The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is inviting applications for a Project Manager position in Timor-Leste, offering an opportunity for an experienced development professional to lead a major youth employment and entrepreneurship initiative.
The position is based in Timor-Leste, is classified at IPSA-10, and is offered under a one-year International Personnel Services Agreement. The role is open to both internal and external applicants and focuses on project management, economic development, youth employment, entrepreneurship, partnerships and resource mobilisation.
The application deadline is 6 October 2026 at 5:59 AM.
About the UNDP Project Manager Position
The successful candidate will manage implementation of the Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Skills (YEES) Project, a multi-year initiative primarily funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The project seeks to address challenges affecting youth employment and entrepreneurship in Timor-Leste by strengthening skills, employability services and opportunities for young people and migrant workers.
The Project Manager will work under the supervision of the Head of Governance Unit of UNDP Timor-Leste and will be responsible for ensuring that project activities achieve their planned objectives, results, quality standards and timelines.
UNDP Timor-Leste works with national authorities, civil society, private-sector partners and other stakeholders to support inclusive development and sustainable livelihoods.
Key Responsibilities
The Project Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership throughout the project cycle. Key responsibilities include:
- Developing project timelines, work plans and implementation arrangements.
- Monitoring project activities and ensuring delivery within agreed time and cost constraints.
- Preparing concept notes, Terms of Reference and project-related documentation.
- Developing and maintaining project monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Preparing annual and quarterly work plans and budgets.
- Managing project resources, expenditure, procurement and administration.
- Supervising project personnel and supporting recruitment of staff, consultants and advisers.
- Preparing narrative and financial progress reports for UNDP and development partners.
- Identifying project risks and implementing appropriate mitigation measures.
- Coordinating Project Management Board meetings and following up on decisions.
- Building partnerships with government institutions, UN agencies, donors, civil society and private-sector organizations.
- Supporting resource mobilisation and development of new project opportunities.
- Documenting lessons learned, good practices and project results.
The position will also contribute to the project’s sustainability strategy and exit planning, including engagement with government counterparts and KOICA.
Education Requirements
Applicants should have an advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in one of the following or a related field:
- Business Administration
- Public Administration
- Economics
- Political Sciences
- Development Studies
- Social Sciences
Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field may also be considered when combined with an additional two years of qualifying professional experience.
Professional Experience Required
Candidates with a master’s degree need at least five years of relevant professional experience, while candidates with a bachelor’s degree require at least seven years.
Relevant experience should relate to areas such as business administration, private-sector development and MSME policy.
The vacancy specifically seeks candidates with experience in:
- Managing development projects with budgets of at least US$5 million.
- Youth empowerment, employment and entrepreneurship development.
- Delivering entrepreneurship and business-skills training.
- Business mentoring and startup development.
- Preparing business plans and supporting business ideas.
- Project development and resource mobilisation.
- Private-sector support and youth entrepreneurship.
- Managing multidisciplinary teams.
- Working with UN agencies, international NGOs or donor-funded development projects.
- Using ERP, web-based management and office software systems.
Experience with KOICA projects, Korean NGOs or the Korean public sector is also listed as desirable.
Language Requirements
Fluency in English is required.
Knowledge of Korean is highly desirable, while knowledge of Tetum and Portuguese is considered an advantage.
How to Prepare Your CV
Applicants should tailor their CV directly to the requirements of the Project Manager position rather than submitting a generic development-sector résumé.
The CV should clearly demonstrate:
- Years of relevant project management experience.
- Size and scope of projects managed.
- Experience managing budgets, particularly projects of US$5 million or more.
- Youth employment and entrepreneurship programmes delivered.
- Business training and mentorship experience.
- Experience working with governments, donors and development partners.
- Resource mobilisation and proposal-development achievements.
- Team leadership and staff supervision.
- Monitoring, evaluation and reporting experience.
- Experience with UN agencies, international NGOs or donor-funded programmes.
- Language capabilities and relevant digital/ERP systems.
Where possible, candidates should quantify achievements—for example, project budgets managed, number of beneficiaries reached, partnerships developed, funds mobilised or teams supervised.
Experience Highlights to Emphasise
Strong applications should highlight evidence of strategic project management, particularly experience taking a development programme from planning and budgeting through implementation, monitoring and reporting.
Experience connecting youth employment, entrepreneurship, MSME development and private-sector engagement is especially relevant.
Candidates should also demonstrate their ability to work across government, donor, civil-society and private-sector environments. Partnership building, financial management, risk management and resource mobilisation are central components of the position.
Leadership examples should demonstrate the ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams, manage competing priorities and maintain project delivery standards.
Contract and Vacancy Details
- Position: Project Manager
- Organization: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- Location: Timor-Leste
- Job Identification: 35115
- Grade: IPSA-10
- Contract: International Personnel Services Agreement
- Contract Duration: 1 year
- Schedule: Full time
- Practice Area: Economics
- Required Education: Master’s + 5 years or Bachelor’s + 7 years
- Required Language: English
- Deadline: 6 October 2026, 5:59 AM
UNDP states that IPSA is an international contract modality generally used for specialist functions performed outside the holder’s home country or permanent residence.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official UNDP Careers recruitment platform before the stated deadline.
Applicants should carefully review the vacancy requirements and ensure that their education, professional experience, technical skills and language capabilities are clearly reflected in their application.
UNDP also warns candidates about fraudulent vacancy announcements and confirms that it does not charge fees at any stage of recruitment, including applications, interviews, processing, training or visas.
The UNDP Project Manager vacancy provides an opportunity for an experienced development professional to contribute to a major youth employment and entrepreneurship programme while working with government institutions, international development partners and other stakeholders in Timor-Leste.
