Representative, D-2, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo [FAST TRACK]

The Representative’s key functions and accountabilities include:  

• Developing and planning the Country Programme 

• Leading and managing the Country Office 

• Monitoring and quality control of the Country Programme 

• Representation and external relations at global/regional and national level 

• Delivering high quality results for children, including in a complex operating environment 

• Constructively engaging with the Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator,  UN & Humanitarian Country Teams to advance the UN Cooperation Framework 

• Leading resource mobilization efforts and nurturing and strengthening partnerships including with multilaterals, non-traditional donors and the private sector. 

• Leading innovation, knowledge management and capacity building 

• Safety, security and well-being of staff, programmes and organizational assets 

Qualifications:  

• An Advanced University Degree in social sciences, international relations, government, and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development or other related fields, is required. 

• A minimum of 15 years professional development experience that combines intellectual and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level, some of which served in developing and emergency countries is required. Relevant professional experience in any UN system agency or organization is an asset. 

• Oral and written proficiency in French and English is required to be successful in the position. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset. 

Person Profile: 

The ideal candidate will be a strategic leader able to acquire, develop, and retain a talented multicultural and diverse workforce through effective performance management by directing the country programme towards results for children while implementing UNICEF’s vision, mission, and objectives.  S/he will have strong management skills and demonstrated ability to foster strategic and operational partnerships with governments, the private sector, UN agencies and civil society. The ideal candidate will have also demonstrated complex leadership competencies as follows: 

• People leadership skills: able to provide inspiration, vision, and effective direction, and unleash high performance from an increasingly diverse and/or dispersed team. Capacity to effectively lead, inspire, motivate and develop a large team of international and national staff towards the realization of sustainable programme results in a complex environment; Team leadership skills: able to build, develop and lead diverse, cross-functional teams of significant size, including senior level personnel.  The most critical element will be demonstrated ability to attract, develop, and retain talent through effective performance management. 

• Result orientation skills: able to create an environment of accountability focused on results, and to make difficult and risk-informed decisions when necessary. 

• Collaboration and Influencing skills: able to foster collaboration throughout the country office and field offices and leverage integrated and cross-cutting programmes.  Ability to develop positive and effective relationships and build consensus through effective communication and interpersonal skills.  

• Change leadership skills: able to create, operationalize, and optimize change initiatives that contributes to strengthen UNICEF’s presence and relevance in country and globally.  

• External representation skills: the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a track record of strategic partnering at high level. 

• Political skills: able to establish effective working relationships with a government looking for partnerships more closely aligned with their agenda and a keen interest in south-south cooperation.   

• Strategic skills: capable of standing back, analyzing evolving needs and constraints and changing tack to deliver maximum impact for children in times of change. 

• Programme Management and Leadership: 

• Experience in a range of country contexts with demonstrated ability to build the capacity of the government to develop child rights-based policies, norms, and standards, as well as to monitor service delivery at the operational level; 

• Knowledge and skills to operate in a complex programming environment and in humanitarian, conflict, post-conflict and fragile countries; 

• Strong track record in the preparedness, management and response to major emergencies and humanitarian situations, including leading recovery and longer-term development programmes with emphasis on the nexus between development/humanitarian programmes, as well as system strengthening; 

• Strong capacity in partnership/relationship building, resource mobilization, leveraging, and fundraising; 

• Ability to work closely with other UN agencies through the UNCT and the humanitarian coordination forums, providing leadership on children’s rights – particularly those affected by humanitarian crisis and prevailing inequities; 

• Capacity to raise the profile and visibility of children’s issues and to advocate and negotiate in highly sensitive/complex environment; 

• Ability to strategize, effectively lead teams and achieve results in a complex programmatic, operational, and volatile security context; in-depth understanding of integrated community-centered capacity development and human rights-based approach to programming; 

• Political savvy, tact, and capacity to ensure high level representation and advocacy.