Child Protection Manager, P4, Abuja, Nigeria - Fixed Term (Nigerian Nationals Not Eligible to Apply)

Overview

Manage child protection programs to support children's rights and welfare

You have:

• An advanced university degree in social work, international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law or other social science field, including law is required.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels related to multisectoral violence prevention and response programming and social welfare services.
• Relevant experience in child protection and related areas, programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Demonstrated strong communication, presentation and writing skills, including report writing, oral presentations and development of technical documents is essential.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of issues related to violence against children, social service workforce strengthening, advancing justice for children systems strengthening, and gender are essential.

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 90,970 USD and 117,287 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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. Working closely with the Federal Government of Nigeria, United Nations agencies, civil society, the private sector and communities, UNICEF Nigeria Country Office aims to sustain results achieved for children and strive to further improve policies, national institutions and programmes, for the well-being of every child in Nigeria.

And we never give up.

For every child, protection

How can you make a difference?

The Child Protection Manager at Level 4 will be based in Abuja in the UNICEF Nigeria Country Office (NCO) where the Child Protection Programme is a full component of the Country Programme. The Child Protection Manger reports to the Chief Child Protection who is at Level 5 and will supervise three Child Protection Specialists at NOC Level and one GS staff. The incumbent will serve as Officer in Charge (OiC) for the Chief of Child Protection.

The Child Protection Manager at Level 4 will be based in Abuja in the UNICEF Nigeria Country Office (NCO) where the Child Protection Programme is a full component of the Country Programme. The Child Protection Manager reports to the Chief Child Protection who is at Level 5 and will supervise three Child Protection Specialists at NOC Level, consultants, and one GS staff. The incumbent will serve as Officer in Charge (OiC) for the Chief of Child Protection.

The Child protection Manager works in close collaboration with other sections within NCO, with the UNICEF Regional Office (WCARO) other UN agencies, Government Partners, NGOs, research institutions, donors and networks to promote the prevention and response to violence and strengthen the social welfare and justice system, including strengthened capacities to deliver a decentralised birth registration and to increase demand for it with focus on children under 1 year of age, as part of a civil registration and vital statistics system in all settings, and to help ensure the programme is aligned to the UNICEF Nigeria 2023-2027 country programme and results framework, UNICEF global strategic plan and social welfare strengthening (including a key focus on strengthening the social service workforce and scaling an integrated case management for vulnerable children and their families), the UNICEF, other relevant international guidance on VAC and social welfare (i.e. INSPIRE and UN welcomed Guidelines on Alternative Care for Children etc.), and UNICEF’s agenda on access to justice for children and aligned with UNICEF Child Protection Strategy (2021–2030) and Strategic Plan (2022–2025) which provide the strategic framework for UNICEF’s child protection programming globally, including the UN Legal Identity Agenda (UNLIA) and the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs).

The position includes frequent travel across all the geo-political states of Nigeria

Purpose of the job: The Child Protection Specialist reports to the Chief Child Protection for general guidance and direction.

The Child Protection Manger is responsible for technical support, operational guidance, implementation and quality assurance of all projects/programmes under the UNICEF NCO child protection programme with specific attention to strengthening social welfare and justice sectors at all levels, and better able to deliver quality and gender-transformative child protection prevention and response services, as well as, contributing to the strengthening capacities of the social service workforce and creating stronger legal and policy frameworks, systems and institutions. In addition, the incumbent will oversee the scaling up of birth registration services, including the strengthening of capacities of National Population Commission, the allied ministries, agencies, and Local Government Areas structures, to deliver a decentralised birth registration and to increase demand for it with focus on children under 1 year of age, as part of a civil registration and vital statistics system in all settings.

The incumbent will further work towards strengthening multisectoral and coordinated systems building approaches - linking the development with the humanitarian context.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Child protection, the Child Protection Manager will significantly contribute towards improving and strengthening the child protection programme Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework and system, designing the implementation of a cost-effective, innovative robust MEAL system.

The Manager also contributes to the achievement of concrete and sustainable programme/project results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework

The Manager contributes to achievement of concrete and sustainable programs/projects results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Management and advisory support to the Chief
2. Program development and planning
3. Program management, monitoring and quality control of results
4. Advisory services and technical support
5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

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

Education: An advanced university degree in social work, international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law or other social science field, including law is required.

Specialised training in social service work is an asset.

Experience: A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels related to multisectoral violence prevention and response programming and social welfare services, strengthening justice for children system and accelerating birth registration some of which were served in a developing country is required.

Relevant experience in child protection and related areas, programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset. Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.

Demonstrated strong communication, presentation and writing skills, including report writing, oral presentations and development of technical documents is essential.

Demonstrated experience and knowledge of the latest developments and issues related to violence against children, social service workforce strengthening, advancing justice for children systems strengthening, and gender are essential.

A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection and/other related areas at the international level some of which preferably were served in a developing country is required. Relevant experience in child protection and related areas, program/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset. Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language 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

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 other (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.

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:

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is:a role with direct contact with children, works directly with children, is a safeguarding response role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) applies.

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.

Potential interview questions