Regional Strategic Planning Specialist

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. The organization aims to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve 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 operates globally, with a significant presence in the Americas and Caribbean Region, where it has a Regional Office in Panama City, 10 Country Offices, and a Multi-Country Office in the Caribbean, along with non-physical presence in 8 other countries. The organization emphasizes strategic planning and results management to communicate impact stories effectively and ensure systematic monitoring and reporting of results across its operations.

Job Overview:
The Regional Strategic Planning Specialist is responsible for leading strategic planning efforts in the Americas and Caribbean Region, providing oversight in planning and strategic Programme Management (PM). This role involves offering strategic guidance and technical support to the Regional Office (RO) and Country Offices (COs) to ensure high-quality strategic planning documents that align with UN Women's Strategic Plan and corporate standards on Results-Based Management (RBM) and PM. The incumbent will prepare the Strategic Note and workplan for the RO, collaborate with colleagues, and ensure effective implementation of strategic planning processes. The position requires close coordination with various stakeholders, including HQ divisions, to ensure adherence to corporate policies and procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic planning and RBM-related guidance to UN Country Teams (UNCTs) and UN Women COs for the development of UNSDCFs, participating in inter-agency strategic planning processes and reviewing relevant documents.
• Offer technical support and quality assurance to COs in strategic planning, results monitoring, and reporting, ensuring alignment with corporate policies.
• Lead and coordinate the strategic planning, monitoring, and reporting processes at the regional level, ensuring timely submission of Strategic Notes and workplans.
• Supervise the ACRO PSMU team, ensuring program quality control and alignment of project budgets with logical frameworks.
• Provide expert guidance for program management and implementation, maintaining relationships with country offices and headquarters.
• Contribute to HQ-led corporate initiatives in strategic planning and results monitoring, ensuring field perspectives are reflected.
• Oversee documentation related to strategic planning and program management, ensuring readiness for audits and evaluations.
• Perform other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Development-related disciplines, Social Sciences, Political Science, Development Studies, Public Administration, Gender, or a related field. A first-level university degree with additional qualifying experience may be accepted. Candidates should have at least 7 years of progressively responsible development experience, including strategic and managerial leadership in development cooperation or related fields. Experience in Results-Based Management (RBM) and strategic planning is essential, along with a background in inter-agency strategic planning and monitoring gender equality policies.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess at least an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in relevant fields such as Development-related disciplines, Social Sciences, Political Science, Development Studies, Public Administration, or Gender. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in development, including strategic and managerial leadership roles. At least 3 years of experience in Results-Based Management (RBM) and strategic planning is required, along with experience in providing guidance to Country Offices and developing results frameworks for programs/projects. Experience in inter-agency strategic planning and monitoring gender equality initiatives is also necessary.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Spanish is required for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian) is desirable, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve international recruitment. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring a respectful environment for all employees. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims, including discrimination and harassment.