Regional Director, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) Fixed Term Limited

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. The Regional Director positions are located in the Regional Programme Division (RPD) of UN-Habitat. RPD is responsible for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of regional programs and country activities. It serves as the coordination hub for various functions, including data analysis, resource mobilization and policy guidance. The division also engages with developing countries in Asia and the Pacific, in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Arab States, overseeing program and project portfolios, and collaborating with the UN system and regional commissions. The division’s work is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly Goal 11, which focuses on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. This is a Fixed-Term Limited (FTL) position. This post is located in the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP), Fukuoka Duty Station. Under the direct supervision of the Regional Programme Division Director for all political, representative, operational and substantive matters, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:

Policy Making:

• Contributes to the overall policy and strategy development of UN-Habitat, including in the regional dimensions.
• Provides leadership in the development and implementation of UN-Habitat's operational strategy for the region and sub-regions. Strategic Leadership for Delivery of the Strategic Plan:
• Provides strategic leadership for the implementation of UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan 2026-2029 in the region, ensuring alignment of regional, country and partnership portfolios with the organization's strategic focus on adequate housing, land and basic services for all.
• Leads the translation of global priorities into regional implementation approaches, partnerships and measurable results.
• Promotes international cooperation to advance the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and represent the organization at high level events and fora across the region.
• Represents UN-Habitat in the United Nations Regional Collaborative Platform and other relevant regional United Nations meetings, ensuring strong alignment with the UN reform and the UN 80 at regional and country levels.
• Represents UN-Habitat before relevant regional organizations in the Asia and Pacific region. Programme Development and Implementation:
• Leads the formulation of the regional annual work programme and coordinate its implementation.
• Monitors emergency needs and issues related to human settlements across the regions and implements appropriate response strategies and projects.
• Maintains productive relations with host governments and partner institutions and mobilize resources to support regional activities.
• Ensures regional presence of UN-Habitat by undertaking or participating in activities that foster country-to-country cooperation, knowledge management, and exchange of experience in varied aspects of human settlements across the region.
• Promotes and implements UN-Habitat operational activities, global programmes, global campaigns and Strategic Plan. Housing, Land and Basic Services:
• Strengthens accountability for advancing UN-Habitat’s core mandates of adequate housing, land and basic services, including the transformation of informal settlements and slums.
• Positions these priorities at the centre of regional programme development, policy engagement, advocacy and partnerships. Integrated Urban and Territorial Planning, Investment and Finance:
• Strengthens efforts to promote integrated urban and territorial planning, sustainable urban development, investment frameworks and financing solutions that support housing, land and basic services outcomes.
• Advances approaches that catalyses public and private investment in support of sustainable urbanization and the Strategic Plan. Participatory Governance and SDG Localization:
• Reinforces the Regional Director's role in supporting multi-level governance, SDG localization, and strengthening engagement with national and local governments, regional institutions and city networks.
• Promotes alignment between regional priorities and broader UN development frameworks and partnerships, and ongoing UN reform efforts, including the implementation of the UN80 agenda at regional and country levels. Knowledge, Data, Innovation and Capacity Development:
• Strengthens leadership for evidence-based decision-making, urban data, digitalization, innovation, knowledge exchange and capacity development across the region.
• Promotes regional learning, communities of practice and dissemination of good practices to support implementation of the Strategic Plan.
• Leads on the development and the implementation of the resource mobilization plan to secure the needed resources for the implementation of the Strategic Plan on the ground in the region.
• Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Ensures that stakeholders can effectively discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. Partnerships, Resource Mobilization and Investment Mobilization:
• Expands responsibility for building strategic partnerships and coalitions with Member States, regional organizations, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, development partners, academia, civil society and the private sector.
• Leads the development and implementation of a regional partnership, resource mobilization and investment strategy aligned with the Strategic Plan 2026–2029.
• Mobilizes diversified and predictable resources from traditional and non-traditional sources, including bilateral and multilateral donors, climate finance mechanisms, philanthropic organizations and private sector partners.
• Promotes innovative financing approaches and facilitate investment partnerships that support adequate housing, land and basic services, climate resilience and sustainable urbanization.
• Positions UN-Habitat as a trusted convener between governments, development partners, financial institutions and private sector actors to catalyses investment and scale impact.
• Strengthens UN-Habitat's visibility, influence and convening role across the region through strategic advocacy, coalition building and partnership platforms. Management and Supervision of the Office:
• Manages and supervises the work of the Office, including administration, personnel, procurement and financial management.
• Approves financial authorizations for accounts under the Office control.
• Ensures timely reporting to Headquarters and all the agencies funding its operational activities, including annual and quarterly reports. Organizational Sustainability and Performance:
• Strengthens accountability for country office sustainability, organizational resilience, risk management and effective stewardship of regional resources.
• Promotes a portfolio approach that strengthens programme quality, sustainability, operational effectiveness and organizational performance across the region. People and Leadership:
• Emphases on talent development, succession planning, workforce sustainability, staff wellbeing and fostering a high-performing and collaborative regional culture.
• Strengthens leadership accountability for developing diverse and future-ready teams capable of delivering the Strategic Plan.
• Performs other related duties as may be assigned.

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of UN intergovernmental processes. Ability to negotiate with high-level Government, multi and bilateral technical and funding agency officials. Proven capacity to motivate and manage a multi-national team of staff. Ability to present and debate in public fora and events the main policy and substantive messages related to the development issues identified with the Programme's work. Familiarity with UN policies, procedures and practices, including those relevant to technical cooperation projects. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise. Is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Anticipates and resolves conflict by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participations of women and men in all areas of work. Demonstrated knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organizations. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in urban and regional planning, urban development, housing studies, human settlements, or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Not available.

A minimum of fifteen (15) years of relevant work experience in multi-disciplinary human settlements development work is required. A minimum often (10) years at the senior leadership level in an nternational setting or within the United Nations common system is required. Experience in leading large-scale programmes related to housing, land, basic services, sustainable urban development and/or territorial planning is required. Experience in partnership development, resource mobilization, investment facilitation and engagement with multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, governments and private sector stakeholders is required. Experience leading regional or multi-country portfolios and implementing strategic organizational priorities is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.

The appointment against this position is limited to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. This is a Fixed Term Limited post. Appointment against this post is for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension subject to legislative body funding availability. External candidate selected for this position will be granted a fixed-term appointment limited ("FTA- limited") in accordance with section 2.2 (b) of administrative instruction ST/AI/2013/1 on Administration of fixed-term appointments. Renewal of appointment is contingent upon continued existence of mandate and availability of funding. If this position is discontinued, the incumbent will be separated from service. United Nations Secretariat staff members who meet the definition of "internal candidate" in staff rule 4.10 who are selected for this position subject to limitation will retain their current appointment status and will be reassigned or transferred to the position, without a lien to their parent position. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must meet the applicable geographical or lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy, taking into account that selection to the post may itself constitute a qualifying move, in accordance with the relevant administrative issuances. Staff members are encouraged to ensure that all qualifying geographical or lateral moves are accurately reflected in their applicant profile. Please refer to ST/AI/2025/2 on the Staff selection system for more details. Internal Applicants – When completing the Candidate Profile form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. 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At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 August 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, China (People's Republic of), Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Nicaragua, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Contact Us" link.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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