The Position:

The Sub-Regional Office (SRO) Director and UNFPA Representative has overall responsibilities for UNFPA representation, policy, programme, finance, staff and office administration in their sub-region of assignment. The sub-region of assignment is categorized as a contiguous group of countries (the Pacific) supported by sub-regional and multi-country programmes. The SRO Director and UNFPA Representative leads the sub-regional office team in the design and implementation of a population and development and sexual and reproductive health programmes. Through alliances and partnerships with governments, UN and bilateral agencies, development partners, civil society, academia and the private sector, the programmes aim to realize the 2030 Agenda in order to make a positive difference in the lives of millions of people; especially those furthest behind.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

Under the guidance of the Director of the Asia & the Pacific Regional Office, they play the leading role in projecting the priorities and mandate of the organization in the sub-region. Through compelling advocacy and thought leadership, the SRO Director and UNFPA Representative effectively positions UNFPA to be the visible centre of innovation and excellence on issues of population and development, universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including maternal health, family planning, gender, and adolescent and youth empowerment. Placing the ICPD issues at the centre of the overall development agenda, the SRO Director and UNFPA Representative plays a significant part in ensuring a coordinated and comprehensive engagement across the UN system, with bilateral donors and civil society, with national counterparts and other partners at the national and sub-regional levels. The SRO Director and UNFPA Representative provides leadership for the work of UNFPA in the countries of the sub-region and at the sub-regional level, and is accountable for the UNFPA programmes and operations in the sub-region. Your ultimate accountability is to the people that you serve; the most vulnerable, excluded, or marginalized and for the causes that you serve; human rights, sustainable development and humanitarian relief.

You would be responsible for:

D. Programme oversight and coordination

• Lead formulation and oversee implementation of the sub-regional programme, ensuring that they reflect country and sub-regional priorities;
• Ensure the application of results-based management and quality assurance frameworks and procedures for the work of the Sub-regional Office, including in the delivery of technical assistance;
• Ensure the application of financial and substantive monitoring processes, and the evaluation of the sub-regional programme;
• Establish processes for the incorporation of evaluation results in the work of the Sub-regional Office;
• Promote and support national execution modalities through appropriate UN, sectoral or direct budget support modalities, based on a risk-based approach;
• Establish processes to ensure the Sub-regional Office complies with Audit recommendations;
• Ensure, and is accountable for, UNFPA contribution to joint UNSDCF results.

E. Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Regional Director to whom you will report.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced university degree in any of the following disciplines: Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Management or other related field.

Knowledge and Experience:

• 15 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in public administration and international development of which at least 10 years in the field of population and development, sexual and reproductive health or humanitarian at the international level;
• Current knowledge of issues of population and development, sexual and reproductive health, and their place in the development and humanitarian agenda;
• Proven ability to lead teams to achieve demonstrable and high-quality results;
• Experience at national and international level in advocacy and policy dialogue;
• Experience in media/communication with partners, and public information;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Experience in international development, particularly in the mandate of UNFPA and dedication to the principles of the United Nations;
• Field experience is essential; experience from a developing, humanitarian or crisis context is an asset.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

UN Leadership Characteristics:

• Norm-based – grounded in UN norms and standards
• Principled – defends norms and standards without discrimination, fear or favour
• Inclusive of all personnel and stakeholders
• Accountable
• Multi-dimensional
• Transformational
• Collaborative
• Self-applied – modelled in our own behaviour

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.