Evaluation Specialist, P4-Temporary Assignment, New York, USA ( January to August 2022)

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, evaluate:

The Evaluation Office, at UNICEF HQ in New York, provides global leadership and oversight for the evaluation function. As such the office is responsible for developing an agenda and work plan to evaluate UNICEF's programmes and processes. We conduct and/or manage independent, corporate evaluations and evaluation syntheses, provide technical assistance and quality assurance for evaluations commissioned at the decentralized level (country and regional offices, as well as other divisions in HQ offices), and develop evaluation methods. Evaluation Office is also responsible for publishing a global evaluation plan that accompanies respective corporate strategies.

We are seeking an international Evaluation Specialist to support the Evaluation Office, in developing relevant methodology for the evaluation, and assisting with evaluation and contract management under the guidance of the Senior Evaluation Specialist, Strategic Plan goal areas 2&5.

How can you make a difference?

The overall purpose of this temporary Evaluation Specialist assignment is will be to manage a series of evaluations of UNICEF’s work within Goal Areas 2 and 5 of the Strategic Plan 2022-2025, as part of the Plan for Global Evaluations 2022-2025.

Toward this end, the Evaluation Specialist, under the supervision and guidance of the Senior Evaluation Specialist for Goal Areas 2 and 5, will manage all aspects of the evaluations under her or his responsibility. S/He prepare a series of preparatory desk reviews, search for relevant documentation, draft terms of reference, define appropriate methodological approaches, and manage evaluation teams and quality-assure their draft deliverables.

This assignment will entail a need for strong collaboration with the Evaluation Office, other key stakeholders within and outside of UNICEF, and selected consultants and consulting teams.

The Evaluation Specialist will be specifically responsible for accomplishing the following tasks in a timely manner and at a high degree of quality, credibility and utility:

• Undertake preparatory desk reviews and search for data sources relevant to the evaluations and provide supplementary analysis as requested, and guide the evaluation methodology;
• Define evaluation needs and draft and finalize relevant terms of reference for evaluations, including programmatic theories of change (if not already available), scope, methods, and overall approaches;
• Assist the identification of key stakeholders to be interviewed by the evaluation team and key documents to be included in desk reviews;
• Assist in identifying key issues for further investigation during the evaluation process;
• Provide documentation on the key UNICEF interventions in as required by the evaluation;
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders on the evaluation;
• Contribute to data collection and analysis as an embedded team member where relevant, under the direction of the senior evaluation specialist;
• Provide support with contracting process and coordinate with operations manager, HR and Supply division as needed;
• Provide regular updates on progress to the Senior Evaluation Specialist and Director;
• Contribute to office-wide initiatives of the Evaluation Office, upon request; and
• Undertake other tasks as necessary.

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

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, sociology, development planning, socio-political research or a related technical field;
• At least 8 years of progressively responsible work experience and expertise in development evaluation or related role in planning, programme management, research or knowledge management;
• Experience undertaking a synthesis of large numbers of documents, using quantitative and qualitative research approaches;
• Knowledge of the current literature on development evaluation and familiarity with UNICEF’s programmes is highly desirable;
• Varied sectoral knowledge and experience of at least three of UNICEF’s programme priority areas, and preferably in Education portfolio, including Early Childhood Development, Children with Disabilities and Adolescents;
• Willingness to undertake administrative tasks, as related to contracting, logistic support of evaluation mission;
• Excellent data analytical skills and interpretation. S/He must have the ability to write clearly and concisely and have sound quantitative skills (managing, analyzing and interpreting data).
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language or a language spoken in a number of programme countries is an asset;
• Strong evaluation management and collaboration skills;
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.