Emergency Specialist (Humanitarian Research), P-4, Fixed-Term, Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS), NYHQ, USA

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 171,387 USD and 220,969 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, Hope

For its emergency responses across the board, from acute to protracted crises, and for increasing numbers of people at risk of disaster, UNICEF recognizes the need to strengthen its evidence more systematically to better inform its decision making for emergency preparedness and humanitarian action. Increasing amounts of data require more analysis and better coordination and knowledge management. Generating more in-depth evidence, such as driven by monitoring and evaluation, local communities and focused research and analysis, will benefit humanitarian learning and increase the opportunities for innovation.

The Humanitarian Evidence and Learning Section (HELS) was established within the Division of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) with the aim to contribute directly to preparing, saving and protecting more lives and livelihoods of children and their families through better, and better available, evidence and learning in support of emergency programmes. It will approach this in support of and coordination with field, country and regional offices, as well as other divisions across UNICEF.

How can you make a difference?

The objective of the position is to identify and seize upon opportunities to optimize UNICEF, interagency and the larger aid community’s humanitarian performance through operational research linked to emergency programme innovation, planning and financing. The role will cultivate research in support of global advocacy for improved financing of humanitarian action as measured through improved programme quality, and reduced cost, time and carbon savings. The position is tasked with developing solutions, system-wide and collaborative and notably focused on situations of fragility, to make humanitarian action more sustainable, faster, greener and more cost-effective. The work portfolio will include but will not be limited to:

• Thought leadership on strategies for effectiveness and efficiency in humanitarian action.
• Management of innovative finance approaches for humanitarian action.
• Advisory support to UNICEF’s humanitarian innovation portfolio.
• Agenda shaping for UNICEF humanitarian research priorities.
• Development of partnerships, frameworks and tools for all of the above.
• Fundraising and advocacy support for all of the above.

Key Functions, Accountabilities and Related Duties/Tasks

The incumbent build upon the existing work portfolio, including:

1. Fundraising, roll out and management of an EMOPS capital investment fund dedicated to sustainable programming.
2. Selective operational research in support of effectiveness, efficiency and humanitarian/development nexus transition programming.
3. Oversight of UNICEF’s humanitarian innovation strategy and priorities.
4. Support to humanitarian research initiatives in collaboration with PG, Innocenti/Global Office of Research & Foresight, and the Office of Innovation. Current initiatives include Health implementation research and Public financing research.

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

1. Education

Advanced University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines. Preferably a combination of management, administration, and relevant technical fields.

2. Work Experience

Eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and administration.

Experience required in:

• Development of business cases to improve operational performance related to development and/or humanitarian programmes.
• Cost/benefit analysis, financial modelling, return on investment analysis, risk modeling and data visualization.
• Research design and project management.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills adjusted to a variety of audiences, including presentations and written materials.

• Management of complex, multi-stakeholder processes

  Advanced knowledge required of:

• The interagency humanitarian system, UNICEF humanitarian action, performance management systems and results frameworks.

• The aid funding landscape, policy debates related to humanitarian/ development aid systems, public finance (social spending and public budgets), the role of IFIs in the aid system, etc.
• Innovative financing instruments.

Other requirements:

• Experience in management consulting is a plus.
• Familiarity with carbon foot-print calculation methodologies, renewable energy technologies.

3. Language

Fluency in English, proficiency in French a/o Arabic preferred.

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.

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.

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.