Programme Budget Specialist (P-3), PG Health (Immunizations) New York HQ (Temporary Appointment 364days) # 00127150

Under the guidance of the Planning and Monitoring Manager, the incumbent contributes towards the programme planning & monitoring function of the Immunization section, formulation of strategies related to programmes and budget monitoring, and financial reporting on programmes and activities.

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.

Global immunization programme and partnerships have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated response. UNICEF is now operating in a transformed donor and partnership landscape, which is more complex, more competitive and more dynamic. COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted routine immunization programmes and led to significant increases in the number of un- and under-immunized children, especially in lower-income countries, along with the growing risk and frequency of vaccine-preventable diseases. In addition, UNICEF programmes are being affected by fast-changing social, political, economic, demographic, technological and other shifts, requiring additional capacity to ensure programmatic and operational agility and excellence.

The Immunization Section is part of the Health Programme Group at UNICEF NYHQ. The Immunization Section consists of six teams: (i) Strategy & Management, (ii) Social & Behaviour Change, (iii) Immunization Financing, (iv) Accelerated Immunization Initiatives, (v) Coverage & Equity and (vi) Supply Chain Management. The Immunization Strategy and Management (S&M) team coordinates the design, implementation, dissemination, monitoring and review of UNICEF global immunization priorities in the context of Immunization Agenda 2030, Gavi 5.0 and UNICEF organizational priorities such as UNICEF Strategic Plan and Strategy for Health to 2030. In close collaboration with other immunization teams at global level and in partnership with the Health and other Programme Groups, Supply Division, Division for Global Advocacy and Communication, Data, Analytics and Policy

Division, other HQ divisions and key immunization stakeholders (e.g. WHO, Gavi, US CDC, Africa CDC, BMGF, USAID), S&M unit promotes and supports immunization advocacy, partnerships, representation and visibility within IA2030, global monitoring and reporting, knowledge management, and capacity strengthening. In addition, S&M unit ensures effective and efficient management of UNICEF immunization resources that are managed centrally with focus on Gavi Partnership Engagement Framework, US Centers for Disease Control and resources transitioned from ACT-A HAC vaccine pillar.

For every child, Health for all……

Under the guidance of the Planning and Monitoring Manager, the incumbent contributes towards the programme planning & monitoring function of the Immunization section, formulation of strategies related to programmes and budget monitoring, and financial reporting on programmes and activities. The incumbent will be part of the Immunization strategy and management team which manages multi-country grants with a diverse and demanding set of donors requiring strong financial and budget management. Staff develops financial management processes and manages dashboards and with the support of the Programme Assistants, plans, allocates, monitors, and provides other financial oversight and support of the management of immunization grants, including Gavi PEF, C-19 and US CDC grants in close collaboration with headquarters divisions (PPD, PFP, DFAM, SD, DAPM, DOC), regional, and country offices.

How can you make a difference?

Budget & financial monitoring

• Responsible for the financial planning, allocations to other business areas, monitoring and reporting of the centrally managed immunization grants.
• Develops, maintains, and improves upon grant monitoring dashboard to present an immediate summary of the financial data.
• Monitors programme/project budgets versus actual expenditure; ensures that expenditure recorded meets donor requirements for eligible expenditure items and that the level of documentation meets their specified requirements and advice on budget performance and, if applicable, suggests budget revisions.
• Ensures all finance and budget-related bottlenecks are identified and resolved for the efficient functioning of immunization multi-country, RO and HQ funds. Provides internal operations/ administrative guidance, including salary forecasting and cost distribution, verification and quality control of reprogramming, extension and pull back cash requests, etc.
• Ensures compliance with the closure of grants, including final financial reporting, external audit, and updating UNICEF financial accounts.

Partnerships & reporting (budgets and financials)

• Supports effective partnerships and collaboration for the Immunization grants by coordinating and providing timely and quality budgets and finance information and reports.
• Supports development and refinement of budgets and preparation of investment cases and funding proposals as needed.
• Facilitates partnerships and collaboration with external and internal counterparts in order to improve the exchange of data on programme/project implementation, particularly budget and financial elements. Participates in teleconferences, meetings and periodic face-to-face meetings with partners.
• Works closely with the Strategy and Management unit members and relevant workstreams on financial/budget component of donor reporting.
• Participate in coordination meetings with partners and contributes by presenting financial reporting updates and insights.

Grants management

• Monitors financial donor reports schedule, key financial information and data across business units as relevant.
• Provides accurate and timely monitoring of financial utilization and programme implementation of the globally managed grants.
• Establishes monitoring mechanisms for each of the globally managed grants and ensures consistent tracking and reporting of ongoing activities and deliverables, favoring automation and budget process improvements.
• Collaborates with Public Partnerships (PPD) and Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) in the finance and budget-related grant management process.
• Provides timely updated information on financial utilization and programme implementation to relevant NYHQ Senior Managers, regional and country colleagues.

Capacity building

• Facilitates efficient communication and coordination between the CO, RO and HQ, particularly on the assigned multi-country grants.
• Provides guidance to ROs/COs on donor proposal and report preparation as per donor specifications. Develop standardization of proposals and reports on immunization programmes for countries as appropriate.
• Provides remote and in-person support to other offices' financial monitoring and budget, e.g. setting up automated grant monitoring and financial utilization systems in collaboration with other team members.

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

• Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, Engineering, Business Administration, Finance/Accounts Management or related area of study, or another relevant field is required.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required:
• Programme finance and budget management, operations, monitoring and reporting, public affairs, programme management, resource mobilization, external relations, or other relevant areas.
• Experience in managing donors and partnerships and multi-year grants.
• Experience in setting up and managing financial trackers and dashboards.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, French or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

Please click Here to view UNICEF's core values and Here to view our competency framework.

UNICEF competencies required for this post are.

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

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 including 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, 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 promoting 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.

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.

“UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”

For more information on remuneration and benefits, please visit UNICEF’s Entitlements’ page.  If you would like to find estimates for entitlements, you may use the online Salary Estimate Calculator

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