UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited is a global public-private-youth partnership created to meet the urgent need for expanded skilling, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities for young people aged 15–24 as they transition from learning to earning. By bridging skilling and training to employment and entrepreneurship, Generation Unlimited (GenU) supports every young person to thrive in the world of work and earn a dignified livelihood. Launched in September 2018 by the UN Secretary General and the Executive Director of UNICEF, GenU creates public-private partnerships – globally and at the country-level – to co-create and support investment opportunities, programmes and innovations at a large scale, and help young people transition from learning to careers. In particular, GenU modernizes skilling and training systems to build the skills young people need for the jobs of today and tomorrow – in a labor market undergoing profound changes that is increasingly being shaped by the AI and green transitions. Through public-private partnerships, GenU works with governments, the private sector, civil society and UN agencies to attract investment at global and national levels to support national systems and deliver effective programmes to accelerate impact for millions of young people. GenU scales innovations by brokering shared-value partnerships with the private sector in areas, particularly in the digital-AI and green economies. Under the CEO’s leadership, the GenU Global Team is responsible for strategic planning, supporting and monitoring the execution of the GenU strategy, liaising with the broad spectrum of partners, ensuring adequate level of resources for the partnership through public and private sector fundraising, distributing catalytic capital, and assisting in the work of the partnership’s governance bodies.

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, dedication.

How can you make a difference? 

The CEO’s mandate is to provide leadership to the GenU partnership in developing and delivering the organization’s vision, mission, strategic objectives and operational plans.

The CEO will represent the GenU partnerships with governments and other public sector organizations, the private sector, civil society, policy makers, opinion formers, supporters, the media, the general public

The CEO is accountable to GenU Board, via the Chair. The CEO participates as an ex officio member of the GenU Board, which is the partnership’s primary decision-making body.

The overall duties and responsibilities of the CEO are:

  • Strategy development and implementation: Leads the GenU Global Team to deliver the partnership’s vision and strategy, working closely with and supporting the GenU Board and Global Leadership Council. Leads strategy development, implementation and review, in close coordination with GenU partners and UNICEF.
  • Management and oversight: ensures overall management of all aspects of the Global Team’s work including technical assistance to GenU countries and on global innovations, active resource mobilization, communication and advocacy, youth engagement, management of finances and human resources, risk management, operating systems and processes, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation and governance.
  • Stakeholder relations: serves as the chief spokesperson and represents the GenU Partnership to the media and high level global and international events with supporters and potential supporters, particularly governments, businesses, foundations and high net worth individuals. Builds cooperative relationships with public and private partners and with key stakeholders, build networks, harnesses information and opportunities to benefit GenU. Ensures a decisive shift towards a stronger partnership with and involvement of private sector.
  • Resource mobilization: works with the Board to ensure that Generation Unlimited has an effective global resource mobilization strategy and is successful in achieving its fundraising objectives from the public and the private sector. Ensures effective, efficient and on-budget delivery of funds to GenU programmes and activities. Advice on allocation of resources and oversees results reporting, ensuring timely and high-quality reports to donors on impact for youth.  
  • People & Culture: Builds and maintains a high performing organization. Leads in a way which generates a exceptional performance, empowering a values-based organizational culture throughout the GenU partnership
  • Governance & risk management: Works with the Board to ensure that the GenU partnership has effective governance and operating model, as well as a sound risk management culture and effective tools.  

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

Minimum requirements:

  • Education: Advanced University degree (or equivalent) in one or more of the following disciplines: social sciences, business administration or management, public administration, education or other related fields
  • Work Experience:
  1. Demonstrably strong intellectual capacity with clear successful senior leadership and management experience of minimum 15 years, ideally as a Chief Executive in a complex operating environment.
  2. Proven ability to operate effectively in an international or multi-lateral organizational environment, managing complex interactions with diverse stakeholders.
  3. A track record in growing revenue and influence in a demanding and complex environment.
  4. Skilled communicator able to interact comfortably with all levels of organizations and external constituencies, including media.
  5. Excellent political judgement and an ability to advance the GenU priorities and interests within public and private sector settings.
  6. Proven ability to work effectively across different cultural contexts. Experience in education, skills development or youth employment is desirable.
  • Skills:
  1. A strong, demonstrable commitment to the mission and values of the UN.
  2. A high level of emotional intelligence and strong sense of integrity with an empowering, values-driven leadership and management approach.
  3. A powerful, persuasive and credible advocate, able to inspire and motivate staff, supporters and partners.
  4. A resilient personality who can persevere despite conflicts or adversity.
  5. Ability to work and interact effectively with people at all levels, building strong relationships based on mutual respect and building consensus
  6. A creative intellect and strategic thinker, able to encourage and support innovation, and build a robust case for change and development both within the organization and externally
  7. Willing to travel globally (estimated 40% of the time)
  8. Strong integrity and an irreproachable reputation.
  • Language Requirements: Proficiency in oral and written English.
  • Person Profile: The CEO of GenU will be a value-driven, inspiring leader with proven experience of shaping strategy, delivering outstanding operational results and managing teams within and between the public and private sectors. He/she will have exceptional communication and ambassadorial skills, and demonstrate passion and a deep understanding of GenU mandate and mission. 
  •  

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…

  • Builds and maintains partnerships (III)
  • Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (III)
  • Drives to achieve results for impact (III)
  • Innovate and embraces change (III)
  • Manages ambiguity and complexity (III)
  • Thinks and acts strategically (III)
  • Works collaboratively with others (III)
  • Nurtures, leads and manages people (III)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and their 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. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel.
Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service

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.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

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.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.