SSRRE 2023 – Director, Child Protection, D-2, Programme Group (PG), New York, USA (External Candidates)

Contract

This is a D-2 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 16 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 270,944 USD and 326,557 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.

*Internal UNICEF candidates should apply through the SSRRE 2023 Batch Link

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 fulfil 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, dedication.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy, in partnerships and in operations. The UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022 – 2025 sets out how the organization will translate this mission into action, contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families.

The UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2021–2025 is anchored in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and charts a course towards attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and the realization of a future in which every child is able to fully enjoy their rights. The UNICEF Child Protection Strategy 2021 – 2030 provides a clear vision and strategic framework for UNICEF’s work in Child Protection for the decade to 2030. Goal ​Area 3​ of the UNICEF Strategic Plan is focused on protecting every child from violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect and harmful practices, and the inclusion of children on the move, which is reflected across other Goal Areas of the Strategic Plan.

Job organizational Context:

The post sits within the Programme Group and reports to the Director, Programme Group with a dotted line to the Deputy Executive Director Programmes. The Director will also serve as the senior Child Protection policy advisor to the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Directors, and the Global Management Team.

Purpose of the Job:

The Director will be the global lead in Child Protection and the anchored Migration team to ensure every child is protected from violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect and harmful practices. The incumbent of the post will provide strategic vision and direction for UNICEFs Child Protection and Migration programme and lead the development of programme policies, strategies and guidance for the implementation of the child protection related goals and targets in UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, 2021-2025, Goal Area 3. She/He will lead UNICEF’s global advocacy on child protection and working closely with key partners, the incumbent will contribute to the child protection components of Agenda 2030. The Director will be accountable for results, internal controls, resource planning and financial management for the Child Protection and anchored Migration Team and for working collaboratively with the other programme teams and divisions.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Vision & Strategy
2. Representation & Partnership
3. Policy Development and Advice
4. Management of people and resources

1. Vision & Strategy

• Contribute meaningfully to the development of global strategies for accelerating the protection of every child from violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect and harmful practices.
• Develop a strategic vision for UNICEF programmes in child protection and migration to pursue UNICEF’s mission to promote and protect child rights.
• Maintain UNICEF’s position as the knowledge center on child rights, provide technical leadership in the relevant programme areas through learning, knowledge management and application of evidence to programmes at scale.
• Lead the improvement of the function and develop strategies to support UNICEF’s current and future Child Protection and Migration programme requirements and direction.
• Ensure that the policies and practices of the child protection functional area are sufficiently comprehensive and flexible to meet accountabilities in both development and humanitarian settings.

2. Representation & Partnerships

• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with counterparts in programme partnerships, including UN agencies, development partners, institutions/foundations, non-governmental organizations and academia to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and resource mobilization.
• Advise the Office of the Executive Director on strengthening relations with key partners through effective policy dialogue and advocacy to mobilize and leverage resources for children.
• Develop and capitalize on new and emerging opportunities for resource mobilization including innovative financing and partnerships.
• Represent UNICEF in child protection global forums.

3. Policy Development and Advice

• Guide the development and implementation of the child protection sector policy and strategy, and guide UNICEF response to children on the move.
• Generate regular policy briefs to inform UNICEF leadership and field operations on the emerging evidence and new frontiers in relation to the relevant programme.
• Provide leadership in the development of the major policies, regulations and rules, and systems that underpin the work of the Child Protection and Migration Programme.

4. Management of people and resources

• Lead UNICEF’s Global Technical Team in Child Protection.
• Provide guidance and oversight to the children on the move agenda working with the Global Lead on Migration.
• Ensure cross-sectoral (nutrition, gender, adolescents, WASH, social policy, education, health) and cross-divisional (EMOPs, DHR, DAPM, Supply Division, PPD and PFP, Natcoms) programme collaboration to align and maximize UNICEF’s support to regions and countries.
• Support the leadership and management of Programme Group working collaboratively with the Directors of the other Programme Teams and the Director of Programme Group including contributing to the steer and management of the Headquarters Efficiency Initiative (HQEI).
• Lead the management of the human, financial and material resources assigned to the Child Protection and Migration Programme Team.
• Ensure accountability and fiduciary integrity in the Child Protection Programme’s budget execution when leading the programme’s strategic budget preparation exercises.
• Create a unified culture to achieve common goals and objectives by motivating, coaching and supporting staff in the Programme.
• Develop and manage workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, learning and career management of staff.
• Manage staff performance and development through regular feedback, mentoring and career planning.

Key Performance Indicators include

• Leadership in strategic planning
• Policy development
• Programme implementation guidance
• Management of UNICEF’s human, financial and material resources assigned to the portfolio.

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

Person Profile:

• Credibility and technical excellence in child protection.
• Recognized management skills in a multicultural setting, combined with ability to achieve results through motivating people and influencing partners.
• Results-oriented decision-making ability with an aptitude to address operational challenges and for developing practical solutions.
• Innovation mindset with risk management ability and a proven track record as a successful agent of change.
• Rigorous analytical and conceptual thinking.
• High sense of integrity, trust and confidence.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including the ability to set out a coherent analysis in presentations.
• Strong diplomatic and communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships with clients and counterparts at the appropriate levels.
• Ability to represent UNICEF in international fora.

Qualifications:

• An Advanced University Degree from an accredited institution in social sciences, sociology, human rights or a technically relevant area is required.
• A minimum of 15 years of professional experience that combines intellectual and managerial leadership in an international organization or corporation is required.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Core Values

• Commitment
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (3)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)
• Works Collaboratively with others (3)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (3)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (3)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty.

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

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 may also be 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.