Deputy Head of Secretariat, Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF)

UN Women is seeking a dynamic and experienced senior professional to serve as Deputy Head of Secretariat for the Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). Based in Bonn, Geneva, or Nairobi, this P4-level position sits within the Peace, Security, Humanitarian and Resilience (PSHR) Section and plays a central role in driving the operational and programmatic excellence of one of the world's most impactful funds for women-led civil society organizations in crisis and conflict settings.

The WPHF, a multi-partner UN trust fund, has supported over 1,800 civil society organizations across 49 countries since 2016. As Deputy Head of Secretariat, you will oversee the implementation of the Fund's regular Funding Cycle, Rapid Response Window, and Women's Human Rights Defender Window — leading programme staff and collaborating with a wide range of UN and non-UN stakeholders to deliver transformative results for women and girls in humanitarian contexts.

• Lead and manage day-to-day operations of the WPHF programme team, including finalizing annual workplans and performance targets.
• Oversee the full programme cycle — from conceptualization and planning through implementation, monitoring, and results reporting.
• Manage material and financial resources allocated to programme operations, ensuring compliance with UN Women and WPHF fiduciary standards.
• Coordinate across WPHF Operations, Partnerships, Coordination, and Communications teams to ensure coherent and strategic Secretariat performance.
• Serve as a senior liaison to Participating UN Organizations and Non-UN Organizations, fostering productive partnerships.
• Support strategic oversight of the WPHF Strategic Plan, contributing to governance, accountability frameworks, and adaptive management processes.
• Lead global learning, capacity strengthening, and knowledge generation initiatives within the Secretariat's mandate.
• Represent the WPHF Secretariat in high-level meetings, inter-agency processes, and donor engagements as delegated by the Head of Secretariat.
• Ensure robust monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems are in place to track fund performance and demonstrate impact to the Governing Steering Committee (GSC).

• Demonstrate at least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in programme management within the UN system, international NGOs, or multilateral institutions — particularly in peace, security, or humanitarian contexts.
• Lead multi-disciplinary programme teams effectively, setting priorities, resolving bottlenecks, and building team capacity.
• Apply advanced knowledge of women, peace and security (WPS) frameworks including UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions to design and oversee fund programming.
• Manage complex, multi-stakeholder grant-making or trust fund mechanisms with demonstrable accountability for results.
• Communicate complex programmatic and policy information clearly to diverse audiences including donors, UN agencies, and civil society partners.
• Navigate sensitive political environments and conflict-affected contexts with cultural competence and sound judgment.
• Hold a Master's degree (or equivalent) in international relations, gender studies, development studies, social sciences, or a related field.
• Demonstrate fluency in English; proficiency in French or another UN official language is a strong advantage.

This position is classified at the P4 level under the UN Common System salary scale. The monthly base salary for P4 posts typically ranges from approximately KES 650,000 to KES 900,000 (gross, equivalent), depending on the duty station (Bonn, Geneva, or Nairobi), dependency status, and applicable post adjustment. UN Women also provides a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, annual leave, education grants for dependents, and pension contributions through the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund.

This role is ideal for a senior programme leader with a deep commitment to gender equality and women's rights in humanitarian and conflict settings. You thrive in fast-paced, politically complex environments, can manage high-performing teams across time zones, and have a proven track record in trust fund or multi-stakeholder fund management. You are comfortable representing an organization at the highest levels and translating strategic vision into operational reality.

This role is NOT suitable for candidates without experience managing UN-level programme cycles, those unfamiliar with Women, Peace and Security normative frameworks, or applicants who have not previously supervised professional-level staff in an international context.

• Visit the UN Women careers portal at jobs.unwomen.org or the broader UN Careers portal at careers.un.org.
• Search for the vacancy using the job title or reference number associated with this P4 FTA posting.
• Create or log into your UN Careers profile and complete the online application form in full.
• Upload your updated UN Personal History Form (P11), cover letter, and any supporting documents requested.
• Submit your application before the closing deadline of 20 June 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment steps, which may include written tests and competency-based interviews.