Background
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in about 170 countries and territories across the world, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and build the resilience of people and the planet so that countries can progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s global policy network and communities of practice bring a wealth of development policy insights to each country where we serve, while helping to share those countries’ experiences with the world.
In Thailand, UNDP partners with national and local institutions, civil society, academia, and the private sector to advance the SDGs combining local, regional, and global solutions and expertise to help Thailand respond to complex challenges in an agile and inclusive way. Among them are strengthening institutions, promoting inclusive and sustainable development, tackling climate action, and conserving biodiversity
A flagship initiative in this space is the Thailand Policy Lab (TPLab)—a joint initiative of UNDP and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), and the first national-level public policy innovation lab in Thailand. Funded by the Royal Thai Government, TPLab serves as a mechanism to advance:
• participatory processes to foster collective ownership and broader stakeholder engagement,
• strategic planning processes that promote coherence, adaptability, and integration across sectors,
• foresight methodologies to anticipate trends and uncertainties.
TP Lab works to embed innovation into the policymaking process by integrating tools such as human-centered design, strategic foresight, behavioral insights, and systems thinking. NESDC, as the national planning agency, plays a central leadership role in co-steering the Lab and ensuring that innovation efforts align with Thailand’s strategic development priorities.
Leveraging UNDP’s global network of policy labs, innovation facilities, and technical experts, TPLab connects Thailand to international best practices in public sector innovation. It draws on global knowledge, South-South exchange, and region-wide learning to co-create forward-looking, evidence-based solutions tailored to the Thai context. Since 2020, TPLab has supported a wide range of initiatives—from youth mental health and inclusive healthcare reform to population policy and local innovation systems—while also helping institutionalize innovation approaches within the Thai public administration.
As the project enters its second phase (2025–2027), it is expanding its reach and deepening its integration within government processes. UNDP is seeking a Project Manager / TPLab’s manager to lead this nationally recognized initiative, working in close partnership with NESDC to drive policy transformation and public sector innovation. This is a rare opportunity to shape and lead a high-impact platform at the intersection of governance, innovation, and sustainable development.
The Project Manager will operate under the strategic guidance of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative and under a direct day-to-day supervision of the Manager of Programme, and lead a multidisciplinary team of policy analysts, innovation specialists, and operations personnel. The role requires close day-to-day collaboration with the NESDC team and coordination with other UNDP programmes. Embedded in the UNDP Thailand Country Office, the TPLab benefits from regional and global support, offering access to international expertise, peer networks, and technical resources to continuously elevate its impact.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Project Manager works under the general supervision of Deputy Resident Representative and collaborates alongside the Thailand Policy Lab members, including the Policy Analyst(s), Policy Innovation Lead Project Management Associate.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups, and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment—including sexual harassment—and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The Thailand Policy Lab is seeking an experienced, creative, and proactive Project Manager to lead and oversee policy innovation initiatives. This role involves providing strategic direction, managing partnerships, overseeing team performance, and ensuring the successful implementation and sustainability of policy innovation projects.
A. Lead, Manage, Coordinate, and Develop Policy Innovation Project Planning and Implementation
- Lead strategic planning for the project, including formulation and periodic revision of the Annual Work Plan (AWP), budget planning, HR, and procurement. Develop detailed implementation plans in close coordination with UNDP Thailand’s Programme, HR, and Procurement teams.
- Manage and coordinate overall project implementation to ensure relevance, high performance, and delivery of quality outputs within specified time and budget constraints, in line with UNDP procedures and Government standards.
- Provide direction, guidance, and direct supervision to project personnel. Review and ensure technical quality of outputs produced by the team and partners.
- Ensure integration of gender equality, inclusive participation, and stakeholder diversity—including youth and vulnerable groups—into the relevant project activities.
- Oversee all administrative and operational activities, including procurement, contracting, recruitment, and financial transactions in compliance with UNDP rules.
- Identify opportunities for synergy with other UNDP projects and external initiatives to expand TPLab’s reach and impact.
- Promote the integration of digital tools, AI-assisted processes, and data analytics into TPLab’s innovation workflows in coordination with relevant team members.
- Lead and manage a cross-functional team, fostering collaboration, professional development, and a culture of innovation.
B. Develop Strategic Partnerships and Lead Stakeholder Engagement
- Lead the identification and engagement of implementing and strategic partners, both conventional and non-traditional.
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with national and subnational government agencies, academic institutions, private sector entities, NGOs, development partners, and citizen groups.
- Contribute to the design of communications and visibility strategies to support positioning and engagement.
- Liaise between UNDP, TPLab, and its partners to facilitate collaboration, provide technical guidance, and co-develop opportunities for engagement.
- Support resource mobilization and outreach to attract new partners and ensure the sustainability and scale-up of TPLab’s work.
- Develop a long-term sustainability strategy for the Thailand Policy Lab, including institutional integration within NESDC and potential scaling mechanisms.
- Participate in stakeholder meetings and public events, promoting TPLab’s services, achievements, and thought leadership.
C. Oversee Project Performance Monitoring, Evaluation, and Risk Management
- Provide leadership in developing baselines, indicators, and a detailed results framework for monitoring and evaluation.
- Ensure rigorous oversight of policy innovation pilots and processes, including planning, implementation, and evaluation aligned with UNDP’s quality standards.
- Monitor project performance against targets, identify course corrections, and address deviations proactively.
- Lead the design and conduct of mid-term and annual reviews and ensure timely, quality delivery of donor and government reports.
- Manage project risks, including social and environmental risks, and escalate as needed to project governance mechanisms.
- Ensure the operational and financial closure of the project and institutional knowledge handover.
D. Drive Knowledge, Capacity Building, and Advocacy for Policy Innovation
- Identify capacity-building needs and coordinate the delivery of relevant training and workshops with experts and stakeholders.
- Ensure the systematic documentation and sharing of project lessons, methodologies, and success stories with internal and external audiences.
- Contribute knowledge networks, innovation platforms, and communities of practice relevant to policy innovation, public sector reform, and sustainable development.
- Develop and disseminate knowledge products that position TPLab as a national and regional leader in public policy innovation.
- Participate and promote TPLab in global and regional networks, thought leadership platforms, and innovation fora.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core Competencies:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
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 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
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
- Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals
Business Development
- Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange
Digital
- Co-creation: Ability to design and facilitate a process that enables a diverse group of stakeholders to solve a common problem, develop a practice, or create knowledge together.
Partnership management
- Relationship Management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is 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:
- Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in providing people management, advisory services, hands-on experience in design, leading, managing, implementation and evaluation of policy innovation projects.
Required skills:
- Knowledge and experience in relevant field of policy innovation.
- Experience in leadership and team management.
- Experience in partnership development and management.
- Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Effective communication and negotiation skills.
- Knowledge Management: Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge
- Excellent facilitation skills for multi-stakeholder workshops, policy innovation activity, policy hackathons, etc.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
- Proven experience in working with governments or international organizations including private, public, academic and the civil sectors partners on policy or policy innovation.
- Experience in working, liaising, and collaborating with UN agencies, national governments, NGOs, civil society organizations, and public international organizations.
- Knowledge of capacity building theory and capacity building/assessment methodologies
- Extensive People development skills and capacity building skills.
Required Languages
- Fluency in English and Thai is required.
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.
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.
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.
