Special Assistant to Director, Technical Division

The Position:

The Technical Division is UNFPA’s unit responsible for providing thought leadership and developing tools in support of the implementation of the UNFPA mandate; as such, it identifies critical areas to advance the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and generates knowledge that is useful to support regional and country offices in their programmatic work and policy dialogue.

The Special Assistant to the Director provides day-to-day operational support to the Director acting as an interface with all units within and outside the Division, strongly supporting coordination and collaboration, within the Division’s overall integrated, and systems strengthening approach. S/he will assist the Director in carrying out Division level responsibilities providing operational, planning, managerial, technical and coordination support to all aspects of the work of the Division.

You will report directly to the Director of the Technical Division.

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 new strategic plan (2018-2021), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices.

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:

The Special Assistant acts as an interface with all units within and outside the Division, strongly supporting coordination and collaboration, within the Division’s overall integrated, and systems strengthening approach. In addition, s/he will provide day-to-day operational support to the Director.

The primary roles of the Special Assistant are:

Support for planning and management

Technical support

Support for coordination

Support for monitoring and evaluation

Education: 

Advanced University Degree or equivalent, in public health, social science, demography, management, public administration, international development or a related field.

Knowledge and Experience:

5 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in development work;

Analytical ability and experience with coordination and support into the development of policy materials and publications;

Experience with coordination, planning and monitoring of work plans, projects or programmes;

Basic research skills and familiarity with quantitative and qualitative methods;

Strong writing and oral communication skills;

Experience in liaising with academic and development community;

Experience with UNFPA or other UN agencies (field or headquarters) is a strong asset.

Languages:

Fluency in English; working knowledge of other official UN language is an asset.