Head of Office, Skopje, North Macedonia, NOD, FTA

The Head of Office leads the North Macedonia country team in implementing the Government-UNFPA country programme of cooperation. The new Country Programme (2026-2030) focuses on realizing sexual and reproductive health and rights, the prevention and response to gender-based violence, data system strengthening and building demographic resilience. Under the overall management of the non-resident Country Director, the Head of Office inspires the team to translate regional and country goals into tangible solutions and results whilst realizing the ICPD Programme of Action and contributing to Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Additionally, as a member of the UN Country Team (UNCT), the Head of Office has mutual
accountability with the Resident Coordinator (RC) on contributions and support for the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and other inter-agency agreements of the UNCT.

The Head of Office, under the overall management supervision of the Country Director, designs, develops, and manages an innovative and responsive country programme. The Head of Office leads the programme team, inspiring it to translate the regional and country goals into tangible solutions and results.  

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 (2026-2029) reaffirms the relevance of its current strategic direction and focuses on four transformative results: accelerating progress on meeting the unmet need for family planning; accelerating progress on ending preventable maternal deaths; accelerating progress on ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

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 who 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.

You will contribute to the management of UNFPA programme activities in the areas of population and development, reproductive health and gender. Working to advance the ICPD policy agenda in a politically sensitive environment, you will respond to changing priorities of Governments. Promoting partnership and strategic alliances with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral agencies, and civil society will be key to your role. You will coordinate technical advisers and contribute to UN systems coordination through participation in policy dialogue and provision of inputs into joint common system initiatives.
Reporting to the UNFPA Country Director, you will act on their behalf as required.

You would be responsible for:

• Conducting policy dialogue with Government, UN and other development partners to incorporate UNFPA’s priorities and agenda into national plans and strategies, and UN systems, initiatives and development frameworks.
• Translating global strategies into country-specific advocacy strategies. This includes creating and delivering evidence-based advocacy messages to promote UNFPA’s programme goals, taking into account political and social sensitivities.
• Promoting a results-based approach, integrating innovative policies and strategies into the design and formulation of country programmes, sub-programmes and projects. You will ensure programmes are responsive to the country’s needs in areas of UNFPA’s strategic priorities.
• Facilitating the achievement of programme results by identifying, providing and coordinating inputs into programme development and implementation, ensuring programme monitoring and oversight, and coordinating and evaluating the inputs of consultants and technical experts.
• Promoting knowledge sharing and continuous learning including testing, evaluating and documenting innovative strategies and best practices internal and external to UNFPA, and integrating these as appropriate.
• Lead resource mobilisation, partnership development and leveraging financing in support of the goals of the country programme, including developing engagement strategies, preparing proposals, and supporting the government and other agencies in coordinating assistance for programmes.

Education:

Advanced University degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Management or other related discipline.

Knowledge and Experience:

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of development and population activities, including programme designing, appraisal and management.
Demonstrated ability to refine programme design to ensure alignment of organisational programme objectives to national priorities/capacities.
Proven ability to lead and manage teams to achieve demonstrable results.
Excellent written and oral communication skills to foster engaged partnerships at a high level of representation and to maintain political partnerships.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Macedonian is required; knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable.

Required Competencies:

Values:

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

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy / Advancing a policy-orientated agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners / building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results based programmes
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilisation

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, 
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact 

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 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.

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.