Chief of the Economic Empowerment Section

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance gender equality and women's empowerment globally. The organization merges the resources and mandates of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women operates in multiple countries worldwide, providing support to various UN Women offices at Headquarters and in field locations. The organization is dedicated to eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. UN Women’s Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division (PPID) plays a crucial role in delivering results aligned with UN Women’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and internationally agreed goals on gender equality and women's empowerment, including the Beijing Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The division leverages innovation, knowledge management, and technical expertise to support UN Women programs and build the capacity of partners to deliver results on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Job Overview:
The Chief of the Economic Empowerment Section is responsible for leading UN Women’s work on women's economic empowerment, providing global policy support, and developing thematic work and knowledge production. This role involves ensuring the implementation of UN Women’s global Women’s Economic Empowerment Strategy, which positions the organization as a key actor in promoting women's economic empowerment in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Chief will convene leading feminist economists and development policy specialists to guide the implementation of the Economic Empowerment Strategy and provide strategic advice to the PPID Director and leadership team. The incumbent will oversee the design and implementation of global programming frameworks and projects, introduce innovative approaches to enhance UN Women’s policy support, and lead a policy research agenda that links global commitments to local implementation. The Chief will also manage a team of 27, including direct reports and affiliate personnel, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the implementation of UN Women’s global Women’s Economic Empowerment Strategy, ensuring alignment with the Strategic Plan and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Convene experts in feminist economics to advise on the Economic Empowerment Strategy.
• Provide strategic advice to the PPID Director and leadership team on women's economic empowerment.
• Oversee the design and implementation of global programming frameworks and projects in collaboration with regional and country teams.
• Introduce innovative approaches to enhance policy support and programmatic work.
• Spearhead the development of tools and methodologies for policy-making and programming.
• Lead knowledge production efforts, including peer-reviewed papers and policy briefs.
• Provide substantive contributions to intergovernmental processes and events.
• Strengthen partnerships and advocacy initiatives for resource mobilization. 1
• Manage the Economic Empowerment section, including performance management and financial oversight.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in economics, preferably with a specialization in feminist economics or related fields. A PhD is desirable.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in gender and development, feminist economics, or women’s economic empowerment.
• Substantial experience in preparing and publishing policy pieces on feminist economics.
• Significant experience in designing and implementing large-scale operational programs on women’s economic empowerment.
• Proven ability to manage teams collaboratively and transparently.
• Field experience in developing countries is an advantage.
• Recognition as an authority on women’s economic empowerment is desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in economics, with a preferred specialization in feminist economics or related fields such as gender and development, public policy, or other social sciences with a significant focus on gender equality. A PhD is desirable. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in policy and programmatic work related to gender and development, feminist economics, or women’s economic empowerment. Candidates should have substantial experience in preparing and publishing policy pieces on feminist economics and women’s economic empowerment, as well as significant experience in designing and implementing large-scale operational programs. Demonstrated experience in managing teams in a collaborative manner is essential, and field experience in developing countries is considered an advantage. Recognition as an authority on women’s economic empowerment is also desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Knowledge of one or more of the other UN official working languages is highly desirable, as it can enhance communication and collaboration in a diverse international environment.

Additional Notes:
The Chief of the Economic Empowerment Section will lead a team of 27, including 7 direct reports and 5 affiliate personnel. The role is expected to promote teamwork and establish a respectful and collaborative working environment. The incumbent will manage financial resources and ensure compliance with UN Women’s internal control framework. The position may involve international travel and participation in high-level conferences and events. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that recruitment and employment decisions are based on qualifications and competence without discrimination. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history.