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.
The achievement of substantive equality between women and men. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women also leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action. The fundamental objective of UN Women is to enhance national capacity and ownership to enable national partners to formulate gender responsive laws, policies and upscale successful strategies to deliver on national and international commitments to gender equality.
Reporting to Regional Director, the Head of Office, Timor Leste, with a matrix reporting line to the Resident Coordinator related to the work in the UN Country Team (UNCT), the Head of Office is responsible for the strategic positioning of UN Women as a leader in Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Timor L’Este. The Head of Office is responsible for leading and managing the Country portfolio and for translating UN Women’s Strategic Plan in line with regional and national priorities, into development initiatives and results by developing, implementing and managing programmes; and developing effective partnerships with government counterparts, UN system agencies and organizations, civil society organizations and with bilateral and non-traditional donors in order to promote inter-agency partnerships, support for mobilization of visibility and resources to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Functions:
1. Lead strategic programme development and planning
• Assess national social development trends and identify emerging issues of relevance to the mandate of UN Women to identify opportunities for development planning to advance UN Women goals and objectives in the country;
• Identify strategic programme opportunities, approaches and modalities to strengthen UN Women country presence and relevance, in close consultation/collaboration with national development stakeholders and partners,
• Oversee the appraisal and approval of UN Women programmes in line with corporate guidelines and consistency with corporate policies and strategies.
2. Manage and oversee the implementation of the country programme
• Establish the Country Office annual work plans in collaboration and discussion with the team and set objectives, performance measurements, standards and expected results.
• Manage and ensure the completion of high quality, results-based and rights based country programmes and projects.
• Ensure regular programme monitoring and evaluate progress for timely action and intervention to achieve results;
• Lead and manage the country budget preparation and submission processes to ensure budget proposals are correctly presented and submitted in a timely manner;
• Lead and manage the preparation of UN Women mandated country reports and submit timely quarterly, annual and other periodic progress reports ensuring relevancy, quality and appropriateness of content and presentation;
• Plan and manage monitoring and evaluation of programmes and projects, and take appropriate action; manage the preparation of audits and implementation of its recommendations;
• Maintain and update country office security strategy, plan, and measures to ensure full compliance with UN security policies, procedures and requirements; Oversee security requirements for the team.
• Serve as member of the Security Management team (SMT) and undertake relevant security and crisis management training. Guide and influence decisions and standards related to security of personnel, premises and assets
• Oversee the implementation of the Security Mainstreaming & Compliance and Business Continuity Management and Organizational Resilience requirements
• Ensure all personnel are made fully aware of safety and security procedures and policies and undertake mandatory training
3. Manage finance and human resources in the 0ffice
• Monitor the utilization of allocated funds to ensure transparency and compliance with UN Women financial policies and accountability framework. Decide on the optimum and appropriate allocation and management of CO resources;
• Ensure effective workforce planning and timely recruitments; Manage the performance of personnel under supervision; provide ongoing performance and career development feedback, timely completion of performance assessments and coaching;
• Ensure that personnel are familiar with and follow UN Women’s regulations and rules, policies and procedures in the Policy, Procedures and Guidance Framework (PPG); Ensure personnel are aware in particular or of UN Women’s standards of conduct including but not limited to policies and procedures on preventing, reporting and addressing misconduct, Fraud and Corruption, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and abuse of authority, Protection from retaliation, and ensure mechanisms are in place to support personnel in this regard.
4. Represent UN Women in UN inter-agency coordination
• Serve as member of the UN Country Team (UNCT) under the strategic guidance and coordination of the UN Resident Coordinator (RC)/Humanitarian Coordinator (HC), collaborate on UNCT programming and advocacy to ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment issues are fully integrated into UN programming processes, including the Common Country Assessment (CCA) and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) planning, budgeting, resource mobilization, implementation, monitoring and evaluation through UN results groups and respective joint workplans, and in an enhanced response to national partners;
• Partner with RC and UN system partners to strengthen UN system interagency coherence, collaboration, planning, cooperation, and harmonization of programming, advocacy, common services, and operations; Facilitate joint programming and promote UN competencies to advance gender equality and women’s human rights; report to the UN RC on these issues as required
• Actively engage in regular UNCT consultations and decision-making processes
• Actively engage in and contribute to UNCT strategic communications that advance UN system efforts and collective results to promote Agenda 2030, including for national goals and priorities for sustainable development to generate positive public support and ownership
• Ensure enhanced accountability of the UNCT on gender mainstreaming and works for with the RC and to on the implement the UNCT SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard
• Participate in RC and UNCT members’ performance appraisal, as requested
5. Lead representation and advocacy with stakeholders
• Provide strategic leadership in positioning UN Women as the principal United Nations partner on gender equality and the empowerment of women, representing the organization in high-level governmental, parliamentary, intergovernmental, United Nations and multi-stakeholder fora to influence national policy dialogue, legislative reforms and development priorities.
• Lead UN Women's strategic engagement with Government, maintaining senior-level partnerships across key line ministries, constitutional bodies and national institutions to strengthen whole-of-government approaches to gender equality, ensure policy coherence, and advance the implementation of national development priorities and international normative commitments.
• Shape and influence national policy and reform agendas by providing authoritative policy advice, strategic advocacy and technical leadership on gender-responsive legislation, public policy, planning, budgeting and institutional reforms, ensuring the integration of gender equality across government systems and sectoral priorities.
• Represent UN Women in the United Nations Country Team, inter-agency coordination mechanisms and development partner platforms, influencing common UN positions, joint programming and strategic partnerships to ensure gender equality and women's empowerment are fully integrated across the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and national development agenda.
• Lead high-level policy dialogue, strategic negotiations and political engagement with Government, development partners, civil society, academia and the private sector to strengthen national ownership, mobilize collective action and advance transformative gender equality outcomes.
• Provide strategic oversight of UN Women's advocacy, communications and public engagement agenda, ensuring coherent messaging, effective thought leadership and evidence-based advocacy that elevates gender equality as a national development priority and strengthens UN Women's visibility, credibility and influence.
• Provide strategic direction for institutional capacity strengthening across government partners, overseeing high-level technical assistance and policy advisory services to enhance national capacities for gender-responsive governance, planning, budgeting, implementation and accountability.
• Monitor and assess the evolving political, policy and development landscape, identifying strategic opportunities and risks, advising senior Government counterparts and the United Nations system, and positioning UN Women to respond proactively to emerging national priorities and reform processes.
6. Lead Strategic partnerships, resource mobilization and knowledge management initiatives
• Develop and maintain active relationship and partnerships with the Government, NGOs, the UN system and development partners, institutes, academia, the media, and private sector on women's issues to enhance collaboration, resource mobilization and/or share ideas and to influence agenda and priority setting.
• Lead the Gender Donor Coordination Working Group to ensure a wholistic approach to influencing the policy landscape and programmatic actions towards collectively pushing the agenda for furthering the rights of women in Timor Leste.
• Oversee the development of knowledge management strategies and methodologies; manage the process of identifying and synthesizing of best practices, innovations and lessons learned that are directly linked to the implementation of the programme and contribute to their global dissemination and supports further programmatic expansion.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The Head of Office leads a team of 15 staff and personnel, including 5 direct reports: an Operations Manager, a Programme Analyst, a Monitoring, Reporting and Partnership Analyst, a Communications Analyst, and a UN Volunteer Programme Coordination Specialist. The incumbent also oversees 10 affiliate personnel, comprising FTA and NPSA personnel, UN Volunteers, and consultants.
The position exercises matrix management by providing strategic direction, technical guidance, and coordination across functional areas to ensure the effective planning, implementation, and delivery of programme and operational results.
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:
• Excellent programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them
• Excellent knowledge of Results Based Management
• Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making
• Excellent knowledge of gender equality and women's empowerment
• Strong knowledge of country and/or region
• Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation
• Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising
Recruitment Qualifications:
Education and certification:
• Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/ women’s studies, international development, or a related field 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.
• A project/programme management certification (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) would be an added advantage.
Experience:
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
• Experience in establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments;
• Experience in the in the field of gender and human rights of women is an asset;
• Experience in administrative systems and UN system norms is an asset;
• Experience in country and/or region is an asset;
• Experience in leading a team is an asset.
Language Requirements:
• Fluency in English is required
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.
• Knowledge of Portuguese is an asset
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.