Chief, Sustainable Markets Center (SMC) – P5  

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, Kindness

Organizational Context and Purpose of the Job

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does ? in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life ? in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions ? her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens ? addressing inequity ? not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Strategic Office context

UNICEF recognizes that closing gaps in progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals so that no child or community is left behind requires equitable access to essential supplies and services for all children, including those who live in countries with special development situations, such as landlocked countries and Small Island Developing States. In collaboration with industry, Governments and partners, UNICEF works to create a global public good for children through its global leadership in market influencing, strategic procurement, global logistics and last-mile delivery, innovative financing to expand government fiscal space, health system strengthening and product innovation.

Recognizing fragility as one of the most significant challenges to children’s rights, UNICEF will make systems strengthening to leave no one behind a priority strategy. This will entail strengthening the components, functioning, responsiveness and accountability of systems, by ensuring access to timely, quality essential services and supplies, without discrimination. Priorities will include strengthening primary health-care systems to reach more children and families, especially in fragile settings; building countries’ capacities to operate effective supply chains, including budgeting for preparedness to mitigate health-system shocks from emerging diseases; promoting a whole-of-society approach to pandemic and epidemic preparedness.

In 2023 UNICEF in collaboration with governments and partners, procured $ 5.2 billion in supplies and services for children in 162 countries and areas.

The Sustainable Markets Centre (SMC):

• Advances UNICEF’s market influencing agenda across the portfolio of programme and emergency supplies in order to fulfil UNICEF’s programmatic commitments by coordinating efforts within SD and external partners.
• Influences global and local markets by breaking down the market barriers that currently inhibit access to essential and strategic supplies and services.
• Devises market shaping frameworks, policies and strategies based on rigorous market research and analyses.
• Increases market information transparency through the creation and curation of market intelligence through market communications.
• Designs and deploys targeted financing and special contracting structures to unlock improved market outcomes.
• Support procurement centres in developing strategies that promote diversification of sourcing with a focus on expansion of local production especially on the African continent.
• Executes bespoke innovative procurement exercises for and on behalf of UNICEF innovation programmes and manages LTAs for external market research and intelligence capacity.
• Facilitates targeted access to capital for suppliers in programme countries.
• Leads UNICEF Supply Division’s approach to sustainability through management and execution of the division-wide roadmap.

How can you make a difference? 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Effective leadership and managerial guidance and coordination provided to ensure the achievement of goals.
• Manage a team of experts to develop strategies that drive UNICEF’s work to positively influence sustainability of key supply markets (in terms of their environmental, social and economic footprints) and improve and sustain access to essential supplies and services.
• Lead the development of and provide advice to management on commercial terms relating to improved market dynamics (e.g., price, competition, etc.) including as an input to procurement strategies and special contracts for key products, with health products as a priority.
• Support internal and external work on Innovative Financing mechanisms with the objective of helping improve operational timeliness and/or market dynamics.
• Perform commercial and market analysis for key markets and lead internal review to inform strategic market shaping interventions.
• Participate in high level meetings and think-tanks on market dynamics issues including with suppliers and partners.
• Lead effective advocacy, communication and networking achieved through partnership and collaboration, publication, knowledge leadership and transparency of information on strategic themes, markets, products and services as a public good.
• Lead engagement with key partners on market dynamic and sustainability issues including the World Bank, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GAVI, GFATM, UNITAID, MSF, US Fund for UNICEF, and others.

 Impact of Results:

• Effective leadership, managerial guidance and coordination provided to ensure the achievement of UNICEF’s market influencing goals.
• UNICEF’s work in market influence strengthened by effective knowledge management and system.
• Achievement of improved access to key essential supplies, including by UNICEF and Governments
• Achievement of value-for-money for key essential supplies, including cost avoidance, price decreases and/or reduced total cost of ownerships.
• Establishment of a network of key partners and efficient and effective engagement to pursue common goals specific to key supply markets, including industry-specific forums on local production, sustainability and geographic diversity in support of healthy markets.
• Establishment and use of relevant innovative financing mechanisms and tools to contribute to improved supply markets and value for money.
• Effective advocacy, communication and networking through thought partnerships and strategic collaboration to advance UNICEF’s role as thought leader in strategic markets.

Other technical skills:

• Market analysis
• Sustainability
• Innovative Financing
• Key Health, Education, WASH & Nutrition products and services

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

Advanced University Degree, preferably in Development Economics, Economics, Sustainable Development, Business or related field.

*A First University Degree with two additional relevant years of experience in market influencing and shaping may be considered in lieu of Advanced University Degree.

Work Experience:

Ten years of relevant professional work experience including with market influencing and shaping, sustainability, health economics, and product and service categories relevant to UNICEF’s Strategic Plan

Experience in market development, sustainability, innovative finance to promote access to essential products and services in developing countries, and general business acumen related to market analysis, pricing and/or commercial issues relating to sustainable products and services for children in the public or private sector, as well as ability to work on quantitative analytic approaches in products and markets, with a proven track record of applying this to shape development outcomes and inform decision making

Proven experience in managing a multi-disciplinary team of diverse professionals in a dynamic multinational environment

Other Technical Skills:

• Market analysis
• Sustainability
• Innovative Financing
• Key Health, Education, WASH & Nutrition products and services.

Languages:

Fluency in English required. Knowledge of another UN language (i.e, 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 (III)

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (III)

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (III)

(4) Innovates and embraces change (III)

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (III)

(6) Thinks and acts strategically (III)

(7) Works collaboratively with others (III)

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people (II)

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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and all suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

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.

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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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

• Application preparation: Before you apply for this position: Improve your application documents by registering for a Job Application Support. Our coaches are here to help tailor your application to the requirements of the job (service provided at your own cost).
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