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Regional Team Leader, Governance, Rule of Law, and Peacebuilding (Asia & the Pacific) [Open to Tier 1 applicants]
Better Than Cash
Bangkok, Thailand
Posted on Mar 26, 2026
Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
- Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
- Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
- Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
- Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the UNDP Strategic Plan. Within the GPN, Governance, Rule of Law and Peacebuilding Hub (GRP), guides UNDP’s corporate strategies and vision for governance and peacebuilding.
The Governance, Rule of Law, and Peacebuilding Hub, a joint endeavor of the Crisis Bureau (CB) and the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), integrates work across governance, rule of law and peacebuilding (GRP) to substantially improve UNDP positioning and resource mobilization, global advocacy; advance principled and effective solutions that support accountable, inclusive and effective governance and prevent and respond to crisis, and enable peacebuilding and early recovery from crisis, whilst addressing underlying risks.
The GRP Hub supports integrated policy and programming as well as thematic and operational partnerships with key stakeholders including the UN System, IFIs, donors, civil society, and the private sector. The Hub’s functions involve providing leadership, advising on strategic positioning, managing global programmes, developing GRP development solutions, supporting country office programming, and providing crisis response and recovery support on GRP. The Hub also focuses on knowledge management, monitoring, evaluation and learning, and resource mobilization. Its work is organized according to the following thematic areas: governance of public goods and services; rule of law and security; peacebuilding; human rights; business and human rights; democratic institutions and processes; local action; and open and inclusive public sphere. Digital transformation, data for SDG16+, and gender equality play a cross-cutting role.
The Regional Manager, Governance, Rule of Law, and Peacebuilding (GRP) is UNDP’s lead thematic expert in the governance, rule of law and peacebuilding knowledge domain in Asia and the Pacific and guides, directs and coordinates UNDP’s work in this domain and in its intersections with other UNDP mandate areas. Guided by UNDP’s Strategic Plan and the Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific and in close coordination with the RBAP Chief Economist and other regional GPN team leaders, the Regional Manager plays a government in supporting and advancing governance reforms in support of national and regional development strategies.
The incumbent leads a team of Advisors and Specialists in this area based in the Bangkok Regional Hub and/or in country offices in the region. The incumbent integrates the regional GRP teams and portfolios, provides strategic direction and substantive, technical and managerial leadership to the team, and collaborates closely with other Team Leaders, Advisors and Specialists in the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH), Country Offices, headquarters, global Policy Centers, as well as external experts and advisors. The incumbent reports to the Regional Hub Manager (primary reporting line) and to the GRP directorate at headquarters (secondary reporting line) as part of the Global Policy Network.
The incumbent responds to requests from Country Offices under the guidance of the Regional Hub Manager, in collaboration with the regional GPN teams and corporate support providers. The incumbent carries the overall responsibility for supporting country offices on-demand in all areas pertaining to governance, rule of law and peacebuilding as well as integrated regional and sub-regional positioning, programming, partner engagements, and resource mobilization in this domain.
The incumbent positions UNDP as a solutions provider in new and emerging, regional and national policy and programme priorities and funding opportunities across the GRP domain. The incumbent ensures quality and coherent policy and programme advisory services in the region and, as relevant, across regions, in alignment with the UNDP Strategic Plan and the Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific. In so doing, s/he places emphasis on integrated and adaptive ways of supporting country offices in the region and on positioning and scaling the UNDP Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific.
The Regional GRP Manager is expected to identify and pursue integrated governance solutions in the intersections between governance, rule of law and peacebuilding and other UNDP practice areas, such as environment, health, inclusive growth, gender equality, sustainable finance, and digital transformation. The incumbent applies systems-oriented and portfolio-based approaches, demonstrating the critical role of GRP solutions as a strategic enabler for the achievement of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement.
The incumbent provides intellectual and strategic thought leadership on GRP issues and their intersections in the region. The incumbent represents UNDP in the wider governance, rule of law and peacebuilding community of practice, including with UN system partners, bilateral partners, and donors, IFIs, civil society, think tanks, academia, private sector, philanthropies, and other stakeholders. The incumbent advances the credibility, recognition, and positioning of UNDP’s capabilities in the GRP knowledge domain.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
1) Strategic and authoritative regional leadership in the governance, rule of law and peacebuilding domain and its intersections with other policy and programme areas:
- Provide strategic and substantive leadership in the development and implementation of governance reform strategies to accompany and implement national and regional development strategies, engaging with national and regional partners at leadership levels.
- Lead on sector-specific and integrated, cross-sector policy and programme advice across all GRP areas and their intersections with other programme domains.
- Serve as the lead interlocutor for country offices and regional partners on crisis governance and governance in political and economic transition processes.
- Oversee the coordination, integration, and quality assurance of policy advisory services to country offices and regional partners in close collaboration with regional and global GPN teams.
- Identify, adapt, and apply regional and global best practices across the GRP domain and its intersections with other policy and programme domains.
- Ensure effective, timely and integrated responses to country office needs and opportunities in close coordination with the Regional Bureau management.
- Ensure risks are identified, monitored, and managed across the portfolio of programmes and advisory engagements.
- Oversee the provision of on-demand policy advisory and programming services to COs in other regions, if and when received through the GPN.
2) Substantive leadership in advancing and scaling the Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific:
- Advance and scale governance, rule of law and peacebuilding programming, partnerships, and resources under the umbrella of the Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific.
- Identify and pursue new, innovative, and integrated GRP programming opportunities to position and advance the Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific.
- Oversee the management and implementation of regional and sub-regional projects and programmes pertaining to governance, rule of law and peacebuilding.
- Provide authoritative guidance and support to the regional team and country offices in project design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and results reporting.
- Support the quality assurance, risk management and due diligence processes pertaining to regional and sub-regional GRP projects and programmes under the umbrella of the Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific.
3) Thought leadership, innovation, and substantive knowledge management:
- Provide cutting-edge thought leadership and advance UNDP’s positioning on governance, rule of law and peacebuilding in the region.
- Influence and advance policy dialogue and policy implementation in the GRP domain at regional and country-levels, through strategic partner engagement, innovative programming approaches, and targeted knowledge products.
- Provide intellectual and strategic direction in identifying, prioritizing, and curating GRP tools, methodologies, and knowledge products, working closely with regional and global GPN teams.
- Facilitate and foster innovation and learning across all areas of the governance, rule of law and peacebuilding domain for regional and country office teams and staff.
- Oversee the quality-assurance, documentation and codification of regional results and lessons learned and translate substantive learnings into programmatic excellence.
- Advocate for and enable South-South knowledge exchange and experience-sharing.
- Lead and advance the GRP communities of practice, nurturing linkages, and synergies with communities of practice in other knowledge domains.
- Provide authoritative leadership in the development of UNDP’s GRP policies and contribute to the identification and formulation of global policy products.
4) Integrated team management and leadership:
- Integrate, lead, and manage the regional Governance, Rule of Law & Peacebuilding team and portfolio.
- Coordinate and guide the substantive engagement and direction of policy and programme advisors and technical experts in the regional GRP team.
- Guide and oversee integrated and adaptive work planning processes in close consultation with the Regional Bureau and country offices.
- Prioritize training, learning and staff development to underpin UNDP’s thought leadership and positioning across all areas of the governance and peacebuilding domain.
- Empower regional GRP Advisors; leverage and enable mutual support and engagement between UNDP advisors and programme managers at regional and country-level.
- Promote and facilitate close cooperation and regular knowledge exchange with GRP teams in other regions and the global GRP team.
5) Authoritative representation, advocacy, partnership management, and resource mobilization:
- Represent and position UNDP’s engagement in governance, rule of law and peacebuilding strategically and authoritatively at regional and country levels.
- Build and nurture trusted relationships with key partners at regional and country-levels, including with senior government representatives, UN system partners, bilateral and multilateral funding partners and donors, civil society, private sector, and academia.
- Advocate for UNDP’s role and mandate in governance, rule of law and peacebuilding at senior-most levels, including in relevant global, regional, and national fora,
- Identify and pursue synergies with partners and opportunities for scalable collaboration.
- Develop and nurture partnerships with donors, regional governmental and non-governmental institutions, think tanks and academia in line with the Regional Bureau and Global Policy Network priorities and aligned with corporate policy and guidance.
- Identify and pursue resource mobilization and funding opportunities in support of Country Offices and the Regional Programme.
- Oversee and coordinate UNDP’s regional representation and leadership at inter-agency meetings, conferences, consultations, and other events pertaining to the GRP portfolio.
- Engage authoritatively in joint crisis governance initiatives with UN system partners as relevant.
Other duties: The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Lead and manage the Governance, Rule of Law, and Peacebuilding team in Bangkok and outposted staff in COs, as applicable.
Competencies
1) Achieve Results:
LEVEL 4: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact.
2) Think Innovatively:
LEVEL 4: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight.
3) Learn Continuously:
LEVEL 4: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all.
4) Adapt with Agility:
LEVEL 4: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes.
5) Act with Determination:
LEVEL 4: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence.
6) Engage and Partner:
LEVEL 4: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation.
7) 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
1) Business Direction & Strategy:
- Strategic Thinking: Develop effective strategies and prioritised 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
- System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
2) 2030 Agenda - Peace:
- Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions: Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding; Crisis Governance
- Governance: Local Governance for Crisis and Peacebuilding
- Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights: Rule of Law
3) Business Management:
- Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment; knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) preferably in International Development, Law, Political Science, Political Economy, Development Economics, or other relevant fields are required; or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- A minimum of 15 years (with master’s degree) or 17 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in either the public sector (national or multilateral, including UN), or private (academia, non-governmental sector, corporate), with increasing responsibility is required.
- At least 10 years of experience in the management and leadership of large, multi-disciplinary teams in the areas of governance, rule of law and peacebuilding is required, including in crisis and fragile contexts.
- Proven track record in developing, supporting and facilitating governance reforms and reform processes, particularly at the intersection of economic and political governance is required.
- Demonstrated experience in political economy analysis, economic governance, strategy development, strategic foresight and institutional design is an asset.
- Firsthand programming and advisory experience in the intersections between governance, rule of law, peacebuilding, and other critical programming areas are required.
- Extensive leadership experience in programme and project development, implementation, and management is required.
- Demonstrated experience in leading innovative, systemic, and integrated programming approaches in governance rule of law and peacebuilding, including in Asia and the Pacific is an asset.
- Excellent negotiation, communication and advocacy experiences and ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners (public, private, academic, civil society, and business community leaders) is required.
- Proven track record in integrated team management, partnership building, and resource mobilization skills is required.
- Working experience in the United Nations is an advantage as knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures, and practices is desirable.
Languages:
- Fluency in English is required, with exceptional writing, presentation, and communication skills.
- Working knowledge in other UN languages is an asset.
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.
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
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.
Use of AI by candidates
Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
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The Regional Manager, Governance, Rule of Law, and Peacebuilding (GRP) is UNDP’s lead thematic expert in the governance, rule of law and peacebuilding knowledge domain in Asia and the Pacific and guides, directs and coordinates UNDP’s work in this domain and in its intersections with other UNDP mandate areas. Guided by UNDP’s Strategic Plan and the Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific and in close coordination with the RBAP Chief Economist and other regional GPN team leaders, the Regional Manager plays a government in supporting and advancing governance reforms in support of national and regional development strategies.