guides, mentors and develops a team of senior managers in New York, Bangkok Regional Hub and Country Offices. Mentors cohorts of young colleagues as next generation leaders.
· Oversees and is accountable for the Bureau’s operations in financial, human resources, procurement, audit and evaluation, and general administration.
· Manages the performance, assessment and development of RBAP senior leadership in their HQ, country and regional roles, and staff of the RBAP HQ Directorate.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Bureau and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities. Direct Reports: Deputy Regional Director, over 20 RRs and other key RBAP Directorate positions.
V. Requirements:
· Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent). A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with two additional years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of a master's degree.
· At least 15 years of relevant experience, with a strong record of progressively responsible, substantive and results-oriented experience at the international level, including in development programming, resource mobilization and advocacy, partnership building, including public-private partnerships, with a particular focus on Asia and the Pacific.
· Experience in managing complex organizational and staffing structures and change management processes related to external and internal transformations.
· Experience in interagency and international cooperation, initiation and negotiation of partnerships, mobilization of resources and management oversight of complex operations.
· Demonstrated leadership and ability to advocate for effective solutions, including in crisis response and complex political situations;
· Demonstrated knowledge and experience of the United Nations and/or other intergovernmental institutions and international entities, including the ability to influence and advance dialogue at global and regional fora;
· Relevant leadership experience gained outside the United Nations system, including in government, International Financial Institutions, the private sector, academia, civil society or other international development institutions;
· Proven values-based leadership, with commitment to principles of inclusion, highest standards of integrity; team behaviors to connect and collaborate, analyze and plan, deliver results together; proven skills to learn and adapt and innovate.
Language requirements: Proficiency in English. Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
Expected Demonstration of Competencies
Core : Full list of UNDP Core Competencies can be found here
Achieve Results: LEVEL 4: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 4: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight
Learn Continuously LEVEL 4: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all
Adapt with Agility LEVEL 4: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes
Act with Determination LEVEL 4: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence
Engage and Partner LEVEL 4: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation
Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 4: Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion
People Management: UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking
Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
Business Management:Results-based Management
Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
Business Management: Communication
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.
Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
Business Direction & Strategy: Business Acumen
Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization.
Business Development: UNDP Representation
Effectively represent and advocate for UNDP, its values, mission, work, and positions with various constituencies/audiences, shares UNDP knowledge and activities.
Business Management: Partnerships Management
Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Business Direction & Strategy: Entrepreneurial Thinking
Identify and seize opportunities to service and add value to clients, create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners, develop clear service offers responding to client needs in line with UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.
Business Management:Change management
Initiate, design and ensure successful implementation of organizational change; prepare and support individuals and teams in implementing change.
Apply Link: https://undp-globalcall.eva.ai/job-details/1dc71c08