Country Representative

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women merges and builds on the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender equality. The organization operates globally, with a mission 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 works in partnership with various stakeholders, including the Government of India, civil society, and the private sector, to implement its programs and initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Country Representative is responsible for leading and managing the India Country Office (ICO) portfolio, translating UN Women's Strategic Plan into development initiatives and results. This role involves developing, implementing, and managing programs and projects that align with regional and national priorities, particularly focusing on gender equality and women's empowerment. The Country Representative operates within a matrix management model, reporting to the UN Women Regional Director while also being accountable to the UN Resident Coordinator. The position requires strategic planning, partnership development, and effective management of resources to ensure the successful implementation of UN Women’s initiatives in India.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage the strategic country programme planning and development, including the design and implementation of the Country Strategic Note in collaboration with various stakeholders.
• Lead the India Country Office in achieving operational goals, overseeing program work plans, and ensuring compliance with UN Women’s regulations.
• Support the Resident Coordinator and serve as a member of the UN Country Team, integrating gender equality into UN programming processes.
• Represent UN Women in intergovernmental forums and advocate for gender equality and women's empowerment.
• Develop and manage resource mobilization strategies, establishing relationships with government and donor partners.
• Oversee knowledge management and capacity building initiatives within the office.
• Ensure the safety and security of personnel and organizational assets.
• Perform other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in international development, public administration, public policy, or other relevant social science fields. 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 demonstrate excellent program formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation skills, as well as strong people management abilities in a multicultural environment.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as international development, public administration, or public policy is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree with additional qualifying experience may be accepted. A project/programme management certification is desirable.

Experience:
At least 15 years of progressively responsible development experience is required, including strategic and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level. Experience in gender and women's issues programming, particularly within the UN system or similar organizations, is essential. Field-based experience working with multicultural teams and leading staff in international settings is also required.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) is desirable.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and involves significant responsibilities in managing the India Country Office. Candidates must adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures, including a zero-tolerance policy on misconduct. Background checks will be conducted to verify academic credentials and employment history. Applicants are encouraged to provide complete information in their application to avoid disqualification.