UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, a connected world
The overarching strategic goal of UNICEF’s Information and Communication Technology Division (ICTD) is to transform and build partnerships with our stakeholders to successfully implement UNICEF programmes globally through innovative technology-enabled solutions.
UNICEF is going through an exciting digital transformation that will influence the work across the organization. We are looking for dynamic, innovative professionals to drive the transformation and play a key role in shaping the way forward.
The Operations function reports to the Deputy Director (Strategy, Risk management & Governance – SRG) and supports the Chief Information Officer (CIO), on managing the office and monitoring operations and ICT programs as needed, while providing advice on best and innovative management practices to enhance office performance. The function is a strategic Business Partner role within the Senior Management team, assuring the best use of UNICEF assets in alignment with sound management practices, office priorities and goals to deliver results for children.
How can you make a difference?
As a Strategic Business Partner and Deputy for the Deputy Director of Strategy, Risk and Governance, the incumbent will be responsible to lead for results, drive change, provide risk informed, solution-focused analysis, advice and services and contribute to ICT programs and management decisions for delivering results for children in all operational contexts. Strategic Operations will accomplish this by:
• Leading by example and supporting the CIO and Deputy Director, SRG, on managing the office;
• Acting as Officer in Charge in the absence of the Deputy Director, SRG;
• Managing services in the functional areas of operations support: budget, financial management and reporting, facilities management, administration, procurement, human resources, and safety and security and convening the other functions to arrive at a unified vision;
• Ensuring processes are in place to identify, promote and empower the potential in staff through career development, opportunities for stretch assignments and succession planning;
• Developing and supporting ICT specific budget and financial frameworks, processes and tool to
• Acting as member of the ICTD Senior Management Teams, representing the organizational risk, governance systems and policies perspective in management discussions, and promoting results-based management.
• Understanding business needs for the ICT function, to anticipate challenges, propose viable solutions, provide creative and innovative ideas aimed at a solution- focused approach to include value for money strategies, all underpinned by quality assurance measures;
• Providing key contribution to OMP and Strategic Plan and support to Results Based Management and implementation using Value for Money criteria;
• Leveraging technology for results and IT program accountabilities, , making effective adoption of tools and promoting the fundamentals of ICT management, information security and controls;
• Supporting the office during external and internal audit reviews and responding to audit observations and monitoring implementation of recommendations.;
• Guiding procurement strategies and interventions to meet divisional needs while ensuring Value for Money (VfM), including fit for purpose products and services, and ensuring systems of record
• Leveraging governance, systems, and tools to provide regular feedback on risks and achievements of operations functions ;
• Leading and coordinating (together with local common premises arrangements) on facility management with a specific focus on inclusive accessibility, eco sustainability and common premises opportunities;
• Overseeing business transactions processed by GSSC from a perspective of Efficiency, Performance, Risk Management and Fraud prevention;
The Chief of Operations will be entrusted with the following five pillars, the core focus of all operations functions: Valuing People, Valuing Money, Valuing Risk Management, Valuing Systems and Structures, Valuing Partners.
Valuing People: Lead, manage and develop people resources to promote technical competence and foster career progression and retention of a “fit for purpose”/ agile workforce
• Promote an environment of management excellence, staff well-being and accessibility and inclusion through implementation of strategies, policies, procedures.
• Provide proactive solutions and expert advice to senior management on people management and office culture.
• Foster operations behaviors that focus on delivering results for children, whilst balancing risk informed decisions, policy compliance and flexibility through which partners’ needs are reliably addressed, to create an avenue for the greatest results.
• Coordinate the human resource development and resourcing strategies to bring about changes in knowledge, skills, abilities and mind sets for Operations staff.
• Keep abreast of industry standards in management and finance. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned with global/regional colleagues to contribute to organizational development initiatives to strengthen management and operations.
• Promote and support Excellence in Operations by refining the evolving profession in UNICEF derived from the five strategic pillars.
Valuing Money: Champion strategic resources to achieve organizational goals and ensure Value for Money (VfM)
• Optimize identification and use of resources in various concrete Value for Money (VfM) areas, including eco-efficiency and inclusivity, common premises, costing, results-based budgeting financial monitoring etc.
• Educate Business Units on their role in generating and reporting on VfM with the goal of strategically expanding its use to major UNICEF functions.
• Lead the financial oversight management, monitoring and reporting of all the country programme budget – and where applicable private sector fundraising budgets; make analysis and recommendations for CIO and Deputy Director SRG, to take risk informed decisions.
• Advise and lead in the valuing of resources through programme financing modalities such as budgeting and pre-financing modalities for products and services
• Developing and supporting ICT specific budget and financial frameworks, processes and tools that allows UNICEF to budget, fund and operate digital solutions and services
• Oversee procurement outcome results and stay abreast of and promote the global strategies and their implementation.
Valuing Risk Management: Enhance Risk Management to increase organizational performance and strengthen internal control
• Ensure the office is equipped with the right skills and tools and up-to-date information to make operational and programmatic risk informed decisions and improve performance, with the support of the enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (eGRC) platform.
• Maintain UNICEF organizational resilience and enhance staff safety and security by ensuring operational disaster risks address threats through well-formulated and tested business continuity plans, and Emergency Preparedness and Response
• Review internal controls and policies/guidance included in the Regulatory Framework, provide oversight of appropriate implementation of policies and procedures and provide feedback on policy and internal controls as appropriate.
• Identify and implement mandatory anti-fraud systems, processes and actions, and share anti-fraud achievements within the country offices.
• Facilitate mitigation of risks of engagement with external partners via appropriate, risk-informed due diligence.
Valuing Systems and Structures: Ensure further operational centralization and optimization for maximized efficiency gains
• Review and develop key ICT specific Operations processes to minimize cost, simplify work processes and maximize efficiencies while creating an environment of smarter controls to render the organization agile, resilient and ready to respond to programme needs.
• Review and develops systems to perform budget forecasting and analytics related to Technology Business Management
• Facilitate compliance with systems by building awareness and capacity of users explore new ways of working – including in the context of SG Reform – and continuously improve IT-enabled business processes to increase productivity and collaboration, better knowledge management, and ensure effective use of UNICEF assets.
• Provide key contribution to OMP and review operational structures in collaboration with the Strategic Business Support unit in DFAM.
Valuing Partners: Strengthening internal and external-facing partnerships and leveraging UNICEF’s oversight and understanding of financial management across all areas of the office.
• Provide technical expertise and recommendations on ICTD strategy implementation, including, advice approach to undertaking spot checks, follow-up actions required on result of financial assurance activities; the use and collaboration with the Supreme Audit Institution; and use of micro-assessment results including the appropriate level of capacity building in financial management.
• Partner with business divisions by providing advice and recommendations on ICT budgeting and support the financial forecasting and impact analysis
• Support ICTDs resource mobilization partners from donor negotiation and formulation of partnership agreements and contracts through written financial reporting, resolve discrepancies and ensure donor accountability and transparency.
• Foster a positive and enabling operations environment that supports solution-focused engagement (where applicable).
• Engage as effective stakeholders in the UN Reform, supporting Business Operating Services (BOS) and proactively paving the way for a potential “one back office” in country offices.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Academic Degrees:
- An Advanced University Degree (Master’s and above) in one of the following areas: Business management; Financial management; Accounting; Public Finance; and related operations function (Supply Chain, Human Resources, Information Technology, International Business, Project management, etc.) or a full professional accounting designation (CA, ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CPFA, Expert Comptable) from an internationally recognized institute/body of accountancy with valid membership in good standing is required.
Required Experience:
- A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in at the national and international level, specifically in advocating and implementing strategic organizational initiatives in one or more operations management area including budget; financial management and reporting; facilities management; supply and logistics management; information and communication technology; human resources.
- Experience in Results Based Management is a requirement.
- Previous hands-on experience in strategic and managerial leadership is required.
- High Digital Skill level in financial analytical modelling and forecasting
Desirable:
- Prior Experience in Enterprise ICT Financial and Budget management / forecasting would be a strong asset
- Prior experience in the development sector or UN system/ international NGOs would be an asset.
- Additional experience in one or more of the following areas, would be desired:
• Audit and investigations
• Safety and security
• Grant Management
• Enterprise Risk Management
- Experience in a UN system agency, large private or public company, or experience working in a developing country and/or humanitarian/ emergency context is an asset.
- Experience in working with corporate ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) and IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) is highly desirable.
- Experience in managing successful client-oriented work units is an asset.
- Experience in co-creating policy is desirable.
- Prior experience working with diverse stakeholder groups or multi-stakeholder partnership is highly desirable.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) 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
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
During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.
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 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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.
Remarks:
UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.