Head of Office

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as 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 builds on the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM, which 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. UN Women has been active in the State of Palestine since its inception, aligning its work with national priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework outcomes for 2023-202

• The organization employs a holistic approach to programming, working closely with national partners and stakeholders to promote gender equality and women's human rights.

Job Overview:
The Head of Office at UN Women in Palestine is responsible for providing expert guidance and strategic leadership to shape the direction of the Country Office and improve its overall performance. This role involves leading the development and implementation of the Palestine Country Office portfolio, ensuring alignment with UN Women's Strategic Plan and regional and national priorities. The incumbent will develop effective partnerships with government counterparts, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and donors to promote inter-agency collaboration and mobilize resources for gender equality and women's empowerment. The Head of Office will also oversee the operational goals of the team, which operates from three locations, and ensure compliance with UN policies and procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic advice and insight on the Strategic Planning and Development of the Country Portfolio.
• Guide the design, planning, formulation, preparation, and development of the Country Strategic Note and Response Plan(s).
• Facilitate UN Women’s involvement in UN and Humanitarian Country Teams, ensuring gender equality issues are integrated into programming processes.
• Represent UN Women in intergovernmental forums and key meetings, advocating for gender equality and women's empowerment.
• Participate in the development of resource mobilization strategies and manage their implementation.
• Facilitate the development and implementation of communication plans based on UN Women’s strategy.
• Advise and guide the Palestine Country Office team in delivering operational goals and managing performance.
• Ensure compliance with UN security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security-policies" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security policies and represent UN Women in the Security Management team.
• Perform other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree or equivalent in development-related disciplines, economics, public policy, or social sciences.
• A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Project/programme management certification (PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) is an advantage.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible development experience in international development cooperation.
• Experience in providing expert guidance and advice to clients or organizations.
• Experience in gender and women’s issues programming at the international level, preferably within the UN system.
• Field-based experience with multi-cultural teams is desirable.
• Experience in complex and high-threat environments is required.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree or equivalent in development-related disciplines, economics, public policy, or other social science fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A project/programme management certification (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) would be an added advantage.

Experience:
The position requires at least 10 years of progressively responsible development experience that combines strategic and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level. Experience in providing expert guidance and advice to clients or organizations is essential. Candidates should have experience working in Palestine or similar contexts, particularly in gender and women’s issues programming. Field-based experience with multi-cultural teams is desirable, as is experience leading and coaching staff in international settings. Knowledge of both humanitarian and development action, as well as law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">international law and human rights, is also required.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as Arabic, is desirable.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and involves leading a team of 40, including at least 5 direct reports. The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Country Office's strategic direction and ensuring compliance with UN policies. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, and all employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.