UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Love

Strategic Office Context and Purpose for the Job

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nation.

Strategic office context

Access to supplies is essential to fulfil children’s rights.  Through its Supply Division (SD) and the broader Supply Community in regional and country offices, UNICEF procures and supplies over 5,000 products to address the needs of children. Supporting child survival and development programmes around the world, UNICEF-procured supplies are critical in providing for children’s health, education and protecting them from abuse, exploitation, and neglect.

This position sits within the Strategy, Partnerships and Knowledge Management Centre in SD. The Centre is responsible for strategic planning and reporting, change and project management support, private sector partnerships, country support and knowledge management in support of SD and the broader Supply Community.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose for the job 

In collaboration with all teams in SD, the Supply Community and HQ divisions, the incumbent is responsible for:

(1) Managing SD’s planning and reporting function, including OMP and MTR processes, work planning, and annual reporting (internal)

(2) Planning, preparation and roll-out of identified strategic priorities

(3) Coordinating supply function inputs into organization-wide planning and reporting

(4) Maintaining an overview of, coordinating, and supporting change projects / initiatives across the Division (including advising on their roll-out across the Supply Community)

(5) In collaboration with other centers, coordinating (as appropriate) and supporting SD in business improvement projects and initiatives, as well as coordinating SD’s inputs into and contributions to organization-wide business improvement efforts.

(6) Providing project management advice and support across the Division and

(7) Managing staff in the unit to ensure optimal motivation, performance, and wellbeing

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Manage SD’s planning and reporting function:
   1. Coordinate the Division’s planning activities, including OMP and MTR processes, work planning, and annual reporting (internal), using the RBM approach.
   2. Oversee templates and guidance for SD’s planning and reporting, ensuring quality strategic reflection and analysis, and timely completion of all elements; ensure involvement of the Supply Community, and alignment with the UNICEF Strategic Plan (SP)
   3. Coordinate the Division’s annual work planning process, and periodic review.
   4. Review center workplans for alignment with the division and organizational priorities and manage reporting on achievements.
   5. Oversee preparation of SD’s internal annual report
   6. Ensure quality SD inputs into the global results reporting (EDAR, GARR, HARR, among others)
2. Provide advice and implementation support to the strategic priorities of the Supply Function and manage roll-out of identified strategic priorities:
   1. Support research on the external environment/ecosystem and identify areas of strategic importance impacting Supply.
   2. Facilitate collaboration with the strategic coordinators of the strategic priorities to ensure roadmaps, indicators and resources are in place and implementation monitored.
   3. Provide guidance and support to the strategic coordinators and centers to ensure a holistic cohesive roll-out and implementation of the strategic priorities.
   4. Ensure sharing sessions are conducted with the Supply Community to support their engagement in and contribution to the strategic priorities.
   5. Ensure effective internal communications around the strategic areas, via but not limited to, a continually updated SD Intranet, relevant SharePoint sites, communication products and infographics, stories on the strategic areas and other sharing platforms as applicable.
3. Coordinate supply function inputs into organization-wide planning and reporting:
   1. Liaise with HQ divisions to ensure that supply is appropriately reflected in the UNICEF SP including with relevant indicators for reporting on results.
   2. Collaborate with HQ divisions in preparing guidance on strategic planning and implementation (SitAns, COAR, Programme strategic documents, etc.) to ensure inclusion of the supply elements.
4. Maintain an overview of coordinate and support change projects / initiatives across the Division (including advising on their roll-out across the Supply Community):
   1. Maintain a helicopter view of change projects / initiatives in SD and ensure synchronization and fluid coordination across these.
   2. Provide guidance and support to the design, training, roll-out and implementation of new change initiatives.
   3. Participate as reference group member in selected change initiatives.
5. Coordinate (as appropriate) and support SD in business improvement projects and initiatives:
   1. Coordinate SD’s inputs into and contributions to organization-wide business improvement efforts.
   2. Provide support to SD’s own business improvement projects, coordinate the division’s input into the UNICEF Efficiency reporting and initiatives, and coordinate as needed.
   3. Foster collaboration across centers and provide input into the business process reviews, identifying solutions to bottlenecks.
6. Provide project management advice and support across the Division:
   1. Act as an expert reference within SD on project management, providing guidance and support to other teams as needed.
   2. Collaborate with OATC, HR Learning & Development and the normative centers to ensure training, templates and guidance are in place to support robust project management.
7. Manage staff in the unit to ensure optimal motivation, performance, and wellbeing:
   1. Provide staff with clear directions and objectives and manage workplans and performance of team members.
   2. Maintain a healthy, respectful, safe, and secure work environment, and dedicate time and energy to the wellbeing of staff.
   3. Provide guidance, training, and support to the team in order to meet objectives.
8. Any other duties as requested by the supervisor.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s) in Business, Supply Chain management, Logistics Management or other related field.

A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience of an additional 2 years may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

Minimum eight years progressively responsible professional work experience relevant to the planning, change and project management roles of the position. Experience of supply chain management is a significant asset, as is experience of working in an international role. UNICEF country office experience an advantage.

Language:

Fluency in English and working knowledge of another UN language.

 Desirable:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, all eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.