Director of Office and UNESCO Representative to Central African States

The Director of Office and UNESCO Representative to Central African States leads the UNESCO Regional Office for Central Africa in Yaounde and represents UNESCO in multiple Central African countries. The role involves strategic leadership, programme implementation, resource management, and fostering partnerships within the region and with the wider UN system.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Director of UNESCO Regional Office for Central Africa in Yaounde and UNESCO Representative in Cameroon, Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe.
• Supervise the Heads of UNESCO National Offices in Brazzaville (Congo), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Libreville (Gabon).
• Position UNESCO as a trusted development partner in the countries covered by the Office, promoting integrated sub-regional approaches.
• Establish and implement the multidisciplinary programme of the Office in close cooperation with the wider UN system.
• Manage the Office’s operations, resources, premises and assets effectively and efficiently.
• Establish and implement robust external relations and resource mobilization, including with the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CAEMC/CEMAC).
• Participate or ensure participation of the Office in the activities of the United Nations in the countries covered by the Office, as well as at the sub-regional level.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a discipline related to UNESCO’s mandate, public or business administration or international relations, or related field.
• At least fifteen (15) years of progressive professional experience at the appropriate management level within the United Nations system, other international, national or private sector institutions, including a wide experience in diplomatic work or development issues related to UNESCO’s areas of competence, in association with national and international organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in advocacy and resources mobilization.
• Proven partnership experience with successful implementation of partners at global, local and community levels.
• Professional experience in the field of education, sciences, culture, social sciences or communication.
• Commitment to and knowledge of the Organization’s mandate, vision, strategic direction and priorities.
• Institutional leadership capacity, high sense of objectivity and professional integrity, diplomacy, tact and political astuteness.
• Proven leadership and demonstrated managerial skills combined with flexibility.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated strategic planning and management abilities, including capacity to administer extensive programmes and projects, financial and human resources, as well as to exercise appropriate supervision and control.
• Capacity to provide intellectual leadership to guide staff, as well as ability to build trust, manage, lead and motivate a large and diversified body of staff in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, as well as exercise supervision and control and ensure continuous training and development of staff.
• Ability to identify key strategic issues, objectives, opportunities and risks.
• Organizational skills, including in establishing plans and priorities, and in implementing them effectively, as well as in devising implementation plans.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to work in multicultural environments while upholding objectivity, impartiality and sensitivity to gender equality and diversity issues.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with a proven ability to represent institutional priorities and engage with a broad spectrum of high-level partners.
• Excellent knowledge of and drafting skills in one of the working languages (English or French) of the Organization and ability to work in the second language.
• Courses/degree/training in a management-related field (desirable).
• Experience in the field of international relations and diplomacy, multilateral cooperation, development (desirable).
• Good geopolitical knowledge of the region as well as understanding of current international affairs (desirable).
• Political acumen and strong organizational awareness (desirable).
• Strong global professional network (desirable).
• Good knowledge of the United Nations system (desirable).
• Knowledge of other official languages of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) (desirable).

Skills

• Diplomatic Work
• Advocacy
• Resource Mobilization
• Partnership Development
• Education Sector Expertise
• Science Sector Expertise
• Culture Sector Expertise
• Social Sciences Expertise
• Communication Sector Expertise
• Institutional Leadership
• Strategic Planning
• Programme Management
• Project Management
• Finance Management
• Human Resources Management
• Staff Supervision
• Multicultural Team Leadership
• Organizational Planning
• Oral Communication
• Written Communication
• UN System Knowledge

Languages

English, French