Planning Officer (P-2), PG Health – Director’s Office, New York HQ (Temporary appointment 364day) #00128481

The Office Management Plan for the Health Programme aligns with the organizational Strategic Plan and the various global commitments and partnerships that UNICEF is part of. The Health Programme comprises of MNCAH, HIV, Immunization and HEPR Sections. This post is located in the Office of the Director, Health who provides overall strategic leadership to the Health programme.

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, … good health,

The Office Management Plan for the Health Programme aligns with the organizational Strategic Plan and the various global commitments and partnerships that UNICEF is part of. The Health Programme comprises of MNCAH, HIV, Immunization and HEPR Sections. This post is located in the Office of the Director, Health who provides overall strategic leadership to the Health programme.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the supervisor, provide professional technical assistance and support for programme coordination, planning and management of health programme activities and engagements, in support of programme goals and objectives. The post supports effective coordination with the offices of Regional Directors, Divisional Directors and senior government officials and partners and follow-up to OED senior management requests to the Health programme.

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

Support to office priority setting and decision making

• Assist in managing the flow of information to the Director, in identifying priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the Director and in proposing actions; analyze supporting documentation and summarize most relevant points for the Director; contribute to ensuring that appropriate action is taken by responsible section/office on matters brought to the attention of the Director.
• Confer with section/office Heads to secure timely and authoritative information relevant to matters requiring action, decisions or approval of the Director.
• Ensure that the Director is prepared for meetings and missions by drafting talking points and by researching relevant information; and by establishing contacts (within and outside UNICEF) on the subject matters to be discussed.
• Accompany the Director to meetings and on missions in order to prepare notes on the discussions, ensure follow-up in matters raised, and support the supervisor with any relevant input.
• Contribute to coordinating drafts of position papers and other documents relevant to the activities of the office.
• Ensure that high-level visitors are appropriately addressed, that they receive background information as  necessary, and that protocol is respected.
• Track and manage OED requests. Develop and maintain a monitoring system to store, retrieve and track critical correspondence, decisions, memoranda and other documents of the office.

Support to office planning and operations

• Research, collect and synthesize qualitative and quantitative information and data to support the establishment of comprehensive and evidence-based information for developing annual work-plans.
• Collect, draft and/or organize materials and related documentations for office strategies to ensure optimum impact, scale and sustainability of achievements/results.
• Assess and/or recommend appropriate information and materials for office initiatives verifying accuracy and quality for dissemination.
• Assist Associate Officer, Planning and Partnerships, in coordinating the sections in Health Programme in year-around planning, reporting, and monitoring activities.
• Ensure proper documentation, archiving, and distribution of office coordination materials (such as, JDs, Organogram, floor plan, etc.) via SharePoint and updating materials regularly.

Support to events, meetings, and conferences

• Prepares, distributes and maintains the Global Health Calendar ensuring key organisational and partner events, priorities and deadlines are reflected and updated as required.
• Contribute to preparations of logistics for events involving senior management participation. By participating in such meetings, follow up on the implementation of recommendations and actions by the relevant offices.
• Coordinate preparation of background documents and material for these meetings.

The following minimum requirements:

• A university degree is required in International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, and/or related field is required.
• A minimum of two (2) years of professional work experience at professional work experience in external relations, public affairs or international development cooperation, preferably within the UN, or in a government institution, NGO is required.
• Prior experience of working in coordination, planning, or in an executive office will be an asset.
• Ability to work with minimal daily supervision and exercise sound judgment in meeting deadlines.
• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and 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…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others

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 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.

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.