TA - Programme Manager - Gender Capacity, P-4, NYHQ, # 101794

TA - Program Manager - Gender Capacity, P-4, NYHQ, # 101794

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Position

The Programme Manager will lead the overall coordination and management of the credentialing and capacity strenghtening program, and will leverage the strong existing technical capacity and professional relationships of UNICEF HQ and Regional Office staff to bring in organizational commitment and understanding of what is needed and required to shape a successful initiative that is in line with respective operational policies and procedures. S/he will also be responsible for quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation, and knowledge management.

Key Expected Results

 

1. Coordination and management of the Applied Gender Credentialing Initiative

• Provide overall coordination and management for the planning, implementation and evaluation of this initiative and the overall completion of the five outcomes in the grant results framework
• Shape and refine overall project implementation plan and annual workplans and budgets in consultation with the Core Gender Team at UNICEF and approval from Principal Advisor, Gender Gender and Development.
• Manage workflow, responsibilities and deliverables of consultants and staff working on the initiative, including those from the Gender Section, other Sections and Divisions and from Regional and Country Offices, as appropriate.
• Manage the project budget, maintaining regular review with supervisor and Principal Advisor.
• Organize regular meetings with internal team, colleagues, and management for maintaining effective work flow, communication and accountability, and with external partners and stakeholders to maintain effective workflow and networks.
• Manage relationships with the grant donor and the US Fund, including coordinating regular communication mechanisms
• Provide operational oversight for any sub-contracted implementation partners and consultants
• Design and implement alternative risk management strategies and approaches related to the availability of partners willing to share, use and potentially sponsor training content and/or credentialing systems, the development of credentialing and modular courses, low UNICEF uptake for the applied gender and development credentialing and capacity infrastructure, and the lack of field recognition of UNICEF as an institution with gender expertise in line with corporate policies and procedures as appropriate
• Coordinate with and/or seek technical support and maintain relationships with Regional or Country Offices and other partners, for inputs into the development and/or implementation of this initiative

2. Design, Implementation, and Quality assurance for the program area of credentialing and capacity strengthening

• Shape and maintain project approach and direction to align with the emphasis on gender capacity and expertise in UNICEF's Gender Action Plan 2.0, and the strategic focus articulated in UNICEF's grant agreement with BMGF.
• Lead, delegate, or commission the design and implementation of key components/steps/deliverables of the initiative, (courses/training and credentialing relevant for gender focal points, sector gender specialists, and dedicated gender experts) keeping alignment with overall strategy and grant deliverables in mind, and with regular input from the senior gender team and senior management.
• Develop and/or provide quality assurance on the terms of reference and RFPs created to commission the development of key training and credentialing processes and products.
• Design and ensure implementation of quality assurance strategies/processes for the implementation of the joint initiative with the BMGF and broader UNICEF program area for applied gender credentialing and capacity strenghtening. This includes processes to ensure that the initiative's implementing partners are selected and assessed in accordance with standard UNICEF policies and procedures, and that all documentation is in line with corporate standards.
• Design and ensure implementation of quality assurance strategies/processes to ensure that activities are undertaken in accordance with corporate terms of reference and guidance and that appropriate follow-up action and escalation steps are taken as needed.

3. Analysis, monitoring and reporting for the program area of credentialing and capacity strenghtening

• Using appropriate corporate tools and systems, including InSight and e-Tools, report on status of the program area, including initiative implementation, and identify high-risk areas requiring special attention and/or support from the core UNICEF-BMGF team.
• Monitor internal processes for formalizing implementing partnerships to ensure that corporate timelines are adhered to.
• Prepare progress, donor or analysis reports as may be required.
• Consolidate and provide regular updates to supervisor and Principal Advisor, Gender, assessing progress against desired timeline and quality, and suggesting challenges and course correction as required.
• Consolidate and provide content for various reports required from the Gender Section, including the annual section/division report, the GAP board report, the Annual Results Report.

4. Knowledge management and communication for the program area of credentialing and capacity strengthening

• Ensure that all initiative documentation, including implementing partnerships, such as assessment and assurance reports, PCAs and programme documents are adequately circulated and properly archived.
• Design and implement capacity building communication strategies/initiatives for Regional- and Country-level staff, other internal and external partners, to ensure that all are knowledgeable to complete the results framework for the initiative and engaged in the broader program area.
• Support networking, partnerships, visibility related tasks and responsibilities, including assisting senior management for key meetings and events, and organizing relevant convenings.
• Identify and use internal and external communication platforms and opportunities to share results of the initiative and program area.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• An advanced university degree in development studies, international development, programme/project management business administration, financial management, economics, or related field is required.
• Academic, programming and/or management credentials in gender are a strong asset.
• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in programme/project development and management at the national and international level; at least 4 years of experience with creative gender skill capacity development is required;
• Significant knowledge and understanding of country/ regional/global gender equality issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current trends, methods and approaches;
• Demonstrated skills in project and operational management and ability to work across functional areas at a senior-level;
• Strong leadership, diplomatic, and negotiation skills along with the ability to network and deliver results at a senior-level;
• High level of organization, follow-up and attention to detail;
• Ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and concisely in written and oral form and excellent writing skills required;
• Proven skills in communication, strategic planning and systems thinking at a senior-level;
• Prior experience with UNICEF's Gender Action Plan and the Gender Section's portfolio an asset;
• Understanding of UN systems and international development issues required;
• Experience with the UN and/or in a developing country is strongly encouraged.
• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values

•  Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity
• Core competencies
• Communication
• Working with People
• Drive for Results

Functional Competencies

• Formulating Strategies and Concepts
• Analyzing
• Relating and Networking
• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Applying to technical expertise
• Planning and organizing

Technical Knowledge 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including an ability to write succinctly and clearly and speak in public forums compellingly and with confidence.
• High level of initiative and independence in ability to undertake complex tasks while proactively seeking relevant input, cooperation, and guidance from key constituents.
• Experience and demonstrated ability to motivate others and create and encourage a climate of teamwork in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to make effective use of political processes to influence and persuade others inside and outside UNICEF and negotiate a desired direction and/or outcome
• Ability to think outside the box, generate new ideas, approaches, or insights and develop innovative ways to undertake projects and initiatives, shape solutions to problems.
• Strategic thinker who can pull disparate ideas into a cohesive vision, strategy, plan that is positive and compelling for other to join, collaborate, and implement.
• Proven ability to build rapport with individuals and groups and maintain an effective network of individuals across organizational departments as well externally

 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.