Key Functions and Accountabilities: 

Design and oversee the resource mobilization strategy and donor relations:

• Develop innovative strategies for increased resource mobilization with Japan in both public and private sectors.
• Establish and nurture positive partnerships with the Government of Japan (GOJ) and secure GOJ’s high-level rating of UN Women in its International Organization Evaluation; through such partnerships, initiate and organize evidence-based annual-high-level policy dialogue with GOJ to help increase its regular/core contributions to UN Women.
• Maintain and increase the level of Regular and Other Resources by ensuring visibility of Japan-funded projects and showcasing impacts of ODA; Increase access to additional funding schemes.

• Act as a strategic interface between funding partners and SPD/PPS in particular with respect to the provision of strategic and timely analysis of the changing policy and resource mobilization environment, and the impact on UN Women.
• Provide strategic and timely guidance and substantive advice to programme and result reporting sections and Regional/Country Offices in support of their partnership and resource mobilization efforts from Japanese funding partners.
• Coordinate with and advise the UN Women National Committee, which is a Japanese civil society organization in its resource mobilization efforts and related advocacy activities.
• Coordinate closely with the Partnerships and RM Specialist in New York to ensure alignment with and support of corporate priorities, and to further ensure coordinated outreach to the Japan Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.

Lead strategic partnership building for advocacy and awareness building:

• Enhance, expand and nurture existing relations between the Government of Japan and UN Women HQ to help promote the UN Women mandate, taking into account Japan’s position as a leading contributor to the global agenda on gender equality and women’s empowerment, and women, peace and security.
• Position UN Women at the centre of the gender equality architecture in Japan, including on Women, Peace and Security; further strengthen the partnership including on Japan’s policy and programming engagement, through different initiatives.

• Participate in speaking engagements with Japanese policy makers and civil society actors, including in discussions of Japan’s Development Cooperation Charter (updated in 2023), Basic Plan for Gender Equality and the annually published Intensive Policy for GEWE, and Japan’s Third National Action Plan on WPS (2023-2029).
• Engage in and stay abreast of relevant cutting-edge policy dialogues in Japan, and provide substantive, succinct and well-informed feedback to HQ.
• Advance strategic engagement with the Japanese private sector for awareness building and positioning of UN Women in the broader society through focused efforts, such as promoting UN Women’s campaigns such as HeForShe, Unstereotype-Alliance, and the Women’s Empowerment Principles.
• Design and develop innovative strategies for new enhanced and sustainable relationships with the media, NGOs, networks and think tanks, and use such relationships to advocate for stronger focus on gender equality and women’s rights in all development work.

• Lead on the development of comprehensive, succinct and sharp briefing material for UN Women’s leadership team in preparation for all bilateral meetings and events.
• Provide expert policy advice across relevant sectors, advocating for stronger integration of gender equality and women’s rights into Japanese development, foreign and security policies, and develop an appropriate risk-management strategy for UN Women’s operation in the Japanese political and societal environment.

Promote UN Women’s mandate in UN Coordination:

• Provide strategic coordination within the UN entities in Japan on gender equality and women’s rights.
• Collaborate with other UN agencies in Japan to promote and influence on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Manage the Liaison Office

• Lead the office in the delivery of operational goals.

• Finalize the annual work plan and budget; and oversee the implementation, including providing direction, guidance and technical support.
• Manage the performance of personnel under supervision; provide managerial direction, guidance and leadership to staff and provide performance feedback and coaching to personnel, ensure performance assessment are implemented on time and ensure personnel are fully aware of UN Women workplace relations policies.
• Promote teamwork to ensure harmonization, linkages, collaboration and synergy.
• Ensure a respectful, inclusive safe and healthy work environment for personnel.

• Identify learning and development opportunities of staff under her supervision and ensure support is provided to build their capacities.
• Lead the management of assets and financial resources of the office, in line with UN Women policies, rules and procedures;
• Finalize terms of reference for new staff, consultants and contractors and oversee recruitment processes;
• Manage, coach/motivate and guide staff, consultants, interns and other personnel as applicable and provide timely performance feedback;
• Provide support to the development of the Office security strategy and plan as required, in coordination with the Bunkyo City Government as well as relevant units in UN Women HQ.
• Provide timely situation analysis and recommendations to UN Women HQ with regards to JLO operations.

Other areas of emerging priorities in partnership with Japan

• Support Regional Offices and Country Offices including those where Japan-funded projects are being implemented, for example on visibility and access to humanitarian funding.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

The incumbent leads a team of 3 personnel, as well as occasional consultants and interns.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;

• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework:

Functional Competencies:

• Substantive knowledge or gender equality and women’s empowerment issues;
• Excellent track record of partnerships and resource development, or similar business development expertise;
• International development expertise, preferably in UN Women or the UN system;
• Excellent knowledge of the Japanese political system and key stakeholders;

• Excellent negotiation skills and ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners (public, including parliamentarians, private, academic, civil society, business community leaders);
• Strong oral and written communications skills, ability to convey complex concepts to different stakeholders;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
• Ability to interact with high-level decision-makers;
• Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting;
• Analytical and problem solving skills;

• Strong leadership skills, ability to create and enabling work environment;
• Outstanding leadership skills;

Recruitment Qualifications: 

Education and Certification:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in a development-related area of study, communication, or international relations, business administration is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: 

• At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic partnership development, resource mobilization and communications/advocacy is required.
• Experience working with the Government of Japan is desirable.

• Experience working with and knowledge of the rules and regulations of the United Nations system is desirable.
• Experience leading and coaching staff in international settings is required.
• Experience with supporting and overseeing development policy-making, programme and operations management is desirable.
• knowledge of gender equality and women’s human rights is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Japanese is desirable.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).