UNICEF Brazil is looking for a seasoned Operations professional to manage our office and monitoring programmes, while providing advice on best and innovative management practices to enhance office performance, supporting UNICEF actions across thematic areas, geographies and issues, delivering results for children. We are looking for an experienced professional, with a track record in leading for results, driving change, providing risk informed, solution-focused analysis, advice and services in operational contexts. The position is based in Brasilia, reporting to the UNICEF Representative, and working closely with the Programme team, Communication team, Field Offices and the Private Sector Partnership team. This colleague works closely with the Operations Management Team of the UNCT.
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.
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For every child, a champion
Since 1950, UNICEF has supported key transformations for children and adolescents in Brazil. Currently, UNICEF Brazil is implementing its 2024-2028 Country Programme to deliver programmes and policies for the most excluded boys and girls. With its main office in Brasília and nine field offices, UNICEF works in close partnership with national and sub-national government, corporate partners, youth and civil society organizations. For information of the work of our organization in Brazil, please visit our website: UNICEF Brazil
UNICEF Brazil Country office is seeking to engage a Deputy Representative Operations responsible for supporting the Representative on managing the office, assuring the best use of UNICEF assets in alignment with sound management practices, office priorities and goals to deliver results for children.
How can you make a difference?
Under the general supervision of the Representative, and with the support of the Operations Team, the Deputy Representative Operations serves as a strategic business partner and principal adviser on the overall management and operations of the Country Office. As a member of the Country Management Team, the role ensures efficient and effective use of UNICEF assets, strengthens collaboration across Programmes, Communications, PFP and Field Offices, and supports quality programme delivery to achieve improved results for children.
She/he will accomplish this by:
- Ensuring effective coordination and management of the functional areas of operations support: budget, financial management and reporting, facilities management, administration, supply and logistics management, information and communications technology, and safety and security and convening the other functions to arrive at a unified vision. This includes ensuring that all operational reporting requirements are fully met for the office, monitoring compliance with all operational systems and procedures and ensures integrity in all office financial and other administrative operations.
- Providing leadership in strategic planning and management processes, including the preparation of Annual Management Plans, working closely with the Deputy Representative Programme and the Chief of PFP on Affordability Analysis, while guiding internal processes and providing key contributions to CPD and CPMP.
- Acting as a member of the Country and Senior Management Teams, leveraging governance, systems, and tools to provide regular feedback on risks and achievements of operations functions in the country, while ensuring Results Based Management and implementation using Value for Money criteria.
- Being a champion for UNICEF Country Office participation in the Brazil UNCT Operations Management Team, including advising the UNICEF Representative on engagement in UN efficiency reforms such as the Business Operations Strategy (BOS) and other shared services. This includes close coordination with LAC Regional Office and Headquarters, ensuring UNICEF is positioned as a leader or key strategic partner, and overseeing internal preparations and processes as required.
- Ensuring quality advice and managerial inputs are provided to Programme, Field and PSFR operations in country, promoting efficiency across systems and processes, where applicable, while monitoring and analyzing the operating environment, quickly readjust operations, effectively manage risks, and ensuring business continuity. This includes understanding business needs for the Country Programme, to anticipate challenges, propose viable/creative solutions aimed at value for money.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
Job Description.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree and above) in in one of the following areas is required: Business management; Financial management; Accounting; Public Finance; and related operations function (Supply Chain, Human Resources, Information Technology, International Business, Project management, etc.) or a full professional accounting designation (CA, ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CPFA, Expert Comptable) from an internationally recognized institute/body of accountancy with valid membership in good standing is required.
Work Experience:
- A minimum of 10 years of professional experience, at the national and international level, is required, specifically in advocating and implementing strategic organizational initiatives in one or more operations management area including budget; financial management and reporting; facilities management; administration; supply and logistics management; information and communication technology.
- Given the scale of private sector fundraising in Brazil, prior experience working with or within the private sector, as well as supporting private sector fundraising activities, is required.
- Experience in humanitarian settings is strongly desired.
- Prior experience in the development sector or UN system/ international NGOs would be an asset.
- Additional experience in one or more of the following areas, would be desired:
- Audit and investigations
- Safety and security
- Grant Management
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Experience in the development sector, including the UN system, international NGOs, large private or public organizations, and/or work in developing, humanitarian or emergency contexts, would be an asset.
- Experience in working with corporate ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) and IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) is highly desirable.
- Experience in Results Based Management is a requirement.
- Experience in managing successful client-oriented work units is an asset.
- Experience in co-creating policy is desirable.
- Prior experience working with diverse stakeholder groups or multi-stakeholder partnership is highly desirable.
- Previous hands-on experience in strategic and managerial leadership is required.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Portuguese, Spanish, or other roman language is highly desirable as the post will require a commitment to achieve fluency in Portuguese (if not already acquired).
Desirables:
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.
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. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. 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. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.
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.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
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.
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.