Chief of Field Office

Under the guidance of the Chief Of Field Operations, accountable to lead the de-centralized office in Kharkiv and provide strategic leadership and oversight for all UNICEF programmatic interventions in the Kharkiv and Sumy Oblasts ( with potential expansion to cover other Oblasts)  This includes ensuring effective design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of programmes aligned with UNICEF’s Ukraine Humanitarian Action for Children and Annual Work Plan in addition to the leadership of Field Office team ensuring the delivery of quality results in accordance with the Country Programme Document and Country Programme Management Plan, focussed on achievement of UNICEF’s Priorities.

• Knowledge Management for Programmes
• Development and management of emergency, nexus and recovery programming
• Programme funds optimally used.
• Programme Monitoring and Evaluations
• Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration
• Effective management of programme and operations staff

Knowledge Management for Programmes: 

• Establishing a robust knowledge management system for UNICEF’s Kharkiv field office programmes with primary objective to leverage knowledge sharing and best practices to enhance programme quality and maximize impact on the lives of children and families affected by the crisis.
• Develop and implement a knowledge management strategy specifically tailored to the Kharkiv field office and its programmatic interventions.
• In coordination with Field Coordinator and PMR team, establish mechanisms for capturing, documenting, and disseminating programme knowledge, including lessons learned, best practices, innovative approaches and facilitate knowledge sharing
• Utilize knowledge management tools and technologies to effectively store, access, and analyze programme data and information.
• Integrate knowledge sharing into programme monitoring and evaluation processes to identify areas for improvement and inform future programme design.
• Analyze programme data, monitoring results, AAP feedback and reports to identify trends, successes, and areas for improvement, ensuring knowledge informs programme decision-making and resource allocation.
• Prepare knowledge products such as case studies, best practice guides, and knowledge briefs for dissemination to internal and external audiences.
• Contribute to the development of advocacy materials highlighting the impact of UNICEF’s programmes on children in Kharkiv AOR.

Development and management of emergency, nexus and recovery programming:

• Ensuring UNICEF’s nexus programming reach the most vulnerable children in priority Hromodas (municipalities) across Kharkiv and Sumy Oblasts impacted by the crisis including a) leading the transition to and roll out of recovery programming in relevant areas and b) leading the on-going emergency preparedness and response by
• Conduct thorough needs assessments in collaboration with government partners and local NGOs to identify the most critical needs of children in priority Hromods.
• Design and develop high-quality, evidence-based programmes that address the specific vulnerabilities and needs of children in these areas.
• Oversee the implementation of programmes, ensuring adherence to UNICEF’s humanitarian programming principles and best practices.
• Lead a team of Programme Managers, specialists and officers to deliver effective programme interventions across diverse sectors, potentially including child protection, education, health, and WASH.
• Foster strong partnerships with local NGOs and Oblast counterparts to ensure programmes are context-specific and culturally appropriate.
• Monitor and evaluate programme effectiveness, utilizing data to demonstrate impact and identify areas for improvement.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, actively seeking innovative approaches to scale up successful programmes and maximize reach.
• Play a key role in assuring high visibility for UNICEF programmes to support securing funding and resources to sustain and expand high-quality programmes.
• Lead the transition to and roll out of UNICEF recovery programmes in relevant areas in Kharkiv and Sumy Oblasts by:
• Align the direction for recovery programmes in Kharkiv Oblast with UNICEF’s goals and the specific needs of the recovery-focused areas.
• Design and implement recovery programmes in Kharkiv across various sectors like education, health, child protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
• Building strong partnerships with local governments, NGOs, and community organizations to ensure coordinated, effective and sustained recovery efforts.
• Advocating for the needs of children in recovery-focused areas and communicating programme achievements to donors, stakeholders, and the public.
• Lead UNICEF’s on-going emergency preparedness and response with a particular focus on frontline areas by:
• Develop and maintain comprehensive emergency preparedness plans, contingency programme documents and prepositioned stock for the three focus regions, anticipating potential emergencies and ensuring a rapid response.
• Upon the outbreak of an emergency, assume leadership of the UNICEF emergency response in the affected area. This includes mobilizing resources, coordinating with government, NGOs, and UN agencies, and deploying rapid response teams to deliver essential services.
• Conduct swift and accurate needs assessments to identify the most critical needs of children and families impacted by the emergency and at front line areas.
• Lead the design and implementation of emergency response programmes across various sectors, potentially including child protection, education, health, WASH, and nutrition.
• Advocate for the needs of children affected by the emergency and communicate programme progress to donors, stakeholders, and the public.

Optimum Use of Programme Funds:

• Ensuring programme funds are utilized effectively and in strict accordance with donor conditions including:
• Thoroughly review and understand donor agreements, including specific funding allocations, eligibility criteria, reporting requirements, and timelines.
• Develop detailed programme budgets aligned with UNICEF Annual Work Plan (AWP) donor agreements and programme objectives. Allocate resources efficiently to maximize impact within budgetary constraints.
• Implement robust financial tracking systems to monitor expenditure against budgets and donor requirements. Maintain accurate and detailed financial records for audit purposes.
• Prepare comprehensive reports for donors, outlining programme activities, progress made, and adherence to agreed-upon conditions. Ensure timely submission of reports as per donor requirements.
• Constantly evaluate program activities to identify opportunities for cost savings without compromising programme quality.
• Play a role in identifying and securing additional funding to support programme activities. This may involve developing compelling funding proposals aligned with donor priorities and ensuring programme alignment with potential funders’ interests.

Programme Monitoring and Evaluations:

Commitment to rigorous monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to ensure UNICEF’s programmes in eastern Ukraine are delivering the intended results for children, including:

• Collaborate with programme teams to design and implement robust M&E frameworks for each programme intervention. This will involve defining clear objectives, indicators, and data collection methods.
• Lead the process of collecting high-quality data through various methods, such as surveys, focus group discussions, and program monitoring reports. You’ll also ensure accurate data analysis to identify trends and program effectiveness.
• Prepare comprehensive M&E reports that clearly communicate programme progress, achievements, and challenges. These reports will be used to inform program decision-making, resource allocation, and future program design.
• Champion a culture of M&E within the team, fostering the importance of data-driven decision making and continuous program improvement. This might involve conducting M&E training sessions and workshops for programme staff.
• By analyzing M&E and AAP data, identify areas where programmes can be improved to better address the needs of children. These findings will inform programme adaptations and ensure UNICEF interventions remain relevant and impactful throughout the humanitarian response.

Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration:

• Build strong and collaborative partnerships to maximize UNICEF’s impact in eastern Ukraine including:
• Strengthen the capacity of national NGOs operating in the region through capacity building initiatives, knowledge sharing, and technical support,
• Actively support local government authorities in Kharkiv and Sumy Oblasts to improve their response capacity and service delivery for children. This may involve workshops, training programs, and resource sharing to enhance their effectiveness.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Oblast and hromadas authorities through regular communication, collaboration, and information sharing to ensure a coordinated response that addresses the specific needs of each area.
• Maintain UNICEF’s leadership position within the broader humanitarian community. This involves actively engaging with sister UN agencies, ensuring clear lines of communication, and advocating for UNICEF’s priorities.
• Build strong partnerships extends to all key humanitarian actors on the ground fostering collaboration with NGOs, INGOs, and other relevant stakeholders to develop a unified and effective response strategy.

Effective management of programme and operation staff:

• Provide clear direction and expectations for program and operation staff, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s goals and programme objectives.
• Empower staff members to take ownership of their roles and encourage initiative.
• Offer constructive feedback and performance management to help staff excel and achieve programme results.
• Recognize and celebrate team accomplishments to maintain motivation and morale.
• Create a supportive and positive work environment that prioritizes staff well-being. This might involve promoting work-life balance, offering stress management resources, and fostering open communication.
• Implement strategies to address mental health and psychosocial support needs, recognizing the potential impact of working in a crisis environment.
• Encourage professional development opportunities, such as conferences and online courses, to enhance staff expertise.
• Promote knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning within the team.
• Provide mentorship opportunities to support the professional growth of junior staff members.

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

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or another relevant technical field.

Experience:

• Eight years of relevant professional work experience is required.
• Strong program development experience is a must
• Experience working in a developing country and humanitarian context is considered as an asset.
• Background/familiarity with emergency is considered as an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

Source:  https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/571147