Chief, Political Affairs and Advocacy Branch, Office of the Executive Director (OED), New York, D-1

The Position:

The Chief, Political Affairs and Advocacy Branch is located in the Office of the Executive Director (OED) and reports directly to the Chief of Staff.

The Office of the Executive Director provides strategic leadership, coordination and support to the Executive Director in advancing UNFPA’s mandate and institutional priorities. Within OED, the Political Affairs and Advocacy Branch serves as the principal political affairs and Member State engagement capability for executive leadership, providing political intelligence and strategic advice, coordinating executive-level engagement with Member States and supporting political advocacy and strategic outreach.

The Chief leads the Political Affairs and Advocacy Branch and advises and supports the Chief of Staff and executive leadership on political developments, Member State relations, strategic advocacy and high-level engagement.

This role also works closely with OED teams, the Division for External Relations, regional and country offices and other relevant business units to ensure that executive leadership is supported by timely political analysis, coherent engagement strategies and coordinated preparation and follow-up for high-level engagements.

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 will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, 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 Chief, Political Affairs and Advocacy Branch provides leadership and strategic direction to UNFPA’s executive-level political affairs, Member State engagement and advocacy functions.

The incumbent serves as a senior political adviser to the Executive Director and Chief of Staff, providing political analysis, situational awareness and forward-looking advice on developments that may affect UNFPA’s mandate, positioning and operating environment. In addition, also  develops and oversees strategies for executive leadership engagement with Member States and other high-level political stakeholders, ensuring that engagements are strategically prioritized, well prepared and systematically followed up. The incumbent supports executive leadership in building and sustaining trusted relationships across diverse Member State constituencies and advancing understanding and support for UNFPA’s mandate and strategic priorities.

The incumbent also ensures close coordination with organizational units responsible for Executive Board governance, UN system and intergovernmental affairs, public funding and financing and other external relations functions, maintaining clear institutional accountabilities while ensuring coherent executive-level engagement.

You would be responsible for:

A. Political Affairs and Strategic Advice

• Advise the Executive Director, Chief of Staff and other members of executive leadership on geopolitical developments, Member State positions and emerging political trends relevant to UNFPA’s mandate, strategic priorities and institutional positioning.
• Provide timely situational awareness, political analysis and forward-looking advice on emerging opportunities, sensitivities and risks requiring executive leadership attention.
• Direct the preparation of political briefs, country and regional profiles, stakeholder analysis, strategic advice and other products to support executive decision-making and engagement.
• Maintain an integrated overview of political developments and Member State dynamics relevant to UNFPA and identify implications for institutional positioning and executive engagement.
• Draw together political intelligence and analysis from headquarters, regional and country offices and relevant external sources to support informed executive decision-making.
• Identify opportunities for proactive political engagement and advise executive leadership on approaches to complex or sensitive political issues.

B. Executive-Level Member State Engagement

• Lead and coordinate executive-level engagement strategies with Member States, ensuring sustained, coherent and differentiated engagement across geographic and political constituencies.
• Advise the Executive Director and Chief of Staff on the prioritization, objectives, sequencing and approach for engagement with Heads of State and Government, ministers, Permanent Representatives and other senior government officials.
• Oversee the substantive and strategic preparation of executive leadership for high-level bilateral and group engagements, ensuring timely coordination of political analysis, substantive inputs, strategic objectives and recommended approaches.
• Represent OED, as appropriate, in meetings and consultations with Member State delegations, regional and political groups and other high-level stakeholders, conveying executive leadership priorities and ensuring appropriate follow-up.
• Maintain a strategic overview of executive leadership engagement with Member States to support continuity, institutional memory and informed prioritization.
• Ensure systematic follow-up on executive-level engagements and commitments, working across relevant business units to facilitate coordinated and timely action.

C. Political Advocacy and Strategic Outreach

• Lead the development of political advocacy strategies to strengthen understanding and support for UNFPA’s mandate and strategic priorities among Member States and other high-level political stakeholders.
• Advise executive leadership on opportunities to position UNFPA’s mandate, evidence and comparative advantage in major political and multilateral discussions.
• Guide targeted political outreach on emerging issues, strategic priorities and matters requiring sustained executive-level engagement.
• Oversee the development of tailored political narratives, arguments and advocacy approaches for different Member State constituencies and political contexts, in close coordination with substantive and communications teams.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with Permanent Missions, senior government officials and other relevant political stakeholders.
• Support executive leadership engagement with regional and political groups and other relevant high-level constituencies.

D. High-Level Engagement and Diplomatic Coordination

• Advise on and support the prioritization of high-level political meetings, official visits, missions and engagements involving executive leadership.
• Oversee coordinated preparation and follow-up for official visits and high-level engagements involving Heads of State and Government, ministers, Permanent Representatives and other senior political stakeholders.
• Ensure appropriate diplomatic and protocol arrangements for executive leadership engagements, working with relevant UN, host-country and organizational counterparts.
• Facilitate coordination across headquarters, regional and country offices to ensure that executive-level political engagements are informed by country and regional contexts and contribute to broader organizational priorities.
• Ensure that political engagement, strategic advocacy and communications are appropriately aligned while maintaining clear functional responsibilities.

E. Branch Leadership and Management

• Provide strategic leadership and overall management of the Political Affairs and Advocacy Branch, establishing priorities and ensuring high-quality and timely delivery of its work programme.
• Lead, manage and develop Branch personnel, fostering a collaborative, accountable and high-performing team culture.
• Establish effective mechanisms for political intelligence, engagement planning, relationship management, institutional memory and systematic follow-up.
• Ensure close and effective collaboration with the Executive Front Office, Executive Board Branch, Strategic Leadership Communications Unit, Division for External Relations, regional offices, country offices and other relevant business units.
• Ensure that the Branch’s work complements and does not duplicate the formal responsibilities of organizational units responsible for Executive Board governance, UN system and intergovernmental affairs and public funding and financing.
• Perform other duties as may be required by the Chief of Staff and Executive Director.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree (minimum Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, public policy, development studies or another related field.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience at the national and international levels in political affairs, diplomacy, international relations, multilateral affairs, strategic advocacy, development cooperation or a related field.
• Extensive experience in providing strategic and political advice to senior executive leadership in an international, governmental or multilateral setting.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with Member States, governments, Permanent Missions, regional or political groups and senior government officials.
• Strong understanding of geopolitical dynamics, multilateral processes and the United Nations system.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex political developments and translate them into concise, actionable advice for senior leadership.
• Extensive experience preparing political analysis, strategic briefings, talking points, engagement strategies and other advisory products for senior leaders.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing engagement and advocacy strategies across diverse political and regional contexts.
• Strong diplomatic, negotiation and relationship management skills and demonstrated ability to build trust across diverse political and cultural constituencies.
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience, including the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and coordinate work across organizational boundaries.
• Experience working in or directly with an executive office, senior government office or comparable senior leadership environment is highly desirable.
• Experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of population and development, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, humanitarian affairs or related development issues is desirable.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English is required; 
• Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

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,

Functional Competencies:

• Creating visibility for UNFPA/ supporting UNFPA’s capacity to advocate
• Global leadership and advocacy for ICPD goals
• Organizational awareness
• Job knowledge/technical expertise
• Resource mobilization

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

Compensation and Benefits:

 This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus 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.

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.