Chief, Political Affairs and Advocacy Branch, Office of the Executive Director (OED), New York, D-1

The Position: The Chief, Political Affairs and Advocacy Branch is located in the Office of the Executive Director (OED) and reports directly to the Chief of Staff. The Office of the Executive Director provides strategic leadership, coordination and support to the Executive Director in advancing UNFPA’s mandate and institutional priorities. Within OED, the Political Affairs and Advocacy Branch serves as the principal political affairs and Member State engagement capability for executive leadership, providing political intelligence and strategic advice, coordinating executive-level engagement with Member States and supporting political advocacy and strategic outreach. The Chief leads the Political Affairs and Advocacy Branch and advises and supports the Chief of Staff and executive leadership on political developments, Member State relations, strategic advocacy and high-level engagement. This role also works closely with OED teams, the Division for External Relations, regional and country offices and other relevant business units to ensure that executive leadership is supported by timely political analysis, coherent engagement strategies and coordinated preparation and follow-up for high-level engagements. How you can make a difference: UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction. UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results Job Purpose: The Chief, Political Affairs and Advocacy Branch provides leadership and strategic direction to UNFPA’s executive-level political affairs, Member State engagement and advocacy functions. The incumbent serves as a senior political adviser to the Executive Director and Chief of Staff, providing political analysis, situational awareness and forward-looking advice on developments that may affect UNFPA’s mandate, positioning and operating environment. In addition, also develops and oversees strategies for executive leadership engagement with Member States and other high-level political stakeholders, ensuring that engagements are strategically prioritized, well prepared and systematically followed up. The incumbent supports executive leadership in building and sustaining trusted relationships across diverse Member State constituencies and advancing understanding and support for UNFPA’s mandate and strategic priorities. The incumbent also ensures close coordination with organizational units responsible for Executive Board governance, UN system and intergovernmental affairs, public funding and financing and other external relations functions, maintaining clear institutional accountabilities while ensuring coherent executive-level engagement. You would be responsible for: A. Political Affairs and Strategic Advice Advise the Executive Director, Chief of Staff and other members of executive leadership on geopolitical developments, Member State positions and emerging political trends relevant to UNFPA’s mandate, strategic priorities and institutional positioning. Provide timely situational awareness, political analysis and forward-looking advice on emerging opportunities, sensitivities and risks requiring executive leadership attention. Direct the preparation of political briefs, country and regional profiles, stakeholder analysis, strategic advice and other products to support executive decision-making and engagement. Maintain an integrated overview of political developments and Member State dynamics relevant to UNFPA and identify implications for institutional positioning and executive engagement. Draw together political intelligence and analysis from headquarters, regional and country offices and relevant external sources to support informed executive decision-making. Identify opportunities for proactive political engagement and advise executive leadership on approaches to complex or sensitive political issues. B. Executive-Level Member State Engagement Lead and coordinate executive-level engagement strategies with Member States, ensuring sustained, coherent and differentiated engagement across geographic and political constituencies. Advise the Executive Director and Chief of Staff on the prioritization, objectives, sequencing and approach for engagement with Heads of State and Government, ministers, Permanent Representatives and other senior government officials. Oversee the substantive and strategic preparation of executive leadership for high-level bilateral and group engagements, ensuring timely coordination of political analysis, substantive inputs, strategic objectives and recommended approaches. Represent OED, as appropriate, in meetings and consultations with Member State delegations, regional and political groups and other high-level stakeholders, conveying executive leadership priorities and ensuring appropriate follow-up. Maintain a strategic overview of executive leadership engagement with Member States to support continuity, institutional memory and informed prioritization. Ensure systematic follow-up on executive-level engagements and commitments, working across relevant business units to facilitate coordinated and timely action. C. Political Advocacy and Strategic Outreach Lead the development of political advocacy strategies to strengthen understanding and support for UNFPA’s mandate and strategic priorities among Member States and other high-level political stakeholders. Advise executive leadership on opportunities to position UNFPA’s mandate, evidence and comparative advantage in major political and multilateral discussions. Guide targeted political outreach on emerging issues, strategic priorities and matters requiring sustained executive-level engagement. Oversee the development of tailored political narratives, arguments and advocacy approaches for different Member State constituencies and political contexts, in close coordination with substantive and communications teams. Build and maintain trusted relationships with Permanent Missions, senior government officials and other relevant political stakeholders. Support executive leadership engagement with regional and political groups and other relevant high-level constituencies. D. High-Level Engagement and Diplomatic Coordination Advise on and support the prioritization of high-level political meetings, official visits, missions and engagements involving executive leadership. Oversee coordinated preparation and follow-up for official visits and high-level engagements involving Heads of State and Government, ministers, Permanent Representatives and other senior political stakeholders. Ensure appropriate diplomatic and protocol arrangements for executive leadership engagements, working with relevant UN, host-country and organizatio