Global Coordinator, WomenX Collective, Innovation Unit, OED, Berlin, Germany (subject to change), P-5

The Position:

Through the Equalizer, UNFPA Accelerator Fund, UNFPA’s Innovation Unit leverages innovation, research, and technology to deliver at the scale and pace needed to achieve its transformative results by 2030. Against this backdrop, UNFPA is establishing the WomenX Collective - a new global center to advance innovation, research and investment for women’s health.  This initiative aims to close the gap in women’s health solutions by enhancing partnerships and mobilizing resources for gender equity in science, technology, and finance. The WomenX Collective seeks to address women's unmet health needs in low- and middle-income countries by linking global solutions with local capabilities, ensuring sustainable impact. It emphasizes utilizing knowledge and expertise from UNFPA program countries to foster international collaborations focused on improving women and girls' health and well-being. 

The Location: 

Berlin, Germany (subject to change). 

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:

Reporting to the Chief of the Innovation Unit, the Global Coordinator, WomenX Collective is responsible for overseeing the activities of the WomenX Collective, focusing on building the robust pipeline of impactful solutions, resource mobilization, blended and innovative financing, fostering collaboration between public and private entities to achieve substantial impact for women and girls. The role of the Global Coordinator, WomenX Collective will involve strategic planning and execution to position the WomenX Collective at the forefront of global women-centric innovation, integrating UNFPA's expertise with the public and private sector to tackle specific challenges and seize opportunities. The Global Coordinator will closely collaborate with relevant Business Units within UNFPA, ensuring coherence and aligning the operations of WomenX Collective with UNFPA programmes, strategies, policies and procedures.

You would be responsible for:

1. Portfolio Management and Oversight

• Oversee women-centric innovation portfolio development, facilitating partners and investor connections, and boosting  Global North-Global South cooperation, leading scaling solutions through business model and women-centered design in low- and middle-income countries.
• Lead development and application of methodologies, standards, tools, and procedures for value delivery through innovative pilots and transition to scale of most impactful solutions. 
• Provide leadership and oversight to operationalizing WomenX Collective's business plan, manage the WomenX Collective team, leading its growth and expansion, including establishing WomenX Collective Hubs in different locations.
• Manage financial portfolio of the WomenX Collective, coordinate reporting to donors, monitoring and evaluations, aligning project activities with UNFPA and partners priorities.
• Closely collaborate with relevant Business Units within UNFPA, ensuring coherence and aligning the operations of WomenX Collective with UNFPA programmes, strategies, policies and procedures, and managing associated risks.

2. Strategic Planning 

• Lead strategic planning and decisions related to the WomenX Collective operations, working closely with UNFPA teams and external partners.
• Oversee the strategy for strategic global expansion and establishment of the hubs in various geographical locations.
• Conduct detailed project planning, including resource scheduling, progress monitoring, issue resolution, and risk management; develop essential project documentation.
• Leads the analysis of external trends to determine their impact on the organization's innovative strategies.

3. Partnership Development and Stakeholder Engagement

• Shape the WomenX Collective relationships with the Governments, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), international organizations, philanthropic institutions, and bilateral agencies at an institutional level, focusing on funding and innovative financing collaborations.
• Established partnerships with public and private entities, including International Financial Institutions, UN agencies, philanthropies, and other institutions, expanding collaborations for funding and financing innovations in women’s health. 
• Lead resource mobilization for developing and implementing identified solutions within WomenX Collective portfolio. 
• Lead strategic efforts in WomenX Collective advocacy, building the identity and global visibility.

4. Thought Leadership 

• Position  the WomenX Collective as a leader in global women-centric innovation, provide strategic advice in identifying, sourcing, and funding scalable solutions for women's health in low- and middle- income countries.
• Build a network of thought leaders and partners in women-centric solutions, including innovative financing and impact investment; oversee research and global ecosystem mapping for women-centric innovation.
• Facilitate a collaborative community to support innovative solutions advancing women’s health, fostering national stakeholder leadership and global expert support.
• Facilitate a knowledge management platform to support closing the gaps in women's health.
• Provides advice, recommendations, and suggestions for the leadership  for improving the efficiency and productivity of the WomenX Collective.

5. Perform any other duties  as required by the Chief, Innovation Unit.

 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• An advanced degree in Public Health, Medicine, Business Administration, Health Financing, Health Economics, International Development and related areas is required. 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in the substantive technical area, of which seven years at the international level in the field of public health, research and innovation, or related fields, spanning both private and public sectors, is required.
• Knowledge of and experience with financing mechanisms for health or related programs.
• Proven ability to produce demonstrable results in a multicultural environment.
• Record in building partnerships, particularly with and within the private sector, foundations, and philanthropies is strongly desired.
• Experience in and knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNFPA's work would be advantageous.
• Experience working in low and middle-income countries is highly desirable.
   

Skills:

• Strong record of accomplishment with technical leadership, managerial skills, and communication.
• Proven ability to produce demonstrable results in a multicultural environment.
• Extensive network within the Global Health community.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required; Fluency in another official UN language is desirable.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity;
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system;
• Embracing cultural diversity;
• Embracing change.

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results;
• Being accountable;
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen;
• Thinking analytically and strategically;
• Working in teams/managing self and relationships;
• Communicating for impact;
• Convening and building partnerships.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise;
• Leveraging the resources of national government and partners and building strategic alliances and partnerships;
• Job knowledge / technical expertise/ expert knowledge.

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus; 
• Engaging staff and partners; 
• Leading, developing and empowering people/creating a culture of performance; 
• Making decisions and exercising good judgment.

Compensation and Benefits:

 This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.