The Position: 

The Programme Liaison Branch (PLB) represents the work of the Programme Division (located in Nairobi) in intergovernmental and interagency work in New York and ensures that UNFPA Executive Leadership has direct access to timely strategic, programmatic and technical advice. The Chief reports directly to the Programme Division Director (in Nairobi) and has a secondary reporting line to the Deputy Executive Director - Programme (in New York). The Chief leads and oversees the work of a small but diverse team of New York based staff who are also functionally part of Programme Division Branches in Nairobi or Regional Offices. The Chief leads efforts to advance UNFPA’s programme mandate through global policy influence and high-impact advocacy and positioning in New York.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. 

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 who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose: 

The PLB Chief serves as UNFPA’s principal programme adviser in intergovernmental and interagency engagement in New York. Acting as the primary bridge between the Programme Division (PD) in Nairobi and New York-based stakeholders, this role ensures that UNFPA’s strategic, programmatic and technical work is positioned to influence global policy and secure Member State support.

You would be responsible for:

A. Programmatic advice and representation

• Ensure UNFPA senior leadership has the strategic, programmatic and technical advice and support needed to facilitate engagement with Member States and Permanent Missions in New York to sustain support for the UNFPA’s mandate and programming;
• Work in close partnership with colleagues in the Division of External Relations to ensure that programmatic and technical advice is available to support intergovernmental processes in New York. 
• Represent the Programme Division among New York-based global stakeholders ensuring strategic visibility of programmatic and technical issues in global forums and interagency task teams;
• Lead the organizational representation and engagement in New York-centric programmatic areas of UNFPA work, in particular, Youth Peace and Security (YPS).

B.  Programme integration and guidance   

• Working with relevant New-York based colleagues, facilitate the timely provision of quality assured corporate inputs by the Programme Division to Secretary-General (SG) reports and global accountability frameworks;
• Working with the Executive Board Branch engage with Executive Board members to secure endorsement for UNFPA Country Programme Documents (CPDs), and lead post-CPD approval actions, including Country Office human resource alignments;
• Provide guidance to UNFPA to ensure Country Programmes and Global and Regional Programmes (GRP) are aligned with the UNDS reform (e.g., UNSDCFs);  
• Oversee day-to-day collaboration on behalf of Programme Division with UNFPA’s New York based divisions to ensure strategic, programmatic and technical issues are addressed with a unified organizational position.

C. Advocacy and senior representational support 

• Lead the development and quality assurance of strategic briefing notes in support of ED/DED’s bilateral meetings with Member States and Permanent Missions and provide real-time contributions and advice during those meetings; 
• Provide real-time policy and programmatic intelligence to the Office of Executive Director to inform executive decision-making; 
• Ensure insights from political discussions in New York inform strategies to translate technical evidence into programme implementation and delivery;
• Guide the development of substantive advocacy and communications products tailored for engagement with Permanent Missions and other key stakeholders;
• Support programme division leadership and management to maximize the value of missions to New York, including pre- and post-mission support services, updates and follow-up; and

Carries out any other duties as may be required by the Division Director.

Education: 

Advanced university degree in one or more of the following disciplines: International Development, International Relations, , Public Administration, Management or other related fields. 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• 15 years of relevant and increasingly responsible professional and managerial experience in development and multilateral institutions or government at the national and international levels; 
• Strong knowledge and experience of working across the range of  UNFPA mandate areas (as reflected in the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2026-2029); 
• Proven experience of UN intergovernmental and interagency systems - experience of operating at UN HQ in New York would be highly desirable.
• Knowledge of and proven experience in development programming, particularly at country/regional levels, including programme and financial management; 
• Proven ability to lead and manage teams to achieve demonstrable results; 
• Excellent communication skills in speaking and writing in English; 

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, 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, 
• Developing people/coaching and mentoring,
• Performance management,
• Fostering innovation and empowerment

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy / advancing a policy-oriented agenda,
• Results based programme development and management,
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners / building strategic alliances and partnerships,
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches,
• Job knowledge / technical expertise

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing Strategic Focus and Direction
• Engaging Internal/External Partners and Stakeholders
• Leading, Developing, and Empowering People
• Making Decisions and Exercising Judgment

Compensation and Benefits: 

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary, 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 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: https://www.unfpa.org/diversity-equity-inclusion

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.