Working at the very centre of a UN agency — inside the Executive Director's own office, helping steer the organisation's global agenda — is about as high-impact as international careers get. UNFPA is hiring a Special Assistant to the Executive Director at the P-5 level in New York, a role that sits in the Office of the Executive Director (OED) and reports directly to the Chief of Staff. At Youth Works Hub we track professional roles across the UN system, and this is a senior, front-office post at the heart of UNFPA's leadership, so here is the full picture of the role, the responsibilities and what it takes to be considered.
Where the Role Sits
🏛️ The Special Assistant post is located in the Office of the Executive Director (OED) and reports directly to the Chief of Staff. The role is pivotal in supporting the Executive Director to lead UNFPA effectively — a genuine front-office, executive-support position.
About UNFPA and the Mission
🌍 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 sets out the organisation's response to a complex global environment, accelerating the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, through four interconnected outcomes:
🎯 Ending the unmet need for family planning.
🎯 Ending preventable maternal deaths.
🎯 Ending gender-based violence and harmful practices.
🎯 Adapting to demographic change through evidence- and rights-based policies.
UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire and deliver high-impact, sustained results — ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilisation in a rapidly changing landscape, and who are principled, transparent and committed to excellence.
The Job Purpose
🤝 The Special Assistant provides high-level executive support, strategic advisory analysis and stakeholder coordination to advance the Executive Director's agenda, under the supervision of the Chief of Staff. The incumbent manages front-office operations and mission execution, leads the Executive Committee Secretariat while analysing policy briefings, and drives global organisational initiatives, including participation in key UN intergovernmental bodies.
What You'll Be Responsible For
A. High-Level Support to the Executive Director
📅 Support management of the Executive Director's schedule, in coordination with the Personal Assistant and under the Chief of Staff.
✉️ Oversee the flow of correspondence to and from the Executive Director, ensuring prioritisation and timely responses, and coordinate information flow between OED and internal and external stakeholders.
🗣️ Help streamline and manage communication of the Executive Director's instructions, decisions and messages across UNFPA and with external partners.
📊 Provide direct support for meetings and conferences — preparation, identifying participants, documents, presentations, background materials and talking points.
✈️ Coordinate the preparation and execution of the Executive Director's field missions and accompany them as required, including briefing and debriefing sessions and follow-up on key action items.
🤝 Engage with internal and external partners on programme development and country-level engagements, and coordinate with the Special Assistants of the Deputy Executive Directors and other directors.
👥 Supervise the Personal Assistant to the Executive Director and the Administrative Associate in OED, and support the overall functioning of the front office.
B. Strategic Advisory Role
🧭 Lead the work of the UNFPA Executive Committee (EC) Secretariat, including agenda setting and liaising with business units and external parties.
📈 Contribute to the design and strategic discussions on the Executive Director's annual priorities and workplan.
📝 Advise the Executive Director across programme and technical areas, highlighting policy implications, and review and analyse technical papers into concise summaries and recommendations.
🌐 Provide substantive analysis as the Executive Director navigates a dynamic global development and geopolitical landscape, and support UNFPA's reporting on key internal and external reports.
C. Stakeholder Engagement and Organisational Initiatives
🌍 Work with units and partnerships of strategic global importance, contributing to global advocacy strategies.
♿ Lead the interdivisional Task Force on the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS), with the Gender and Human Rights Branch.
🏛️ Coordinate the Executive Director's engagement in high-level UN and Member State meetings — with a focus on the Commission on the Status of Women and the UN General Assembly, and support to the Commission on Population and Development, the High-Level Political Forum and Executive Board processes.
🎤 Lead the review and finalisation of proposed UNFPA side events for senior leadership, and coordinate the Executive Director's public engagements.
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Who They're Looking For
🎓 Education: an advanced university degree (minimum Master's or equivalent) in social sciences, international relations, public administration, development studies or another relevant field is required.
💼 Experience: a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in development cooperation, international affairs or a related field. Demonstrated experience supporting senior executive leadership (policy advice, strategic planning, managing executive office functions) is highly desirable, and strong knowledge of the UNFPA mandate and the UN system and reform processes is a significant advantage.
🧠 Proven initiative, sound judgment, and exceptional organisational and analytical skills, with a strong commitment to UNFPA's mission.
Languages
🗣️ Fluency in English is required; working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
The Competencies That Matter
⭐ Values: exemplifying integrity, demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, embracing cultural diversity, and embracing change.
🔧 Core: achieving results, being accountable, developing and applying professional expertise, thinking analytically and strategically, and working well in teams.
🌐 Functional & managerial: global leadership and advocacy for ICPD goals, organisational leadership and direction, operational effectiveness and accountability, strategic focus, stakeholder engagement, empowering people, and sound decision-making.
Compensation and Work Environment
💶 The position offers an attractive remuneration package, including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable. (This is a Fixed-Term appointment, full-time, for one year with the possibility of extension.)
🌈 UNFPA offers a work environment built on gender equality, diversity, integrity and work-life balance, and strongly encourages applications from women, the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations and persons with disabilities. UNFPA charges no fee at any stage of the application or recruitment process.
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Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What level is the role? P-5, a Fixed-Term appointment (one year, with possibility of extension), full-time, in New York.
❓ Who do I report to? The Chief of Staff in the Office of the Executive Director.
❓ What qualifications do I need? A Master's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field and a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience.
❓ What language is required? Fluency in English; another UN language is an asset.
❓ Is there an application fee? No — UNFPA charges no fee at any stage.
Deadline
⏳ 07 September 2026 (apply before 00:00). The vacancy was posted on 24 August 2026. Youth Works Hub tracks senior UN roles like this so you can prepare your application ahead of the closing date.
How to Apply
📝 Apply online through UNFPA's official careers portal for vacancy #36483, submitting your application before the closing date.
Link
🔗 Official vacancy and application (UNFPA, #36483): https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2003/job/36483
