Chief (Programme Implementation Unit) – P5  

nder the guidance and supervision of the Deputy Director, the Chief (PIU) works closely with HQ Divisions, especially with Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS), Supply Division, Public Partnerships Division (PPD), Legal Office, as well as with Regional Chiefs of Operations and Planning, and Regional Implementation Partnerships Specialists and Risk Managers. The Chief also works with UN entities part of the UN Partnership Portal as well as wider UN network for implemetation partnership, donors and diverse partners. The Chief (PIU) is expected to work closely with the other units in the Programme Effectiveness Team, particularly with the Risk Management in Partnership Implementation Unit.
 

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, hope

The Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM) was established in 2019 to drive decision making and organizational learning, improve effectiveness and achievement of results of UNICEF and its partners to realize the rights and improve the life of every child. DAPM promotes the use of data, analytics, planning and monitoring, and related aspects of strategic country programme management, to achieve transformative impact for children. 

The Division is responsible for driving, shaping and guiding UNICEF’s evidence-informed analysis, corporate and country planning, programme implementation and related risk management, monitoring, knowledge management and organizational performance. As such, DAPM enables the organization to deliver on results in a more coherent manner, based on agile and contextualized programming processes, and on data, evidence, and analytics, as well as the application of human-rights based and results-based approaches. 

Within DAPM, the Programme Effectiveness Team (PET) leads, regulates and coordinates the development and issuance of organization-wide policies, procedures, standards, guidance, systems, tools and platforms to strengthen programme effectiveness across all contexts, including Programme planning, implementation (including facilitating engagement/management of some 10,000 government and CSO entities receiving over $3bn cash and with huge volume and value of supplies annually, from UNICEF) and related risk management, safeguarding, monitoring, organizational performance, knowledge management, at all levels.  In doing so, PET engages with all divisions/offices across HQ as well as with all regional offices, UN agencies, funds and programmes, specialized agencies, other technical organizations and the UN Development Coordination Office. 

Purpose for the job: 

The Chief, Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) reports directly to the Deputy Director, Programme Effectiveness. 

Under the guidance and supervision of the Deputy Director, the Chief (PIU) works closely with HQ Divisions, especially with Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS), Supply Division, Public Partnerships Division (PPD), Legal Office, as well as with Regional Chiefs of Operations and Planning, and Regional Implementation Partnerships Specialists and Risk Managers. The Chief also works with UN entities part of the UN Partnership Portal as well as wider UN network for implemetation partnership, donors and diverse partners. The Chief (PIU) is expected to work closely with the other units in the Programme Effectiveness Team, particularly with the Risk Management in Partnership Implementation Unit. 

The purpose of the role is to coordinate and support the continued development and strengthening of: 

• UNICEF’s Programme Implementation Policy, Procedure.  
• Guidance and tools/systems to foster effective, efficient, and agile approach in implementation planning/work planning and management.  
• Evolving organizational knowledge and capabilities to foster principled partnerships for Programme implementation, including the promotion and operationalization of global commitments such as localization.  
• Ongoing analysis using both data contained in the digital tools, as well as overall contextual analysis related to implementation partnership. 
• Evidence-based decision making and lobal analysis such as the Global Effectiveness Review.  
• Tailored and out-of-the-box solutions that are required for programme implementation, while ensuring the management of associated risks.  
• Interagency coordination and harmonization.  

How can you make a difference? 

• Coherent programme implementation regulatory framework: 
  • Lead the development, periodic review and update of UNICEF’s Programme Implementation Procedure and related guidance Handbook, ensuring it is fit-for-purpose for complex and varying operational contexts and different partnership / implementation modalities.  
• Take into account related user feedback as well recommendations and findings arising from evaluations, audits and studies. 
• Guide the rollout of the Programme Implementation Procedure and guidance, including the design/development of tools and approaches for strengthening capacities, targeting both UNICEF and Partner staff, as relevant. 
• Advise senior management, HQ/Regional/Country Offices, PPD, DFAM, Legal Office, on all Programme Implementation procedure and guidance, including support in responding to donor negotiations, queries and conditionalities as well as in managing poor performance of implementing partners. 
• Contribute to complementary regulatory documents and guidance as needed to ensure coherence, including on safeguarding, environmental and social safeguards and overall risk management. 

• Business modernization  
  • Serve as business owner for the following corporate tools  
• eTools: an integrated platform used by all country, regional, HQ offices and UNICEF partners for programming, due diligence, risk management, field monitoring and partnership implementation with some 10,000 partners implementing with UNICEF (over 5,000 Government entities and over 4000 civil society organizations).  
• eWP ? a critical corporate system for work planning and results management, part of RAM 3.0 platform, and critical for all UNICEF offices to facilitate the translation of strategic plans/country programmes into a sequence of workplan actions that can be costed and monitored.  
• Facilitate optimal adoption and use of systems/tools and engage in active analytics to inform decision making at all levels.  
• Ensure maintenance, user support and enhancement of existing tools and lead the requirement definition and field testing of new tools/features as needed in collaboration with ICTD.  
• Influence requirement definition and ensure optimal integration of key tools led by other divisions, particularly DFAM (e.g. eZHACT,and eFACE) and SD (LMSM). 

• Analysis and reporting on programme implementation modalities and associated results 
  • Ensure analytics and reporting processes are risk-informed, proactively communicate to senior management on risks, results and resource utilization issues; provide advice, recommendations and share lessons to enhance programming for at scale results.  
• Conduct periodic global analytics and reporting on programme implementation in close collaboration with other PET units and key divisions.  
• Support country, regional, global or thematic analysis using established KPIs and other data/information to inform decision-making on programme implementation modalities and resource allocation.  
• Serve as technical reference group member for evaluations and studies related to Programme Implementation modalities/practices and capacities. 

• Managing implementing partnerships for results and learning: 
  • Lead systematic analysis, knowledge generation, use and learning, of partnerships with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Governments, other institutions; direct implementation, and national/sub-national reporting tools. 
• Oversee the strategic approach and management of cash and supplies assistance transferred to implementing partners to ensure that UNICEF obtains assurance of results for children. 
• Improve the quality and results-based management of partnerships and resources transferred to them (cash and supplies) 
• Lead the development of appropriate learning resources for capacity development of UNICEF partners and staff involved in programme implementation. 
• Support initiatives towards promoting a learning, more adaptive and agile management culture.  

• UN Inter-agency harmonization/alignment and interagency relations for Programme Implementation Modalities: 
  • Active participation in UN interagency network on Implementing partnership, both with agencies that are sharing the UN partner portal (UNPP) and beyond, including leading the annual global consultations with the network, alternating with other agencies. 
• Proactively share UNICEF’s experience, progress and challenges in implementation management, and influence other UN agencies towards a more harmonized/aligned approach  
• Understand other agencies procedures and tools and apply knowledge in benchmarking and evolving UNICEF procedure and tools.  
• Support global, regional and local level consultation/interaction with partners (CSO, Gov and others) on key trending issues and evolving UNICEF’s/UN wide Programme implementation procedure/processes.  

• Effective management of the Programme Implementation Unit and respond to ad-hoc requests as needed: 
  • Overall accountability for the management of the PIU (results, human resources, finance)  
• Supervise, manage, and direct PIU staff, including appraisal of staff performance, career development and learning 
• Ensure an enabling positive workplace culture within the unit and contribute to upholding the UNICEF CRITAS (Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability & Sustainability) values by all staff in the division  

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

• Education: An Advanced University Degree (Master’s) in Social or Management Sciences, Public Administration, Law, International Relations, Business Administration, and/or any other relevant technical field is required. 
• Work Experience:
  • A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant work experience at national and international levels in the area of programme management, of which at least five years of progressive experience in UNICEF or a reputable international organization in developing countries is required.
  • Experience in programming in humanitarian action, including management of large operations in complex settings.  
  • Demonstrated maturity in judgment and management, team building skills, excellent analytical, writing skills and interpersonal skills; good facilitator skills, good knowledge and skills in using tools for policy presentations, planning and the networking of strategic information. 
  • Extensive experience with partnership management, risk management and programme implementation processes, including related systems, platforms and tools.
• Candidate would also ideally have the following: 
  • Ability to provide intellectual leadership on innovative programme implementation for different contexts and new forms of partnership. 
  • Experience working with complex donor conditionalities on politically sensitive issues. 

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required. Knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is considered an asset. 

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.

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.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

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.

This is how cinfo can support you in the application process for this specific position: 

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