Head of Office

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, focusing exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women operates in multiple countries, working towards the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, the empowerment of women, and the achievement of equality between women and men. The organization aims to enhance national capacity and ownership to enable partners to formulate gender-responsive laws and policies, and to upscale successful strategies to deliver on national and international commitments to gender equality.

Job Overview:
The Head of Office in Timor Leste is responsible for the strategic positioning of UN Women as a leader in Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. This role involves leading and managing the country portfolio, translating UN Women’s Strategic Plan into development initiatives, and managing programs that align with regional and national priorities. The Head of Office will develop effective partnerships with government counterparts, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and donors to promote inter-agency partnerships and mobilize resources for gender equality and women's empowerment. The position requires a strong focus on strategic program development, implementation, and monitoring, ensuring that UN Women’s goals are met in the country context.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic programme development and planning by assessing national social development trends and identifying emerging issues relevant to UN Women’s mandate.
• Manage and oversee the implementation of the country programme, establishing annual work plans, managing budgets, and ensuring high-quality results-based programmes.
• Manage finance and human resources in the office, ensuring compliance with financial policies and effective workforce planning.
• Represent UN Women in UN inter-agency coordination, collaborating with the UN Country Team to integrate gender equality into UN programming processes.
• Lead representation and advocacy with stakeholders, providing strategic leadership in positioning UN Women as a principal partner on gender equality.
• Lead strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, and knowledge management initiatives, developing relationships with various stakeholders to enhance collaboration and influence policy.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women’s studies, international development, or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A project/programme management certification such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP® is an added advantage. Candidates should have at least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects, with a focus on gender and human rights of women being an asset. Experience in leading a team and establishing inter-relationships among international organizations and national governments is also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as social sciences, human rights, gender/women’s studies, or international development. A first-level university degree may be accepted with additional qualifying experience. Certifications in project or programme management are advantageous.

Experience:
The position requires at least 7 years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects. Experience in gender and human rights of women is particularly valuable, as is familiarity with administrative systems and UN norms. Leadership experience is also essential.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of other UN official working languages is considered an asset, with Portuguese being specifically noted as beneficial.

Additional Notes:
The position is a fixed-term appointment at the P4 level. It involves leading a team of 15 staff members, including direct reports and affiliate personnel. The role requires a strong commitment to UN Women’s values and competencies, including integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity. The organization promotes a diverse and inclusive environment and has a zero-tolerance policy on misconduct. Candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks as part of the recruitment process.