Head of Sub-Office

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights, aiming to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries, working to improve the lives of women and girls and promote gender equality. The organization is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agenda, particularly in the areas of maternal health, family planning, and gender-based violence. UNFPA's strategic plan for 2022-2025 emphasizes the importance of addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's health and rights, and it calls for a collaborative approach to build back better in the wake of the crisis.

Job Overview:
The Head of Sub-Office is responsible for providing overall leadership and management of UNFPA programs and operations in the Cotabato office, which encompasses the humanitarian-development-peacebuilding (HDP) continuum. This role involves ensuring effective program coordination, fostering strategic partnerships, and representing UNFPA within the provincial and regional context. The Head of Sub-Office plays a critical role in achieving the results of the 9th Country Programme (CPD9) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The position requires a high degree of political acumen and the ability to operate effectively within multi-stakeholder settings, ensuring that UNFPA's mandate and programs are implemented in alignment with local priorities. The Head of Sub-Office will also lead advocacy initiatives and ensure quality program delivery, results-based management, and accountability for resources, all while coordinating closely with the Country Office in Manila.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Programme Leadership and Coordination: Lead the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of UNFPA programs in the sub-office, ensuring alignment with the Country Programme and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). Coordinate results-based management of sub-national workplans and budgets across thematic areas such as Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Adolescents and Youth, and Population and Development. Ensure integration of humanitarian preparedness and response and peacebuilding into programming. Oversee program quality assurance, risk management, and performance monitoring, ensuring timely submission of high-quality reports and documentation. Promote innovation, knowledge sharing, and replication of good practices across programs. Coordinate the formulation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of various projects based in Cotabato. Coordinate humanitarian preparedness, response, and recovery efforts as necessary in consultation with the Country Office Humanitarian Team.
• National Capacity Development: Provide technical support to implementing partners, including BARMM regional authorities, local government units, civil society, and academia in thematic areas of SRHR, adolescents and youth, population and development, and gender equality and GBV. Recommend areas for technical assistance based on continuous review and analysis of demographic and socio-economic data, cultural trends, national and subnational policies, and political context. Create knowledge by evaluating ongoing programs and projects, documenting lessons learned, best practices, and replicable strategies, and actively sharing this knowledge.
• Partnership, Advocacy, and Resource Mobilization: Strengthen partnerships with government, UN agencies, donors, civil society, academia, and the private sector. Represent UNFPA in coordination mechanisms, policy dialogues, and advocacy platforms at provincial and regional levels. Lead evidence-based advocacy on population and development, gender equality, GBV, adolescents and youth, and SRHR. Support resource mobilization by identifying local funding opportunities and contributing to proposal development and donor reporting. Lead sub-national communications and visibility efforts in collaboration with the Country Office in Manila, generating compelling human-interest stories, field updates, and social media content that highlight UNFPA's results and impact in Mindanao. Strengthen media and stakeholder engagement by cultivating relationships with local and regional media outlets, journalists, and communication networks to raise awareness and generate public interest in UNFPA's mandate and key thematic areas. Support the organization of media briefings, visibility events, and field visits for partners and donors.
• Management of the Sub-Office: Provide leadership and guidance to program and operations staff in the sub-office, fostering a results-oriented and collaborative culture. Oversee human and financial resource management, including budget oversight, procurement, and logistics in compliance with UNFPA rules and regulations. Ensure implementation of internal control systems and accountability mechanisms. Oversee safety, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and business continuity of UNFPA personnel and assets in coordination with UNDSS and the Country Office Security Focal Point. Ensure effective coordination between program and operations functions to enable efficient service delivery. Serve as a member of the Philippines Country Office Senior Management Team (SMT), contributing to strategic decision-making, organizational risk management, and cross-functional coordination between program, communication, and operational areas to ensure coherent implementation of CPD9 priorities and effective positioning of UNFPA in the Philippines. Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Advanced degree in Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Management, or other related disciplines.
• Knowledge and Experience: Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in program management, coordination, and partnership building, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or leadership role. Experience in development and/or humanitarian contexts, with demonstrated results in SRHR, GBV, or population and development programming. Proven experience in resource management and team leadership within the UN or other international development organizations. Excellent written and oral communication skills to foster engaged partnerships at a high level of representation and to maintain political partnerships. Strong understanding of UNFPA's mandate and familiarity with national and sub-national governance structures.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree in relevant fields such as Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Management, or other related disciplines is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate possesses the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively lead and manage UNFPA programs and operations in the Cotabato office.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in program management, coordination, and partnership building. This includes at least 3 years in a supervisory or leadership role, demonstrating the ability to manage teams and projects effectively. Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is essential, with a proven track record in areas such as sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender-based violence (GBV), or population and development programming. Candidates should also have experience in resource management and team leadership within the UN or other international development organizations.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Filipino is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of other official UN languages and major local dialects in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is considered desirable, as it would enhance communication and engagement with local stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
The initial fixed-term appointment for this position is for a period of one year, with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory service. It is important to note that a fixed-term appointment does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal or conversion, regardless of the length of service. UNFPA offers an attractive remuneration package that includes a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other applicable benefits. The organization is committed to providing a work environment that reflects values of equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance. UNFPA encourages women to apply and actively seeks individuals from minority groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups.