Change Management Specialist, (P-3), TA (364 days), Post # 129719, PRIME, PFP, Geneva, Switzerland

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, a Champion

The purpose of this role is to ensure continuity in the PFP change initiatives (FPI / HQEI) by providing strategic coordination, detailed planning, and comprehensive monitoring of their implementation. Key responsibilities include fostering close collaboration with various sections within PFP and Global HQEI Project Team to ensure alignment and synergy. The role involves contributing to the development of concept notes, high-quality stakeholder communication materials such as presentation slides, briefing notes, and other documentation to effectively facilitate progress and communicate outcomes. Additionally, the role will entail identifying and addressing potential challenges, ensuring that the initiatives stay on track and meet their objectives, while maintaining a proactive approach to continuous improvement.

How can you make a difference?

PFP Future-Proof Initiative (FPI)

• Coordinate and collaborate with key stakeholders: Work closely with PFP division focal points and senior management to ensure project activities and deliverables align with strategic goals. Provide timely updates to the Transformation Team and senior leadership on progress, and promptly alert them to any potential delays or risks.
• Promote organizational alignment: Ensure change initiatives are in harmony with the organization’s vision, mission, and values, fostering a culture that embraces change.
• Coordinate and support related initiatives: Work in synergy with other PFP initiatives, such as Culture & DEI and the Global Staff Survey, to ensure cohesive efforts across programs.
• Monitor Change Management Strategy: Oversee the implementation of the change management strategy, ensuring adherence to detailed plans such as the sponsorship plan, communication and engagement plan, and learning and development plan.
• Maintain Monitoring Dashboard: Develop and update a comprehensive dashboard to track key performance indicators and project milestones.
• Collaborate on communications: Work with the Transformation Team PFP Internal Communications to align key messages, draft talking points, create slide decks, and prepare for PFP All Staff meetings.
• Support staff engagement: Assist PFP Internal Communications with staff engagement activities related to the FPI.
• Organize and facilitate meetings: Plan and manage regular Transformation Team and ad-hoc meetings to ensure efficient project coordination.
• Provide input related to FPI: Participate in related meetings and contribute to reviews and discussions.
• Maintain documentation: Keep change process documentation current and ensure key documents are archived on the SharePoint site.
• Contribute to PFP Office Management Plan (OMP) formulation: Ensuring FPI inputs are taken into account on the PFP strategic planning documents.
• Support other related activities as requested.

PFP HQEI: Relocation support

• Coordinate pre-relocation activities and action points: Support the pre-relocation process by coordinating with various stakeholders, including PFP HR, PFP Operations & Finance, PFP National Committees Relations, the Public Partnerships Division (PPD), the Legal Office, and the Global HQEI Project Team.
• Develop communication materials: Create internal and external communication and information products such as letters to government counterparts, pitching documents, analysis, and briefing notes.
• Monitor progress and risks: Identify necessary actions, sequence them appropriately, and monitor progress. Alert the Transformation Team Lead and senior management of any delays or risks.
• Enhance staff communication: Collaborate with PFP Internal Communications to maintain effective staff communication, providing necessary inputs and updates.
• Organize and facilitate meetings: Plan and manage regular meetings with the Geneva Staff Association and other ad-hoc meetings to address relocation-related concerns.
• Ensure document management: Archive key documents on the SharePoint site and keep documentation up to date.
• Support other related activities as requested.

DELIVERABLES:

Daily/weekly: Update project status and risks to Transformation Team, monitor change management plans, and keep the action log current. Address urgent coordination issues and ensure meetings are scheduled and materials are prepared. Review, develop and refine communication materials e.g., relocation pitching document, emails, concept notes, workshop planning, SharePoint sites, etc.

Quarterly: Update monitoring dashboard and provide input on Global HQEI Implementation Plan.

As needed: Provide inputs for documents related to FPI and HQEI.

Estimated Duration of the contract

• 364 days

Reporting To:

• Chief Strategic Planning, PRIME, PFP

Working Place:

• Geneva, Switzerland

To qualify as a Champion for every child you will have…

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social/organizational psychology, social sciences, international development, and other related disciplines.
• Alternatively, a first-level university degree in a relevant field combined with (2) additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in change management and/or social/ organizational psychology within a large organization.
• Certification in change management is an asset.
• Experience supporting organizational change required.
• UN/UNICEF experience is an asset.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is 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…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1) are required.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: our competency framework. 

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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, 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.

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.

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.