Special Assistant to Executive Director

The Special Assistant to the Executive Director supports the Executive Director in executing her functions by providing high quality advisory services on strategic priorities, coordinating internal and external stakeholders, leading special initiatives, and managing communication and partnerships. The role includes managing a team and providing policy and advisory services to further UN Women's agenda globally.

Responsibilities

• Advise on and assist in the elaboration of the Executive Director’s strategic priorities.
• Support the Executive Director to determine strategic engagement around key priorities.
• Provide coordination across different internal and external divisions and stakeholders for the achievement of the Executive Director's priorities.
• Lead or support special corporate initiatives of the Executive Director, including providing technical guidance and direction towards the implementation of the Executive Director’s priorities.
• Review, prepare and/or organize information and materials for the Executive Director related to her strategic priorities.
• Provide support to the Executive Director and Chief of Staff on management and corporate strategic issues requiring their decision or response.
• Support corporate innovations and change management processes.
• Identify operational priorities for Executive Director’s office and support initiatives or responses to address such priorities.
• Identify and analyze opportunities and options and prepare policy proposals, statements, and position papers as required by the Executive Director, ELT or Executive Board.
• Analyze and anticipate potential for risks in directives and procedures and propose action to protect the Executive Director from such risks.
• Liaise with Member States, academic institutions, NGOs, think tanks and other civil society entities concerning the substance of the Executive Director’s public appearances and activities on behalf of UN Women.
• Maintain networks and regular working contact with UN agencies, diplomatic missions, Executive Board members, other government officials, multi/bilateral partners and civil society organisations and the private sector to exchange information, build partnerships, and establish agreements within pre-determined guidelines.
• Keep the Executive Director informed of opportunities for strengthening UN Women’s partnerships.
• Support the maintenance of strong partnerships with key actors related to the Executive Director’s deployment of her functions.
• Provide strategic and technical advice and substantive guidance, and develop and present evidence and rationale for strategic partnerships and partners on women’s rights and gender equality.
• Advise on building and consolidating partnerships across the inter-governmental space, within the UN and across civil society.
• Oversee administrative functions supporting the Executive Director.
• Provide effective communication and information management support.
• Facilitate flow of information and communication between the Executive Director and relevant stakeholders, internal and external.
• Review the Executive Director’s correspondence, delegate drafting and preparation of materials as needed within the EDO and the wider organization.
• Draft background notes, speeches, articles, and correspondence for the Executive Director, and review materials produced by UN Women Divisions and offices, responses to Member States and other stakeholders.
• Manage EDO colleagues providing support to the Executive Director and ensure clear communication flows.
• Perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
• Lead a team of four direct reports (2 P staff and 2 GS staff), as well as affiliate personnel (consultants and interns) where applicable.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent in gender, social sciences, public administration, business administration or related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in international development, preferably working on gender equality, and women's rights is required.
• Experience in policy and programmatic work in gender equality is required.
• Experience in gender and advisory positions is required.
• Experience in the management of complex units and situations is required.
• Experience working within the UN System at both a country/field level and in a headquarters setting is highly desirable.
• Experience working at a senior level in a front office is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
• Strong inter-personal skills, communicate effectively with staff at all levels of the organisation.
• Ability to work in a highly pressured environment.
• Strong sense of responsibility, confidentiality and accountability.
• Strong partnership building and networking skills, client-oriented.
• Skilled strategic thinker and excellent analytical abilities.
• Good knowledge of, and work exposure to UN Women's goals, corporate policies and country offices programmes, operations, challenges and reporting.
• Proven track record of success in policy and strategy development and implementation.
• Solid and proven IT and presentation skills including the use of spreadsheets, databases, Word, presentation software, etc.

Skills

• Gender Equality Policy Advocacy
• Women Rights Advocacy
• Programmatic Work in Gender
• Advisory Services
• Complex Unit Management
• UN System Experience
• Senior Level Support
• Strategic Thinking
• Policy Development
• Strategy Implementation
• Partnership Building
• Networking
• Client Orientation
• Analytical Skills
• Problem Solving
• Communications Skills
• Interpersonal Communication
• Confidentiality Management
• Accountability
• IT Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Spreadsheet Applications
• Database Management
• Word Processing
• Presentation Software

Languages

English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish