UN Women: Special Assistant to Executive Director, New York, USA, P5 FTA

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Executive Directors Office (EDO) provides support to the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Directors, the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), in the delivery of their functions, especially that of providing overall executive direction and leadership to UN Women. The EDO supports the ELT in providing vision, establishing priorities, fostering coherence amongst the senior management team, leading advocacy, ensuring overall management, oversight and accountability.

Under the supervision of the Executive Director, and in close collaboration with the Chief of Staff, the Special Assistant supports the Executive Director in the execution of her functions through providing high quality advisory services on issues related to her strategic priorities. 

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

Advise on – and assist in the elaboration of - the Executive Director’s strategic priorities:

• Support the Executive Director to determine strategic engagement around key priorities. 
• Provide coordination across different internal and external divisions and stakeholders, for the achievement of the Executive Directors priorities. 
• Lead or support special corporate initiatives of the Executive Director, including provide technical guidance and direction towards the implementation of the Executive Director’s priorities.
• Review, prepare and/or organize information and materials for the Executive Director related to her strategic priorities. 

Provide Policy and Advisory Services:

• Provide support to the Executive Director and Chief of Staff, on management and corporate strategic issues requiring their decision or response;
• Support corporate innovations and change management processes;
• Identify operational priorities for Executive Director’s office and support initiatives or responses to address such priorities;
• Identify and analyze opportunities and options and prepare policy proposals, statements, and position papers as required by the Executive Director, ELT or Executive Board;
• Analyze and anticipate potential for risks in directives and procedures and propose action to protect the Executive Director from such risks.

Advocacy/representation and networking to further UN Women’s agenda globally:

• Liaises with Member States, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks and other civil society entities concerning the substance of the Executive Director’s public appearances and activities on behalf of the UN Women; 
• Maintain networks and regular working contact with UN agencies, diplomatic missions, Executive Board members, other government officials, multi/bilateral partners and civil society organisations and the private sector to exchange information, build partnerships, and establish agreements within pre-determined guidelines.
• Keep the Executive Director informed opportunities for strengthening UN Women’s partnerships. 
• Support the maintenance of strong partnerships with key actors related to the Executive Director’s deployment of her functions. 
• Provide strategic and technical advice and substantive guidance, and develop and present evidence and rationale for strategic partnerships and partners on women’s rights and gender equality. 

Advise on building and consolidating partnerships across the inter-governmental space, within the UN and across civil society:

Oversee administrative functions supporting the Executive Director and Provide effective communication and information management support:

• Facilitate flow of information and communication between the Executive Director and relevant stakeholders, internal and external;
• Review the Executive Director’s correspondence, delegate drafting and preparation of materials as needed within the EDO and the wider organization;
• Drafts background notes speeches, articles, and correspondence for the Executive Director, and reviews materials produced by UN Women Divisions and offices, responses to Member States and other stakeholders;
• Manage EDO colleagues providing support to the Executive Director and ensure clear communication flows. 

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The incumbent leads a team of four (4) di