Director, Knowledge and Partnerships Centre

UN Women

Background:

UN Women is the United Nations Entity dedicated to Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. A global champion for transforming the rights of women and girls, UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, working with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to implement these standards. UN Women works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality for women and girls and stands behind women's equal participation in all aspects of life. Globally, UN Women focuses on four strategic priorities: Women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems; Women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy; All women and girls live a life free from all forms of violence; and Women and girls contribute to and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and benefit equally from the prevention of natural disasters and conflicts and humanitarian action. UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system's work in advancing gender equality, and in all deliberations and agreements linked to the 2030 Agenda.  
Through a multi-year agreement between the Government of the Republic of Korea (RoK) and UN Women, the Entity's footprint in Seoul was established in 2022. Historically, and under the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and The Pacific, the work has focused on supporting traditional and non-traditional stakeholders in the Asia and The Pacific region in realizing commitments to gender equality, women's empowerment, and the rights of women and girls through (i) gender capacity-building training programmes, (ii) research and support for production and use of gender data, and (iii) network building, partnership cultivation to advance gender equality and women's empowerment in the region. 
In 2024, UN Women and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) expanded the UN Women footprint to not only focus on the above, but within this to also significantly increase attention to the care economy and its crucial role in ensuring women's empowerment in the face of the region's shifting demographics; and towards a heightened investment in increased knowledge and partnerships to end tech-facilitated violence against women and girls. Further,  the UN Women Knowledge and Partnerships Centre in the Republic of Korea will focus on mobilizing RoK-based public and private sector partners to advance global implementation of gender equality and women's empowerment under the SDGs, the Beijing Platform for Action, and the UN Pact for the Future. 
The Director of the UN Women Knowledge and Partnerships Centre in the Republic of Korea operates in a matrix management model, primarily accountable to and reporting to the UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, with a secondary line of reporting to Chief - Public Partnerships (SPD/PPS) in New York and working closely with SPD/PPS team as/when required. 
The Director is responsible for leading and managing the UN Women Knowledge and Partnerships Centre in the Republic of Korea, as per the agreed-upon workplans and under the UN Women Global Strategic Plan (SP) and UN Women Asia and Pacific Regional Strategic Note. This work will be carried out in close coordination with other UN offices in the Republic of Korea. Under the position's primary and secondary reporting lines, the Director of the UN Women Centre in RoK leads on partnerships development and resource mobilization with RoK-based government actors, private sector entities, civil society and foundations, to advance gender equality and women's empowerment.

Key Functions and Accountabilities

1.    Design and oversee the Partnership strategy and relations with RoK-based partners, in close collaboration with the UN Women corporate team

•    Develop new and innovative strategies for increased global partnership with a diverse range of RoK-based stakeholders in support of advancing SDG 5 and international commitments on gender equality and the empowerment of women to achieve Agenda 2030.

•    Maintain and deepen positive partnerships with the Government of RoK and its key stakeholders working on gender equality at the regional and global levels.

•    Support UN Women's corporate outreach to RoK-based private sector to advance women's economic empowerment and gender-responsive care economy.

•    Act as a strategic interface between funding partners and UN Women Strategic Partnerships Division in particular with respect to the provision of strategic and timely analysis of the changing policy and resource mobilization environment, and the impact on UN Women.

•    Provide strategic and timely guidance and substantive advice to programme and result reporting sections and Regional/Country Offices in support of their partnership and resource mobilization efforts from RoK funding partners.

•    Contribute to UN Women's work to maintain and increase the level of Regular and Other Resources by ensuring visibility of Korea-funded projects and showcasing impacts of ODA. 

•    Represent UN Women in RoK in intergovernmental forums, public information/relations events and key meetings, participate in policy dialogue; discuss policy initiatives, report on progress achieved and/or present policy papers/ideas.

2.    Manage the strategic direction of the UN Women Centre in RoK

•    In consultation with partners and under the UN Women Regional Strategic Note, develop and implement strategic direction of the UN Women Centre.

•    Lead the design, planning, formulation, preparation and development of planning documents of the UN Women Centre, in consultation with the Steering Committee established to backstop the work of the Centre.

•    Identify planning and programme needs, opportunities and approaches to strengthen UN Women Centre.

•    Provide strategic advice and leadership to UN Women's Executive Leadership Team, UN Women Regional Director and Senior Management on the overall partnerships in the RoK.

•    Manage and ensure the quality of results-based and rights-based programming for the UN Women Centre.

•    Finalize the annual work plan and budget as per UN Women's corporate operational, planning and accountability requirements.

•    Provide strategic coordination and collaboration with UN entities in RoK on gender equality and women's rights.

•    Lead the Centre in the delivery of operational goals; finalize the annual work plan and budget; and oversee the implementation, including providing direction, guidance and technical support.

•    Implement and manage quality assurance of training and research in close collaboration with UN Women Headquarters and Regional Offices.

•    Manage the preparation of UN Women mandated country reports.

•    Ensure effective workforce planning and timely recruitments, and manage the performance, performance assessment and career development of personnel under their supervision.

•    Ensure that personnel are familiar with and follow UN Women's regulations and rules, policies and procedures in the Policy, Procedures and Guidance Framework (PPG); Ensure personnel are aware in particular or of UN Women's standards of conduct including but not limited to policies and procedures on preventing, reporting and addressing misconduct, Fraud and Corruption, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and abuse of authority, Protection from retaliation, and ensure mechanisms are in place to support personnel in this regard.

•    Promote teamwork to ensure harmonization, linkages, collaboration and synergy; Ensure a respectful, inclusive safe and healthy work environment for personnel.

3.    Oversee safety, security and well-being of personnel, programmes and organizational assets

•    Maintain and update the UN Women Centre in RoK security strategy, plan, and measures to ensure full compliance with UN security policies, procedures and requirements.

•    Guide and influence decisions and standards related to security of personnel, premises and assets.

•    Oversee the implementation of the Security Mainstreaming & Compliance and Business Continuity Management and Organizational Resilience requirements. 

•    Ensure all personnel are made fully aware of safety and security procedures and policies and undertake mandatory training.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: 

The Head of Office has 5 direct reports and provides overall leadership to the UN Women Centre of approximately 15-20 personnel and consultants. 

Competencies :

Core Values:

- Integrity;
- Professionalism;
- Respect for Diversity.
Core Competencies:

- Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
- Accountability;
- Creative Problem Solving;
- Effective Communication;
- Inclusive Collaboration;
- Stakeholder Engagement;
- Leading by Example.
Please visit this link for more information on UN Women's Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

•    Substantive knowledge of gender equality and women's empowerment issues, with experience on women's economic empowerment, care economy and normative global standards.

•    Excellent and proven track record of partnership and resource development nationally, in the region and globally.

•    International development expertise, preferably in UN Women or the UN system.

•    Substantive knowledge or gender equality and women's empowerment issues and solid background on normative global standards, with experience on women's economic empowerment and care economy an asset.

•    Excellent knowledge of the RoK political system and key stakeholders.

•    Excellent negotiation skills and proven ability to mobilize support from a wide range of international and national partners (public, including parliamentarians, private, academic, civil society, business community leaders).

•    Strong oral and written communications skills in English, ability to convey complex concepts to different stakeholders.

•    Ability to advocate and provide policy advice.

•    Ability to interact with high-level decision-makers.

•    Excellent people management skills in a multicultural environment all backgrounds.

•    Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting.

•    Analytical and problem-solving skills.

•    Ability to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all.

•    Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them. 

•    Strong leadership skills, ability to create and enabling work environment.

•    Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising and develop strategies.

•    Excellent programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills.

•    Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting.

Recruitment Qualifications

Education and Certification:

•    Master's degree or equivalent in gender/women's studies, international development studies, public administration, public policy or other relevant 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.

Experience:

•    At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic partnership development, resource mobilization and communications/advocacy is required.

•    Experience working with private sector considered an asset.

•    At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in social inclusion, gender equality or women's issues', preferably at the international level, preferably in developing countries is required.  

•    Experience leading and coaching staff in international settings is required.

•    Experience working with and knowledge of the rules and regulations of the United Nations system is desirable.

•    Experience of work related with multi-cultural issues is desirable.

•    Experience working with the Government of Korea and/or with Governments in the Asia Pacific region is desirable.

•    Experience with supporting and overseeing development policymaking, programme and operations management is desirable.

Languages: 

•    Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

•    Knowledge of the local language (Korean) is desirable.

•    Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women's policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.

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Sector:

Role:

Working hours (%): 80-100% / 100%

Job type: Staff (Permanent and Fixed Term)

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