Regional Director, Latin America and Caribbean

Organizational Context

The UN Secretariat's Development Coordination Office (DCO), recalibrated in 2026, oversees the Resident Coordinator (RC) system to accelerate the 2030 Agenda and embody the UN 2.0 shift. The Regional Director, based in Panama City, reports to the ASG/Director of UNDCO and leads DCO's regional interface, fostering collaboration across the UN Development System and supporting RCs with high-quality coordination. This role is a core member of the UNDCO senior leadership team.

Job Purpose

The Regional Director serves as a thought leader, convenor, facilitator, and strategic analyst for sustainable development, with strong strategic and management capacities. This outward-facing role provides strategic support to Resident Coordinators (RCs) and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) at regional, sub-regional, and country levels. Key functions include leading regional thought leadership on SDG acceleration, convening stakeholders, strengthening partnerships with regional bodies and IFIs, and developing regional initiatives. The Director integrates UN 2.0 capabilities like foresight and behavioral science, coordinates regional communications, supports resource mobilization, and ensures quality assurance for UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs). They provide strategic guidance to RCs and UNCTs for effective 2030 Agenda implementation, oversee regional results reporting, and support UN reform initiatives. The role also involves facilitating engagement with governments and partners, chairing meetings, and representing the organization at international forums.

Responsibilities

The Regional Director leads the UNDCO Regional Office, driving regional sustainable development thought leadership, partnerships, and SDG acceleration efforts. This involves convening stakeholders, providing strategic direction, and strengthening collaboration with regional economic commissions and other bodies. The Director develops regional partnerships, integrates complex development approaches considering conflict and humanitarian needs, and influences stakeholders using UN 2.0 skills. Responsibilities include coordinating regional communications, supporting resource mobilization, and ensuring quality assurance for UNSDCFs. Strategic guidance is provided to RCs and UNCTs for 2030 Agenda implementation, with oversight of regional results reporting and UN reform initiatives. The role includes facilitating engagement with governments and partners, and representing the organization. In corporate management, the Director is accountable for the Regional Office's strategy, work program, and budget, overseeing activities and ensuring timely delivery. They support the RC system's daily operations, manage dispute resolution, and promote UN 2.0 competencies and risk management. The Director also contributes to senior leadership talent identification, supports performance management of RCs, ensures compliance with UN policies, and contributes to UNDCO strategy formulation.

Work Experience

A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in development cooperation coordination is required, with at least 10 years in senior leadership roles in international settings. This includes a minimum of 5 years of field experience and demonstrated experience in leading strategy or policy formulation in development coordination. Substantive international development experience, including engagement with public-private sectors, SDG financing, and innovation, is required. Experience in organizational reform, change management, and performance management in multicultural environments is also necessary. Experience managing programmatic and administrative functions, budgets, and risk awareness in complex settings is required. Experience as a UN Resident Coordinator or knowledge of the UN system is desirable, as is experience in the Latin America and Caribbean region.

Skills

Professionalism, Accountability, Client Orientation, Leadership, Judgment/Decision-Making, Strategic Analysis, Partnership Brokering, Management, Communication, Interagency Collaboration, UN 2.0 Competencies (Foresight, Behavioral Science, Data, Digital, Innovation), Risk Management, Gender Equality, Youth Inclusion.

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