Market Development Specialist (Connectivity Credits Marketplace), P-3, Office of Innovation (Giga), Geneva, Switzerland, 364 days

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 138,772 USD and 181,712 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

Giga (giga.global) is a partnership between UNICEF (unicef.org) and the ITU (itu.int) working to connect every school in the world. The team (https://giga.global/about-us/) has experience and background in building technology products, finance and investment, design, and infrastructure. It’s a global team, with two “centers of gravity” (in Barcelona, Spain and Geneva, Switzerland) but with many team members located around the world.

Giga is broken into three main areas: Mapping, Finance, Procurement, supported by cross-cutting support services. The Country Engagement Team supports the initiation and implementation of all three areas of Giga’s support in countries. The Mapping team maps schools and their connectivity, creating a real-time display of access and need on Project Connect (https://projectconnect.unicef.org/map). The Finance team works to create the financing (grant, loan, and investment) for connectivity. The Procurement works closely with UNICEF Supply Division to support governments through public procurement processes for contracting sustainable, high quality and affordable school connectivity. There are also crosscutting teams that support on communications, partnerships, staff wellbeing, operations and finance.

We aim to have agility and flexibility in how we work, and to be driven by realtime data about what we’re doing. We also work within the political and global framework of the UN, which means that we can collaborate with policy makers and regulators, governments, civil society, and of course, most closely with our 135 country offices, in everything we do.

How can you make a difference?

Giga is building a Global Connectivity Marketplace. The marketplace is envisioned to operate at the intersection of a carbon credits market and a universal service/access fund, serving as a catalyst for incentivizing connectivity in individual countries by issuing tokens for companies connecting rural areas, underserved populations, and public facilities. Companies can redeem these credits for varied incentives, including tax reliefs, through respective Ministry of Finance or regulatory bodies, subject to individual country determinants.

The Market Development Specialist is a crucial member of the Connectivity Credits Marketplace team at Giga. This position demands a sophisticated understanding of how unconventional assets and commodities can be structured and traded in market settings akin to carbon credits. Reporting to the Program Manager of Connectivity Credits, the specialist will play a pivotal role in analyzing, structuring, and facilitating the market dynamics of connectivity credits in alignment with Giga’s mission to enhance global connectivity.

Market Analysis and Structuring:

• Conduct thorough market analyses to understand the potential of new commodities like connectivity credits.
• Work closely with financial, legal, and technical teams to structure the marketplace, ensuring a conducive environment for trading and redeeming connectivity credits.

Financial modeling

• Utilize a strong financial background to develop frameworks that support the trading, valuation, and redemption of connectivity credits.
• Explore and integrate decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain technologies to foster a robust and transparent marketplace.

Emerging Market Adaptation:

• Apply emerging market expertise to tailor strategies that accommodate the diverse regulatory and market conditions across different countries.
• Engage with in-country teams to understand the unique market dynamics and regulatory frameworks governing connectivity and digital commodities.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Building:

• Collaborate with public and private sector stakeholders to promote the concept and benefits of connectivity credits.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with external entities, including financial institutions and government bodies, to facilitate the acceptance and trading of connectivity credits.

Viability for Connectivity Sector:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Telecom, Media, and Technology (TMT) sectors that can accurately quantify and valuate gigabytes and internet connectivity.
• Translate technical understanding of connectivity into viable market strategies for promoting and trading connectivity credits.

Risk Management and Innovation:

• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with introducing new commodities in the marketplace.
• Foster a culture of innovation to explore novel approaches for market creation, leveraging knowledge in crypto markets and other modern financial frameworks.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Prepare and present detailed reports on market analyses, structuring strategies, and stakeholder engagements.
• Document the processes, frameworks, and partnerships established, ensuring transparency and continuous learning.

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

• An Advanced University Degree (Master’s or higher) in business development, finance, economy, or a related degree is required. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in finance, commodity trading, or market structuring is required.
• Experience in the Telecom, Media, and Technology (TMT) sectors, with a particular focus on internet connectivity and gigabytes.
• Familiarity with decentralized finance (DeFi), blockchain technologies, and crypto markets.
• Demonstrated ability in analyzing and structuring markets for unconventional or new commodities.
• Experience working in emerging markets and understanding their unique challenges and opportunities.
• Proficient in financial modeling, risk assessment, and market analysis.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) 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 others (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.

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 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.