Organizational Setting
The Position:
Under the supervision of the Director, Division of Communications and Strategic Partnerships (DCS), the Chief of the UNFPA Representation Office in Seoul serves as UNFPA’s most senior Representative in Korea and has overall responsibilities for managing UNFPA relations with the government and partners, in close coordination with DCS/RMB/MCB/SPB. The Chief is also responsible for supporting the relationship with Singapore.  

How you can make a difference:
 
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
 
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
 
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
 
Job Purpose:
Within the goal to deliver on the three transformative results contained in the UNFPA Strategic Plan, and ultimately on the ICPD and the 2030 Agenda, the renewed architecture of Representation Offices is aimed at strengthening advocacy and partnerships capacities of UNFPA.
 
The Chief of the UNFPA Representation Office in Seoul will proactively engage to advance collaboration with UNFPA on issues of common interest, including the integration of the ICPD agenda in relevant frameworks and regional and global development agendas as well as the implementation of those agendas and relevant continental instruments, especially those on population, youth, gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights. S/he will, in coordination with other business units in DCS, HQ and relevant regional offices to ensure constant and senior level interface with high level missions, ambassadors, diplomatic community and highest-level political officials in Seoul and Singapore. S/he will support UNFPA’s inter-governmental objectives globally through a focus on partnerships for resource mobilization, influencing and communication.

Main Tasks & Responsibilities

You would be responsible for: 
  A. Representation:
•    Represent UNFPA at all levels with the governments in Korea and Singapore; 
•    Develop and sustain high level relationships with elected officials, civil society and the private sector;
•    Provide updates to government officials on UNFPA policies, programmes and rules and regulations with a focus on the ICPD PoA, the SDGs and the SP’s Three Transformational Results;
•    Organize and support missions and interactions of the UNFPA Executive Director and senior management to RoK and Singapore;
•    Represent UNFPA in strategic conferences and for a, as requested;
•    Ensure close collaboration and represent UNFPA with other UN entities in the concerned countries
•    Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of the Country Engagement Strategy workplans for Korea and Singapore in close collaboration other branches and offices in DCS, other HQ business units and relevant regional offices.
•    Provide regular updates on donor policies and priorities to DCS and senior management;
•    Proactively share updates, political analysis and exchange with relevant units, including HQ units, Regional and Country Offices and other Representation Offices;
B. Resource Mobilization and leveraging: 
•    Maintain close relations with Members of the parliaments, development agencies and other relevant government representatives on UNFPA programmes and mandate in order to ensure continuing and increasing (core and non-core) revenue;
•    Undertake donor studies (donor policies, sectoral and geographic preferences, political and economic developments etc.), research and other activities with a view to identifying funding and partnership opportunities;
•     Identify and propose specific fund-raising strategies and donor approaches;
•    With DCS/RMB, serve as a liaison for funding proposals from relevant UNFPA programme units;
•    Follow-up with UNFPA HQ, Regional and Country offices on specific requirements from Korea in terms of funding;
•    Organize, participate in, and follow up on donor consultations;
•    Leverage opportunities to complement staffing possibilities with non-core funds and other sources.
•    In collaboration with DCS/SPB identify and support collaboration with the private sector.
C. Information, Advocacy and Media: 
•    In close consultation with DCS/MCB as well as other units as relevant, strengthen communication, visibility and advocacy with key partners in government, civil society, private sector, media and academia to improve donor engagement and public awareness of UNFPA.
 

Qualifications and Experience
Education: 
 Advanced university degree in one or more of the following disciplines: Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Management or other related field.
 
Knowledge and Experience: 
•    10 years of relevant increasingly responsible professional and managerial experience, including at the national and international levels.
•    Job knowledge and technical expertise – up-to-date knowledge of issues of population and development, sexual and reproductive health, and gender, and their place in the development agenda; strong knowledge of human rights, global health and humanitarian affairs an asset.
•    Proven ability to lead and manage teams to achieve demonstrable results.
•    Knowledge of NGOs and the resource base of Development Assistance in Korea, including the media.
•    Sound knowledge and familiarity with UNFPA programmes and policies, knowledge of international development policies and institutions, and international politics.
•    Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, negotiation skills, and managerial skills required.
•    Field experience with UNFPA an asset.
•    Familiarity with intergovernmental processes;
•    Initiative, sound judgment, analytical and political acumen;
•    Excellent knowledge of donor community and innovative fundraising skills;
Languages: 
•    High level Korean language skills in diplomacy and politics (both in writing and speaking) and fluency in English are required;
•    French, Spanish, Chinese and other UN language skills are assets in managing development program proposals from different regions, and partnerships.

Required Competencies
Values:
• Exemplifying integrity
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
• Embracing diversity in all its forms
• Embracing change
 
Core Competencies:
• Achieving Results  
• Being Accountable
• Developing and Applying Professional Expertise/Business Acumen
• Thinking analytically and Strategically
• Working in Teams/Managing Ourselves and our Relationships
• Communicating for Impact
 

Functional Competencies:
 • Ensuring operational effectiveness and accountability for results;
• External and internal communication and advocacy for results mobilization;
• Leading global advocacy for organizational priorities;
• Creating visibility for the organization. 
 
Managerial Competencies:
• Providing strategic focus;
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders;
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance;
• Making decisions and exercising judgment.
 
UNFPA Work Environment
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.

Compensation and Benefits
This position offers an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the level of the post.   The package includes a competitive net salary plus cost of living adjustment, housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits.

Disclaimer
WARNING TO APPLICANTS: UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. Should you feel that you have received a fraudulent notice, letter or offer that makes use of the name or logo of UNFPA, you may submit a report through the UNFPA fraud hotline https://web2.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

Notice to applicants: In accordance with the rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment.  Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.