Chief, Berlin Representation Office, Division for External Relations (DER), Berlin, Germany, P-5

Organizational Context

The Chief of the UNFPA Representation Office in Berlin serves as UNFPA’s most senior Representative in Germany, managing relations with government, private sector, and civil society partners. This role spearheads diplomatic and advocacy efforts in Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein, coordinating closely with other DER teams and regional offices. 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.

Job Purpose

This role is crucial for advancing UNFPA's mandate and positioning within a dynamic aid landscape, contributing to the organization's four transformative results and the ICPD agenda. The Chief will elevate UNFPA's advocacy and political engagement, fostering predictable resource mobilization and strong coalitions of support. This involves maintaining senior-level interfaces with high-level missions, the diplomatic community, and political officials in the covered countries, ensuring the integration of the ICPD agenda into regional and global frameworks.

Responsibilities

The Chief will represent UNFPA at the highest levels in Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein, acting as the lead advocate for the ICPD agenda and navigating political landscapes to build consensus on SRHR, gender equality, and population dynamics. This includes monitoring economic and social shifts, providing strategic analysis, and developing response plans. The role involves organizing high-level missions, ensuring coordination with UN entities, and expanding advocacy with Central European Member States. Additionally, the Chief will lead the design and execution of a Regional Engagement Strategy, cultivate diverse stakeholder networks, maintain relations with government officials and MPs to secure and increase revenue, and identify fundraising strategies. Communication and visibility efforts will be strengthened through high-impact campaigns tailored to specific contexts.

Work Experience

Requires 10 years of relevant professional and managerial experience at national and international levels, including work on development and humanitarian issues. Proven political acumen, expertise in advocacy and coalition building, and knowledge of population and development, SRHR, gender, human rights, and global health are essential. Experience in leading teams, strong networks with government, private sector, civil society, and media in the region, and excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills are also required.

Skills

Core competencies include integrity, commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, embracing cultural diversity and change, achieving results, accountability, professional expertise, analytical and strategic thinking, and teamwork. Functional competencies involve advocacy, advancing policy agendas, leveraging national government and partner resources, and resource mobilization and partnership building.

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