Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA Representative, you will report directly to the Assistant Representative and work in close collaboration with the country office's programme and operations teams.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency working to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA strives to find solutions to the problems that humanity faces today. Working along critical pathways, the action will accelerate the fulfilment of unmet needs for family planning, end preventable maternal deaths, and end gender-based violence and harmful practices.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that 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.
Job Purpose:
Working within Mexico's complex public health landscape, the Programme Officer provides strategic direction and technical leadership on Sexual and Reproductive Health. Your primary objective will be to serve as a trusted advisor to national counterparts, leveraging your expertise to influence policy while ensuring the effective management and implementation of UNFPAโs multi-million dollar investment in strengthening Mexico's health systems. You will be the driving force behind UNFPA's interventions in key national priority areas, including: Comprehensive Sexuality Education; family planning; maternal health (including emergency obstetric and newborn care and midwifery); and humanitarian preparedness and response. Your work will ensure that SRH interventions are rights-based, inclusive, and aligned with the ICPD agenda, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, and Mexico's national development plans.
As a Programme Officer on SRH, you will:
- Spearhead high-level policy dialogue and serve as a thought leader on sexual and reproductive health and rights within the national health sector.
- Drive the strengthening of national health systems and institutional capacities to deliver high-quality, people-centered SRH services.
- Forge strategic partnerships with government, civil society, and development partners, and lead advocacy and resource mobilization efforts for SRH.
- Provide strategic oversight and rigorous management of a multi-million dollar SRH portfolio, ensuring the delivery of impactful and sustainable results.
- Lead and mentor the SRH team, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and accountability.
- Champion the use of data and evidence for policy formulation, programme innovation, and strategic communication on key SRH issues.
You would be responsible for:
A. Policy Advocacy and Dialogue
- Lead high-level policy dialogue and provide strategic technical advice to senior officials in government institutions, particularly the Ministry of Health, to ensure SRH priorities are embedded in national health and development agendas.
- Support the formulation, review, and implementation of national laws, policies, and strategies related to maternal mortality reduction, adolescent pregnancy prevention, comprehensive sexuality education, and family planning, ensuring alignment with international commitments and evidence-based best practices.
- Champion the integration of gender equality, human rights, and youth engagement frameworks into all national SRH policies and programming.
B. Technical Leadership and Capacity Strengthening
- Serve as the principal technical advisor to government counterparts, UN partners, and civil society on SRH, ensuring programmes are technically sound, innovative, and adhere to global standards.
- Advise national capacity-strengthening initiatives for SRH service delivery, including the institutionalization of emergency obstetric care (EmONC) and the strengthening of midwifery services.
- Oversee the technical quality and adaptation of clinical norms, service delivery guidelines, and educational materials to enhance access to and quality of SRH services nationwide.
C. Knowledge Management and Evidence Generation
- Drive a culture of evidence-based decision-making by leading knowledge management strategies that inform policy, advocacy, and programming.
- Oversee the generation and strategic dissemination of evidence, including policy briefs, research, and case studies, to highlight gaps, innovations, and best practices in SRH for a high-level audience.
- Ensure that lessons learned from programmes are systematically documented and utilized to inform the scaling-up of successful interventions.
D. Advocacy, Communication, and Resource Mobilization
- Represent UNFPA with authority in high-level national and international forums, technical working groups, and policy dialogues on SRHR.
- Shape and prepare compelling policy briefs, donor reports, and high-level presentations to advance the SRHR agenda.
- Identify strategic opportunities and lead the technical development of proposals to mobilize resources for UNFPAโs SRH programme.
E. Partnerships and Coordination
- Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships with government ministries, professional health associations, academia, and civil society, including women's and youth-led organizations, to foster a coordinated and powerful coalition for SRHR.
- Broker and sustain effective collaboration with UN agencies and development partners to amplify joint advocacy and harmonize SRHR interventions.
- Ensure the meaningful engagement of communities, especially marginalized and vulnerable groups, in the design and implementation of SRHR policies and programmes.
F. Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Provide technical leadership to ensure the resilience of SRH services in humanitarian contexts, guaranteeing that the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) and EmONC are integrated into national emergency preparedness and response plans.
- Guide contingency planning and ensure the availability of technical expertise for rapid deployment during humanitarian crises.
G. Programme Management and Oversight
- Assume full accountability for the strategic management and financial oversight of a large-scale programme portfolio, ensuring that multi-million dollar projects are designed, implemented, monitored, and reported on with the highest standards of efficiency and effectiveness.
- Guarantee robust quality assurance processes, results-based monitoring frameworks, and rigorous evaluations to maximize programme impact.
- Supervise and mentor senior consultants, advisors, and national experts, ensuring the delivery of high-quality technical assistance.
H. Other Duties
- Perform any other strategic duties as requested by UNFPA leadership to advance the SRHR agenda in Mexico.
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in Public Health, Medicine, Health Systems Management, or a related health science field.
Knowledge and Experience:
- A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience at a senior national level in public health policy, planning, and management, with a specific focus on Sexual and Reproductive Health.
- Demonstrated track record of providing high-level policy advice and technical assistance to government ministries (e.g., Ministry of Health) and other senior stakeholders.
- Proven track record in the strategic management of complex, multi-stakeholder health programmes, with direct responsibility for multi-million dollar budgets, financial oversight, and donor reporting.
- Substantive expertise and proven experience in key areas such as maternal mortality reduction, adolescent SRH programming, comprehensive sexuality education, and family planning.
- In-depth understanding of Mexico's health sector, including its political, social, and institutional landscape.
- Experience in culturally sensitive programming and addressing the needs of marginalized populations.
- Familiarity with the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Reproductive Health in crises is a strong asset.
- Knowledge and understanding of human rights-based approaches to health, quality of care, and addressing issues such as sexual violence and child marriage.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly in Excel for data analysis and management.
Languages:
- Fluency in Spanish and professional working proficiency in English are required.
Required Competencies:
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,
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity,
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
- Embracing cultural diversity,
- Embracing change
Functional Competencies:
- Advocacy / Advancing a policy-oriented agenda,
- Leveraging the resources of national and local governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships;
- Delivering results-based programmes;
- Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization.
- Project management leadership
Managerial Competencies:
- Providing strategic focus;
- Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders;
- Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance;
- Making decisions and exercising judgment
Compensation and Benefits
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
This position is open for Mexican Nationals Only
Legal Notice:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any fee related to applications, processing, training, interviews, testing, or any other aspect of the recruitment process, and does not request applicantsโ bank account information.
For any clarification regarding this vacancy, please write to vacantes-mexico@unfpa.org, indicating the vacancy number and title. Please do NOT send your application to this email address, as it will not be considered.
To view the full job description and apply for this vacancy, please click on โAPPLY NOWโ below.
- Perform any other strategic duties as requested by UNFPA leadership to advance the SRHR agenda in Mexico.