Strategic Policy Specialist, Office of the Executive Director (OED), New York, P-4

The Position:

The Strategic Policy Specialist post is located in the Office of the Executive Director. The incumbent reports directly to the  Chief of Staff and provides strategic, substantive and coordination support across priorities under the Chief of Staff’s purview.

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:

It is critical that the Office of the Executive Director (OED) coordinates delivery in a strategic and proactive manner and, forges new and strengthens current partnerships within and outside the UN System, including with Member States, and other key partners in order to advance UNFPA’s mandate. 

The various current and emerging engagements must be coordinated, operationalized and reinforced in a cohesive way and monitored for impact, with effective preparation, coordination and follow-up across relevant organizational units. An emphasis on the strategic, quality and timely coordination and delivery of results will ensure that UNFPA is a credible partner that can bring concrete changes in the lives of women, adolescents and youth. 

The Strategic Policy Specialist within the OED will contribute to the Mandate of UNFPA by providing substantive and strategic support to the office of the Chief of Staff within the OED in the overall execution of his/her duties, including strategic coordination, substantive preparation and follow-up, and including other front office and business units that fall under his/her purview.

You would be responsible for:

• Support and provide strategic coordination to the current and emerging senior-level engagements and collaborations with Member States, UN entities and other partners with a view to ensuring efforts are harmonized, mutually reinforcing and achieve greatest impact.
• Analyze policies/frameworks and monitor actions/decisions that require follow up from senior management discussions and meetings.
• Anticipate and forecast upcoming tasks, deadlines and/or deliverables and monitor timelines reflecting on implications to the Fund’s mandate.
• Contribute to the preparation for high-level external and internal meetings as needed, and follow up on decisions and actions to be taken.
• Build awareness, collaboration and information-exchange within and external to the OED. Contribute to the development of OED deliverables including briefing materials and correspondence.
• Contribute to the development of the OED annual work plan, SIS and other office management reports.
• Flag institutional bottlenecks and lessons learned to ensure successful implementation of work plans.
• Prepare briefing notes and other background and communications materials needed to support senior management in their partnership engagement.
• Support Chief of Staff in high-level policy discussions. Support internal and external consultations to advance strategic and policy discussions around internal and external matters.
• Proactively seek opportunities to connect the OED with business units across the organization. 
• Propose solutions where necessary.
• Bring visibility to organizational development and reform initiatives and highlight results and impact of these engagements.
• Undertake any other duties, including day-to-day support, as may be assigned by the Executive Director and/or the Chief of Staff.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree (minimum Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, international development, public Administration, business, management or other related field.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible relevant experience, particularly in strategic coordination, strategic partnership, advocacy and communication, of which at least 5 years at the international level.
• Experience in supporting senior-level engagements and coordinating with Member States, UN entities and other partners is an asset.
• Comfortable working with ambiguity; can decide and act without having the total picture; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, written and communications skills.
• Demonstrated success in developing and or building effective partnerships for development.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate impact of change, and to direct self and others.
• Self-directed, able to maintain productivity when implementing new, altered or incomplete procedures.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English is required; 
• Working knowledge of a second UN language is highly 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,

Functional Competencies:

• Global Leadership and advocacy for ICPD goals
• Organizational Leadership and direction
• Ensuring operational effectiveness and accountability for results
• External and internal communication and advocacy for results 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.