Senior Advisor SBC - Behavioral Scientist (P5), FT, Programme Group Leadership Team (PGLT) - SBC, Nairobi

Overview

Lead behavioral science initiatives to influence child development programs

You have:

• Advanced university degree in Behavioral Science, Behavioral Economics, Psychology, Social Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, cognitive science and neuroscience, and related fields
• Minimum 10 years of demonstrated relevant experience
• Demonstrated expertise in applying behaviour science to all stages of the programme cycle.
• Proven ability to work with internal and external stakeholders at multiple levels, including providing technical support and capacity building
• Prior experience in mentorship would be an asset
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset

Contract

This is a P-5 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 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 156,214 USD and 195,772 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

Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) in UNICEF is a cross-cutting programme strategy that analyses and addresses the cognitive, social, and structural determinants of individual practices and societal changes in both development and humanitarian contexts. SBC uses the latest in social and behavioural sciences to understand people, their beliefs, values, the socio-cultural norms, as well as the economical and institutional contexts that shape their lives, with the aim of engaging them and increasing their influence in the design of solutions for change. The most effective mix of programmatic approaches is defined through social and behavioural evidence generation and participation in community-led and human-centred processes. SBC is at the core of UNICEF’s mandate, with corporate results across sectors revolving around behaviours like immunization, feeding practices, learning, hygiene, and positive discipline, as well as transformations across sectors needed to make societies more inclusive, equitable, and peaceful.

UNICEF SBC employs applied behavioural science amidst a mix of approaches, including community engagement, strategic communication, service delivery improvement, systems strengthening, and policy advocacy to advance child rights, survival, development, protection, and participation.

The field of Behavioural Science seeks to better understand human behaviour. Behavioural Science leverages insights and evidence from psychology, cognitive science, social science, and economics to understand the relationships between our innate human traits and the context we live within to encourage and inhibit behaviour. Governments, multilateral institutions, and public and private sector organizations use behavioural science insights to uncover how everyday life elements influence people to behave in ways that do not align with their goals and intentions.

How can you make a difference?

The Senior Behavioural Scientist will provide the overall leadership in behavioural science for UNICEF as well expert-level advice and support across Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) functions and teams globally. Reporting to the Associate Director and Global Lead, SBC, this position is working in close coordination with the rest of the SBC team in UNICEF Headquarters, as well as the SBC Global Technical Team and other key divisions such as UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti and UNICEF Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring. The staff member will offer remote and potentially in-person technical assistance to select Offices and teams.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Lead the applied behavioral science agenda in UNICEF
2. Promote continuous learning on Behavioral Science in UNICEF
3. Provide expert support for UNICEF offices and teams to generate and utilize research, data, and evidence

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

• Advanced university degree in Behavioral Science, Behavioral Economics, Psychology, Social Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, cognitive science and neuroscience, and related fields
• Minimum 10 years of demonstrated relevant experience
• Demonstrated expertise in applying behaviour science, theories, research, and analysis, to all stages of the programme cycle.
• Proven ability to work with internal and external stakeholders at multiple levels, including providing technical support and capacity building and establishing/managing external partnerships
• Prior experience in mentorship would be an asset
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• 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: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

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 is committed towards diversity and inclusion as it 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.

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

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.

UNICEF is currently undergoing organizational changes and many Divisions are moving to different locations. While this post is currently located in Nairobi, should the location change, candidates will be informed.

Remark: This is re-opening to expand the pool of candidates, candidates who have already applied to the previous advertisement don’t need to reapply, as their applications were already given due consideration.

Potential interview questions