Senior Evaluation Specialist (Methods & Impact) P5, Evaluation Office, New York, USA

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 208,877 USD and 261,770 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

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Director of Evaluation, the Senior Evaluation Specialist (Methods and Impact) will provide technical guidance/ leadership to all parts of the UNICEF evaluation function on evaluation methodology, impact evaluation, rapid evaluative reviews and synthesis. The incumbent will lead UNICEF’s efforts at building organizational capacity for advancing the application of sound methodology in various types of evaluation, with a focus on evaluating the impact of policies, programmes and interventions towards improved child wellbeing.

The Senior Evaluation Specialist will also be responsible for conducting these activities in accordance with UNICEF’s mission, guiding principles, standards, commitments and accountability framework, the UNICEF Evaluation Policy as well as UN Evaluation Group norms and standards.

The incumbent will be responsible for:

1. Continued Improvements in Evaluation Methodology.

The position is designed to help refine and improve evaluation methods and tap into large internal and external data sets and beneficiary feedback mechanisms to deepen the evidence used in evaluations, in particular impact evaluations. It will strengthen the UNICEF evaluation function’s capacity in three areas: (a) researching cutting-edge evaluation methodologies with a focus on advice to all staff on the best available evaluation methods to address specific evaluation questions; (b) ensuring consistent innovation in the generation, collection and analysis of timely data for evaluation; and (c) supporting the development of staff evaluation skills, and ensuring that internal and external audiences understand and appreciate the rationale for UNICEF’s evaluation methodologies and approaches.

2. Technical Support for Impact Evaluation at Country and Multi Country Levels.

The position will provide technical guidance to country offices, regional offices and the Evaluation Office on the evaluation of impact of policies, programmes and interventions, with a focus on the application of rigorous mixed methods in such evaluations. The SDG era calls for increased attention to the ultimate results for children, their families and society, including in the reduction of poverty and inequality, malnutrition, under-five and maternal mortality, illiteracy and lack of employable skills, violence against women and children and other forms of deprivations. In collaboration with partners, the position will provide technical assistance in the application of mixed methods, including a combination of (a) experimental and quasi experimental designs to evaluate impact of policies, programmes and interventions on the wellbeing of children; (b) non experimental designs that help UNICEF offices and partners strengthen their contribution to community level changes as well as institutional and policy changes at the national level; (c) qualitative designs that help that help UNICEF offices and partners address issues related to social cohesion, social norms, empowerment of women, adolescents and girls, community resilience and many more. The position will also provide technical support to the Capacity Enhancement Unit of the Evaluation Office, to strengthen the skills of all evaluation staff and partners in impact evaluation approaches.

3. Work with Humanitarian Evaluation Team to undertake Impact Evaluations in Level 3 Emergencies.

In line with the UNICEF evaluation policy, the position will work with the Humanitarian Evaluation team of the Evaluation Office to conduct impact evaluations in declared level 3 emergencies. The position will also support regional, multi country and country evaluation specialists to conduct impact evaluations in level 2 and level one emergencies.

4. Rapid Evaluative Reviews and Syntheses.

To ensure that evaluation evidence effectively supports decision-making on a timely basis, the Senior Evaluation Specialist Methods and Impact will: (a) lead methodological work on rapid reviews and syntheses in the UNICEF evaluation function; (b) Work with the Innovation and Learning Uptake Unit to lead efforts to conduct such reviews and synthesis as this relates to the corporate governance of UNICEF; (c) partner with other offices to support effective decision making through timely rapid reviews and synthesis.

5. Human and Financial Resource Management.

Effectively deploy human and financial resources of the respective unit: (a) contribute to the development and reviews of the corporate evaluation plan; (b) lead planning and procurement for individual evaluations; (c) manage the effective and efficient use of evaluation resources; (d) Oversee the work of the methods and impact team of the evaluation office.

6. Contingency.

To undertake other tasks as designated by the Director of Evaluation.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s) in evaluation methodology, economics, econometrics, public policy, applied research or related social science.
• A minimum of ten years of professional experience in technical analysis in evaluation, mixed method impact evaluations and related disciplines.
• Technical skills and experience related to quantitative and qualitative evaluation and research methodology. Experience in country-led evaluation.
• Experience related to UNICEF’s mandate is an asset and knowledge of current development issues.
• Previous work experience in a developing country and/or in a humanitarian context is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other official UN languages is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA)...

i) Core Competencies...

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

ii) Functional competencies ...

• Analyzing
• Applying Technical Expertise

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 is committed to achieving gender balance at P5 level by end 2021 and may give priority consideration to suitable female candidates in specific functional areas or positions where women are underrepresented. This position falls under this category.

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.