Individual Consultant for Change Management, Strategic Business Modernization, Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC), Budapest, Hungary

The Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) is seeking an experienced individual consultant to support the foundational phase of the new Office Management Plan (OMP 2026-2029) and the global rollout of the package of services to be centralized to the GSSC, including Recruitment Administrative Services (RAS), Individual Consultant Contracting Services (ICC), and Travel Services advancing UNICEF’s Future Focus Initiative (FFI). The FFI aims to enhance organizational effectiveness, efficiency, agility, and readiness for future opportunities and challenges, while ensuring financial sustainability and maximizing resources for programmatic delivery.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, results 

The Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) is seeking an experienced individual consultant to support the foundational phase of the new Office Management Plan (OMP 2026-2029) and the global rollout of the package of services to be centralized to the GSSC, including Recruitment Administrative Services (RAS), Individual Consultant Contracting Services (ICC), and Travel Services advancing UNICEF’s Future Focus Initiative (FFI). The FFI aims to enhance organizational effectiveness, efficiency, agility, and readiness for future opportunities and challenges, while ensuring financial sustainability and maximizing resources for programmatic delivery. 

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant will provide strategic planning and governance support to ensure GSSC’s initiatives are aligned, well-coordinated, and informed by global best practices in shared services and business transformation. 

​The incumbent will support planning, monitoring, and reporting for the GSSC rolling work plan, the Change Review Board (CRB), the Global Business Services (GBS) Review Committee, the Efficiency Board, and UN 80 / UN Reform including the annual UN Business Operations Strategic (BOS) Annual Review.​ 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete TOR here: 

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completed bachelor’s degree is required.

• Work Experience: Two-seven years of professional experience in strategic planning and monitoring, change, or coordination is required. Experience with survey platforms and collaborative documentation tools is needed.
• Skills:

• Strong analytical and writing skills, with ability to synthesize complex inputs in presentation and proposals 
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills  
• Technical proficiency with Project Management Software such as Microsoft OnePlan and MS Project for planning and tracking, Microsoft PowerPoint, Canva, Word etc. for developing presentations and documents  
• Familiarity with AI tools and Excel for data analysis, reporting, and workflow optimization  

• Language Requirements Fluency in English (Oral and Written) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset. 

• Desirables:

• Prior experience with UNICEF or international organizations
• Demonstrated understanding of shared services and Global Business Services models
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts

Remarks:

• Financial proposal is part of the application and is required to be submitted as per the template here. Technical offer and curriculum vitae and cover letter are also part of the application as per the TOR.
• General Terms and Conditions for the Consultancy Contract is attached, for your reference: General Terms and Conditions
• Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
• Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
• Please note, UNICEF does not charge any fees during any stage of the process.

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

The 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 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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 does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Applicants must be nationals of Hungary or other EU/Schengen country OR in the possession of a valid long-term Hungarian residency and work permit. Temporary and/or sponsored visas are not accepted.

UNICEF GSSC does not facilitate MFA accreditation for consultants, applicants must be holders of acceptable permits already at the time of application. Please attach a copy of your work permit (if applicable). UNICEF shall not accept responsibility or liability to act as a sponsor or to otherwise facilitate the issuance, maintenance, renewal, extension, or conversion of the candidate's residency and/or work permit for employment purposes.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.