Chief, Child Protection, P-5, Florence, Italy, # 6477

The Office of Research-Innocenti (OoR) is the dedicated research office of UNICEF. It undertakes and commissions research on emerging or current issues of relevance for children in order to inform the strategic directions, policies and programs of UNICEF and its partners. The office explores emerging issues, identifies research gaps, and brings together existing researchers to support or undertake new research, data collection and analysis to address critical questions. Join our dedicated team and lead the OoR-Innocenti's research in the field of Child Protection and Child Rights. The incumbent will be accountable for overall management, planning and preparation of research in this area. Currently the portfolio includes research on violence and exploitation affecting children; migration and displacement with focus on related child rights violations; child rights in the digital age; family and parenting support, and child protection issues in conflict or humanitarian contexts. There is scope for the research program to expand into additional areas, including issues related to governance and access to justice.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child, a fair chance

The Office of Research-Innocenti (OoR) is the dedicated research office of UNICEF. It undertakes and commissions research on emerging or current issues of relevance for children in order to inform the strategic directions, policies and programs of UNICEF and its partners. The office explores emerging issues, identifies research gaps, and brings together existing researchers to support or undertake new research, data collection and analysis to address critical questions.

Visit this link for more information on Office of Research- Innocenti
https://www.unicef-irc.org/

How can you make a difference?

Join our dedicated team and lead the OoR Innocenti's research in the field of Child Protection and Child Rights. The incumbent will be accountable for overall management, planning and preparation of research in this area. Currently the portfolio includes research on violence and exploitation affecting children; migration and displacement with focus on related child rights violations; child rights in the digital age; family and parenting support, and child protection issues in conflict or humanitarian contexts. There is scope for the research program to expand into additional areas, including issues related to governance and access to justice.
 
The incumbent will be responsible for setting strategic directions for a team of researchers; for oversight and leadership of a portfolio of research projects; and for initiating, conceptualizing, managing and carrying out research and analysis, drawing on different disciplines, that contributes to improved programs and policy development. Research findings should contribute to UNICEF’s overall knowledge on child protection and child rights issues, with a particular focus on strategic priorities and ‘next generation’ issues. The incumbent will also be responsible for leading a high performing team, and will provide strategic and technical leadership to researchers working across child protection, child rights and governance topics. A crucial part of the role involves developing and maintaining linkages with key actors within UNICEF (HQ and the field), and outside UNICEF–including with academics, governments, implementing agencies, and practitioners, in order to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive research strategy on child rights and protection.

Additional duties include resource mobilization in support of the research agenda, communicating and disseminating research findings, engaging with users and stakeholders, providing technical assistance to and supporting UNICEF field offices or partners to undertake or commission research. Candidates should have good relevant academic, policy and practitioner networks, and be able to mobilize partners to engage in research with OoR-Innocenti and the translation of research into impact.

As head of section, the Chief will manage a group of professional and support staff responsible for implementing the research program. Management and leadership is a core part of the role.

This will involve:

1.  Research, Development and Management (65%)

• Lead the development of a new portfolio of research on child rights and protection, including strategic directions and oversight, with space to develop new initiatives aligned with UNICEF and Office priorities.

• Plan, guide, develop, manage and conduct research on strategic topics concerned with child protection and the implementation of international standards, including research related to violence, exploitation and abuse, child migration and displacement, family and parenting support, governance, child rights, including children’s use of information and mobile technologies.

• Identify suitable partners/collaborators, organize research teams, lead rigorous processes to develop high quality evidence-based research and policy analyses and support research uptake. If necessary, obtain data, organize expert consultations, and develop materials to raise awareness and contribute to policy reform.

• Where required, develop concrete proposals for research and seek and obtain necessary financial and in kind resources. Maintain and strengthen existing donor bases through routine communications as well as formal reporting.

• Support the development of and maintain research advisory groups around child protection and child rights.

• Give direction so that research reflects analytic rigor and sensitivity to problems, is open to innovative methodologies, and communicated effectively to expert and lay audiences.

• Manage a high performance team, consultants and external contractors to deliver quality policy- and program-relevant research in a timely and efficient manner.

2. Support the development and implementation of a research framework on child protection and rights across UNICEF (15%)

• Identify and review emerging and under-researched issues relevant to child protection and rights.

• Maintain an overview of the state of research and evidence both within UNICEF and outside related to areas relevant to child protection and rights and contributing to it being synthesized for use within UNICEF.   

• Prepare/contribute to high-profile and technical reports on selected topics of relevance to child protection and rights and manage the review and finalization of studies.

3. Effective engagement in knowledge and practice networks (10%)

• Organize, support and participate in networks of academics and researchers, policymakers, and practitioners internal and external to UNICEF in areas of child protection, child rights and governance.

• Prepare inputs and participate in relevant conferences, workshops and meetings, including consultations with high level officials, experts and practitioners.

• Promote the exchange and brokering of knowledge, including through initiation and organization of expert workshops and conferences, and through accessible synthesis of significant research findings.

• Effectively communicate key research outcomes and policy recommendations to obtain feedback, to broaden understanding of issues and improve public awareness, and to influence practice.

• Serve as a technical resource for field offices and contribute to internal and external capacity building, including by providing technical input to research TORs and proposed projects and quality assurance of research developed and undertaken within UNICEF.

• Serve on advisory boards for research, and contribute to peer review in appropriate situations.

4. Contribution to the overall management of the Office of Research and its work programme and support for cross-office initiatives (10%)

• Support to the overall implementation of the work program of the Office of Research-Innocenti, and representation of the Office as requested by the Director.

• Provide support for cross-office initiatives such as Best of UNICEF Research, Research Communications products, Annual Results report and participation in office seminars among others.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in social or political science, international affairs, development studies/law or related field with concentration on human/child rights, child development or social policy.  A Ph.D. degree is preferred.  
  
  
• A minimum of ten years professional and practical experience at national and international level, in the area of child rights, child development/protection or human rights.
  
  
• The incumbent should have demonstrated in-depth knowledge in the areas of child protection and child rights.  
  
  
• Strong research, methodological and analytical skills
  
  
• A strong and relevant academic publication record
  
  
• Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and manage research programs and studies and to transfer knowledge and skills. 
  
  
• Proven leadership and management experience relating to both research programs and teams
  
  
• Good communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to speak in public and represent the Organization. 
  
  
• Policy advocacy and negotiating skills should include a demonstrated ability to assess the feasibility and political economy of proposed policy measures. 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Our functional competencies are Leading and supervising, Formulating strategies/concepts, Analyzing, Relating and networking, Deciding and initiating action, Persuading and influencing. To view our competency framework, please click here.

Functional Competencies

Leading and Supervising - Level III
Formulating Strategies/ Concepts - Level III
Analyzing - Level III
Relating and Networking - Level III
Deciding & Initiating Action - Level III
Persuading and Influencing - Level II

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 qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.