UN Women: Chief, Executive Board Secretariat, New York, USA, D1 FTA

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.  Placing women's rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women (UNW) will lead and coordinate United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

The Executive Board Secretariat is part of the Executive Director’s Office. Under the overall guidance of the Executive Director and direct supervision of the Chief of Staff, the Chief of the Executive Board Secretariat provides strategic leadership and executive direction to UN Women's engagement with its Executive Board. The Chief serves as the principal architect of the Organization's intergovernmental strategy, directs the comprehensive management of Executive Board relations, and establishes institutional standards for UN Women's governance operations. The incumbent will also serve as the Secretariat for the Advisory Committee on Oversight (ACO).

The Chief provides strategic counsel to the Executive Director and Executive Leadership Team on politically sensitive intergovernmental matters, shapes the Organization's positioning with Member States, and leads the integration of Executive Board priorities across the Organization's programmatic and operational framework. The Chief advises on politically sensitive matters, organizes and directs inter-governmental negotiations of Executive Board Decisions, oversees preparation of documentation, and manages UN Women's communications with the members of the Executive Board.

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

Provides strategic, leadership and executive oversight to the UN Women Executive Board:

• Directs the strategic positioning of UN Women with Member States, anticipating political dynamics and shaping the Organization's governance strategy to advance gender equality objectives.
• Serves as the principal interface between the President and the Vice Presidents of the Executive Board (Bureau) and the Executive Director and the Executive Leadership team of UN Women to outline and resolve all matters related to the Executive Board.
• Leads the strategic planning and execution of the three annual official  sessions of the Executive Board, ensuring that  meetings are effectively and timely organized as per the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, and reported by liaising with the UN Women Executive Director, and President of UN Women Executive Board Bureau; receives agenda items from Executive Board members; circulates these agendas, documents, and reports; compiles the reports of these sessions; circulates approved minutes; and manages follow-up and response to Executive Board recommendations. Also organizes all informal briefings in between official sessions.
• Guides and coordinates high-level regular Bureau meetings with the President, the Vice Presidents and the Executive Director, and the ELT as needed, where all matters related to the proceedings of the Executive Board are discussed and decided.
• Establishes and maintains effective records and administration including keeping up-to-date contact details (i.e. names, addresses and telephone numbers) for the Bureau members; file minutes and reports of sessions; compile lists of names and addresses that are useful to the Board, including those of appropriate officials or officers of inter-governmental bodies and voluntary organizations; keep a record of the Bureau's activities; and keep a record of future Bureau activities.
• Upholds legal requirements by acting as a custodian of the Board's governing documents; checks that the quorum is present during session.
• Ensures that ECOSOC receives regular update as needed of the Top Contributing Countries for elections at ECOSOC.
• Directs the maintenance and regular update of the Matrix on the implementation of the Executive Board Decisions, for submission to the Board members before each official session of the Executive Board.
• Establishes effective communication and correspondence with the Executive Board members, share and disseminate information about the work of the Executive Board with UN Women staff and the general public; respond to all Bureau correspondence. Maintain and update in real time the website of the Executive Board by uploading documents for each session there in a timely manner, required by the Rules of Procedure.
• Represents UN Women as an active senior member of the UNGBS (United Nations Governing Bodies Secretariats), an informal group meeting annually to exchange lessons learned and best practices in managing UN Governing Bodies.

Policy and Strategic Advisory Services:

• Serve as the principal strategic advisor to the UN Women Executive Director and Executive Leadership Team on intergovernmental affairs, Member State dynamics, and politically sensitive governance matters, shaping institutional strategy and decision-making at the highest levels through frequent interaction with Executive Board members and monitoring information on Executive Board priorities and outcomes.
• Directs the analysis of Executive Board deliberations and Member State positions, establishing early warning systems and developing strategic response frameworks to protect and advance UN Women's mandate and resources.
• Leads the development of institutional strategies for strengthening UN Women's standing with Member States and architects approaches for expanding the Organization's political support base.
• Provides ongoing and up-to-date information and advice to UN Women on the Executive Board deliberations on all gender equality issues and on the policy implications of these debates on gender equality.
• Provides information and policy advice to UN Women colleagues on the key trends, opportunities and challenges related to UN Women's key areas of focus, e.g. strategies and action plans for promoting gender equality and strengthening the implementation of gender mainstreaming strategy, development, peace and security, humanitarian action and human rights economic security and rights; ending violence against women; HIV/AIDS; democratic governance.

High-Level Intergovernmental and Inter-Agency Coordination:

• Establishes and directs UN Women's strategy for horizontal governance coordination across the UN Development System, setting standards for coherence and leading institutional reforms in Executive Board working methods.
• Serves as UN Women's chief negotiator and representative in inter-agency governance forums, influencing system-wide approaches to gender equality in operational activities.
• Liaises and coordinates with the Secretariats of ECOSOC and the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to ensure that UN Women is delivering on its responsibilities e.g., the organization's operational activities based on policy directions set by the UN General Assembly, ECOSOC and the Commission on the Status of Women.
• Works closely with the Secretaries of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board, UNICEF EB, and WFP EB to ensure cohesion and coherence in managing the horizontal governance of the UN Development System.
• Works together with the other UN agencies in organizing all the join activities of the Executive Boards of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS, UNICEF, UNW and WFP, and coordinate these activities annually on a rotating basis.

Strategic Oversight of Corporate Reporting:

• Directs the development and quality assurance of all Executive Board documentation, establishing institutional standards for reporting and ensuring strategic alignment with UN Women's corporate priorities and Member State expectations.
• Provides executive oversight for the integration of Executive Board feedback across organizational planning, directing the institutional response to governance decisions and ensuring corporate accountability.
• Leads and provides executive oversight in the preparation of key reports/documents that UN Women Executive Board is committed to preparing for the organization's operational activities based on policy directions set by the UN General Assembly, ECOSOC and the Commission on the Status of Women.

Executive Leadership and management of the UN Women Executive Board Secretariat:

• Establishes the strategic vision and operational framework for the Executive Board Secretariat, setting institutional standards for secretariat functions across the organization.
• Directs UN Women’s long-term documentation forecast and ensures corporate compliance with guidelines and timelines.
• Leads the development, implementation and monitoring of the Secretariat’s annual work plan, establishes financial and human resource needs, and identifies capacity gaps and mitigation strategies.
• Build and sustain a high-performing team through strategic talent management, creating succession plans and fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.
• Manages, guides and oversees the team, create a positive and enabling work environment, encourages learning and development opportunities for personnel, and ensures all team members adhere to UN Women performance management processes.
• Represents the Executive Board Secretariat in senior management forums, advocating for resources and influencing corporate decisions affecting intergovernmental operations.
• Directs and monitors financial resources including drawing an annual budget for the Executive Board Secretariat covering all aspects of its functions. Submits timely mandated reports.
• Oversee security requirements for the team.

Management and Leadership of the Secretariat of the Advisory Committee on Oversight:

• Advise and support the ACO at a strategic level, ensuring alignment with UN Women’s governance and Executive Board requirements.
• Lead development and delivery of the ACO workplan, including agendas, documentation, and coordination with senior leadership.
• Oversee consolidation and quality assurance of all oversight inputs (audit, evaluation, risk, ethics, investigations).
• Facilitate senior-level engagement between the ACO and UN Women management and track follow-up to recommendations.
• Provide high-level analysis and policy advice on oversight trends and governance issues to inform ACO deliberations.
• Ensure compliance, confidentiality, and effectiveness of ACO processes and maintain accurate governance records.
• Represent the ACO Secretariat in UN system oversight forums and maintain partnerships with external oversight bodies.

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

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 and experience related to Intergovernmental processes.
• Substantive knowledge of gender issues, public policy and coordination.
• Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision.
• Strong communications skills, with proven expertise in writing cogent and convincing policy and programme documents for development practitioners.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to leverage information technology, executive information systems, management techniques and tools for optimal office performance.
• Good planning, goal setting and prioritization skills.
• Effectiveness in establishing and fostering good relations with government counterparts, UN agencies, donors, and NGO partners.
• Excellent negotiating, cultural sensitivity and diplomatic skills.
• Proven ability to organize and manage knowledge management processes and tools.
• Proven strong people management skills and public speaking skills.

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

•             Master’s degree (or equivalent) in gender issues, political affairs, diplomacy, international relations or social science or related fields is required.

•             A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:        

•             A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in development, law, policy analysis, sociological/gender equality or related areas, including in the thematic area and in managerial leadership is required.

•             Experience in UN intergovernmental processes, preferably with a focus on gender equality and women's empowerment and knowledge of UN system gender architecture and strategic stakeholders/partners is required.

•             Experience in leading and directing intergovernmental processes at senior levels is required.

•             Experience in establishing institutional frameworks, setting organizational standards, and influencing high-level policy decisions is required.

•             Managerial competencies/supervisory and management experience are required.

•             Public speaking experience is required.

Languages:         

•             Fluency in English is required.

•             Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.