The Position:

The Special Assistant works with both the Regional Director (RD) and the Deputy Regional Director (DRD) by providing operational, planning, managerial, technical, and coordination support to all aspects of the work of the Regional Office. You will report directly to the Regional Director and hold a supervisory role to the Personal Assistant to the Regional Director.

Job Purpose:

The Special Assistant will provide a wide range of technical, operational and professional support to the Director, acting as a key interface with all partners within and outside the Regional Office to ensure that the Regional Director is fully prepared to engage in substantive issues related to her broad corporate responsibilities, both with internal and external stakeholders. Specifically, the Special Assistant will ensure:
● Coordination of Director’s engagements in various fora;
● Management of operations of the Office of the Regional Director;
● Contribution to strategic communications in/through the Regional Office and coordinate environmental scanning of the region.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education: Advanced university degree in Development Studies, Public Health, International Relations,
Management, Communications, or related discipline.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in programme development.
• Strong organizational, planning, and analytical ability and professional experience in policy analysis and programme development.
• Basic research skills and familiarity with quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Strong ability to multi-task and deliver effectively in a high-pressure environment.
• Excellent writing and strong oral communication skills.
• Good networks within the academic, management, and development community.
• Ability to form strategic partnerships and to collect and analyze strategic information in the field of population and sexual and reproductive health.
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills.
• Good knowledge of UN reform, RCP and the Sustainable Development agenda.
• Knowledge management and environmental/political scanning;
• Familiarity with UN development programmes and working methods, particularly with UNFPA’s mandate, agenda, policies, and programming procedures.
• Field experience in the region is a strong asset

Languages:

Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French, is desirable.