Director, Health Programme, D-2, New York, USA

Contract

This is a D-2 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 16 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 270,944 USD and 326,557 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.

And we never give up.

For every child,

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.

UNICEF crystallized and clearly articulated its Health programme priorities towards the Sustainable Development Goals, in documents such as the Strategy for Health, 2016-2030; Health Systems Strengthening Approach, and most recently the Strategic Plan, 2022-2025. The 2018 Global Conference on Primary Health Care recommitted to strengthening primary health care (PHC) as the most inclusive, effective and efficient approach to enhance people’s physical and mental health, as well as social well-being, and that PHC is a cornerstone of a sustainable health system for universal health coverage (UHC) and health-related SDGs. UNICEF is also a signatory to the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All which brings together 12 multilateral health, development, and humanitarian agencies to better support countries to accelerate progress towards the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

These agreements and developments at the global level serve to guide UNICEF’s health programmes at country, regional and global levels.

Job organizational context

The Director, Health Programme, will provide global leadership in Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, HIV/AIDS, and Public Health Emergency. The incumbent is responsible for providing strategic vision and directing the development of policies and strategies. She/He will lead UNICEF’s global advocacy for child survival.

Purpose of the job

The incumbent of the post will lead the development of programme policies, strategies and guidance for the implementation of the health-related goals and targets in UNICEF’s strategic plan and will provide vision and strategic direction to UNICEF’s health programmes across the world. l. Working closely with WHO and other health partners, the incumbent will contribute to global efforts to achieve SDG3.

The post sits within the Programme Group and reports to the Director, Programme Group. The Director will also serve as the senior health policy advisor to the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Directors, and the Global Management Team.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Vision & Strategy • Management of people and resources • Representation & Partnership • Policy Development and Advice

1. Vision & Strategy

• Contribute meaningfully to the development of global strategies for accelerating the achievement of SDG3 – Universal Health Care. • Develop a strategic vision for UNICEF programmes in Health, HIV, and Public Health Emergency to pursue UNICEF’s mission to promote and protect child rights. • Maintain UNICEF’s position as the knowledge center on child rights, provide technical leadership in the relevant programme areas through learning, knowledge management and application of evidence to programmes at scale • Lead the improvement of the function and develop strategies to support UNICEF’s current and future Health, HIV, and PHE programme requirements and direction. • Ensure that the policies and practices of the health functional area are sufficiently comprehensive and flexible to meet accountabilities in both development and humanitarian settings.

2. Representation & Partnerships

• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with counterparts in global health programme partnerships (EWEC/H6/PMNCH, Gavi/GPEI, Global Fund, World Bank/Global Financing Facility), WHO and other UN agencies, development partners, institutions/foundations, non-governmental organizations and academia to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and resource mobilization. • Advise the Office of the Executive Director on strengthening relations with key partners through effective policy dialogue and advocacy to mobilize and leverage resources for children. • Develop and capitalize on new and emerging opportunities for resource mobilization including innovative financing and partnerships.

•Represent UNICEF in global health forums.

3. Policy Development and Advice

• Guide the development and implementation of health sector policy and strategy.

• Generate regular policy briefs to inform UNICEF leadership and field operations on the emerging evidence and new frontiers in relation to the relevant programme • Provide leadership in the development of the major policies, regulations and rules, and systems that underpin the work of the Health Programme. • Serve as the chief advisor to the senior management of the organization on policy interpretations for internal activities as well as in policy dialogue for external representational activities.

4. Management of people and resources

•Lead UNICEF’s Global Technical Team in Health.• Ensure cross-sectoral (nutrition, gender, adolescents, child protection, social policy, education, WASH) and cross-divisional (EMOPs, DHR, DAPM, Supply Division, PPD and PFP, Natcoms) programme collaboration to align and maximize UNICEF’s support to regions and countries.

Support the leadership and management of Programme Group working collaboratively with the Directors of the other Programme Teams and the Director of Programme Group. • Lead the management of the human, financial and material resources assigned to the Health Programme. • Ensure accountability and fiduciary integrity in the Health Programme’s budget execution when leading Health Programme’s strategic budget preparation exercises. • Create a unified culture to achieve common goals and objectives by motivating, coaching and supporting staff of the Health Programme. • Develop workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, learning and career management of staff. • Manages staff performance and development through regular feedback, mentoring and career planning.

The key performance indicators for Directors include leadership in strategic planning, policy development, programme implementation guidance, and management of UNICEF’s human, financial and material resources assigned to the portfolio.

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

• Credibility and technical excellence in global health • Recognized management skills in a multicultural setting, combined with ability to achieve results through motivating people and influencing partners. • Results-oriented decision-making ability with an aptitude to address operational challenges and for developing practical solutions. • Innovation mindset with risk management ability and a proven track record as a successful agent of change. • Rigorous analytical and conceptual thinking. • High sense of integrity, trust and confidence. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including the ability to set out a coherent analysis in presentations. • Strong diplomatic and communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships with clients and counterparts at the appropriate levels, • Ability to represent UNICEF in international fora.

Recruitment Qualifications

Education: An Advanced University Degree from an accredited institution in a in Public Health, Medicine or Social Sciences is required.

Experience: A minimum of 15 years of professional experience that combines intellectual and managerial leadership in an international organization or corporation is required.

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 values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (3) • Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3) • Works Collaboratively with others (3) • Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3) • Innovates and Embraces Change (3) • Thinks and Acts Strategically (3) • Drives to achieve impactful results (3) • Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

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 may also be 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.