Chief, Social Protection P4 , Fixed Term Amman, Jordan

The Chief of Social Protection reports to the Deputy Representative for general guidance and direction, and is responsible for managing and supervising all stages of integrated social protection programme including strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results.

Purpose of the job

The Chief of Social Protection reports to the Deputy Representative for general guidance and direction, and is responsible for managing and supervising all stages of integrated social protection programme including strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. This will include (a) child and gender sensitive social protection reform in Jordan, b) identification of strategic partnership; c) setting up systems for effective programme delivery, contribution management, monitoring and reporting  d) operationalization of new emerging areas for social protection programme integration and finally, e) development of civil society development programme. This encompasses both direct implementation of integrated social protection programme in the camps as well as work with government and civil society partners, ensuring linkages to national social protection systems and support to teams working on education, youth, child protection, health, water and sanitation.

The Chief Social Protection is responsible for providing overall guidance, technical support and quality assurance to the management of implementing partnerships as well as direct implementation of the integrated social protection programme in Jordan Country Office (JCO), in line with respective operational policies and procedures and mainstreaming of risk based implementing partnership management as well as at the Country Office (CO) level.

The Chief of Social Protection will provide overall guidance and oversight to Social Protection team in the implementation of integrated social services through the ‘Makani platform’ including cash transfer programme and Civil Society Capacity Building programme.  The Chief, Social Protection will serve as the focal person for UNICEF Social Protection package and will work closely with key partners involved in social protection and resilience programs in Jordan. He/She will also support the section in the development of analytical, policy and advocacy tools and strengthen the national social protection systems.

How can you make a difference?

1. Managerial leadership and supervision:

• Establish the social protection section’s annual work plan with the social protection team; set priorities/targets and performance measurement, monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.

• Establish clear individual performance objectives, goals and timelines; and provide timely guidance to enable the team to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently. Plan and ensure timely performance management and assessment of the Team.

• Supervise team members by providing them with clear objectives and goals, direction and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.

2. Strengthening social protection coverage and impact for children:

• Develops social protection policies, legislation and programmes with attention to increasing coverage of and impact on children, with special attention the most marginalized.  Identifies, generates and presents evidence to support this goal in collaboration with partners (World Bank, EU, ECHO, FAO, UNHCR, WFP, Basic Needs Working Group).
• Promotes strengthening of integrated social protection systems, providing technical support to partners to improve the design of cash transfers and child grants and improve linkages with other social protection interventions such as health insurance, public works and social care services as well as complementary services and intervention related to nutrition, health, education, water and sanitation, child protection.

3. Quality assurance & Programme Design:

• Design and ensure implementation of quality assurance strategies/processes for the implementation of the integrated programme Makani-Cash plus Civil Society Organizations (CSO) procedure in the JCO. This includes processes to ensure that implementing partners are selected and assessed in accordance with the CSO procedure and that all documentation is in line with corporate standards as stipulated in the CSO procedure.
• Support the design, implementation and monitoring of an integrated National Social Protection program, in close collaboration with other partners (World Bank, EU, FAO, WFP, The Cash Working Group)
• Support the design and dissemination of program implementation tools (Operation Manual, Monitoring and Evaluation tools, result tracking tools) by social protection stakeholders, including UNICEF partners as and when needed.
• Reinforce the development of linkages between the Humanitarian NGOs and Governmental programs in social protection
• Reinforce linkages and complementarity between social protection and other social services, such as education and others, through the national coordination mechanism
• Promote the use of innovations in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of social protection programs
• Reinforce the data collection and management system, and the effectiveness of the Social protection coordination mechanism, at the national and regional levels.

    4. Effective UNICEF Programme Management:

• Manages and coordinates technical support around social protection and ensuring it is well planned, monitored, and implemented in a timely fashion so as to adequately support scale-up and delivery.
• Ensures risk analysis and risk mitigation are embedded into overall management of the support, in close consultation with UNICEF programme sections, Cooperating Partners, and governments.
• Ensures effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the country programme. Ensures that the social planning project enhances policy dialogue, planning, supervision, technical advice, management, training, research and support; and that the monitoring and evaluation component strengthens monitoring and evaluation of the social sectors and provides support to sectoral and decentralized information systems.

    5. Data-generation, analysis, monitoring and reporting

• Improving data on social protection and increased use for policy and programme action: Oversees the collection, analysis and user-friendly presentation of data on social protection, including strengthening national capacity to collect routinely, report and use data for social protection policy decision-making. Provides timely, regular data-driven analysis for effective prioritization, planning, and development; facilitates results-based management for planning, adjusting, and scaling-up specific social protection initiatives.
• Using appropriate corporate tools and systems including InSight and e-Tools, report on status of implementation of Social Protection interventions – and identify high risk areas requiring special attention and/or support from the JCO Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) specialist
• Prepare reports for Country Management Team (CMT) as may be required.
• Work closely with Reports Specialist to ensure timely submission of quality reports and donor and communication products (both internal and external).

    6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Improving use of innovations and public financial resources for children: undertakes social protection budget analysis to inform UNICEF’s advocacy and technical assistance to Ministries of Finance, planning commissions and social sector ministries to improve equitable allocations for essential social protection services for children
• Identifies policy options for improved domestic financing of child-sensitive social protection interventions.
• Promote the use of innovations in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of social protection programs
• Design and implement/facilitate capacity building strategy/initiatives for staff of implementing partners to ensure that they are knowledgeable on all aspects of partnering with UNICEF, with particular emphasis on the set integrated standards and established d institutional strengthen programmes.

    7. Design and implement comprehensive programme on capacity building for local civil society organisations / partners

• Design a comprehensive programme to holistically provide support to civil society organizations serving vulnerable populations, including but not limited to women’s groups and educational groups.
• Where appropriate - provide technical assistance and financial support to CSO’s to enhance the capacity and practical orientation of their organization as aligned to UNICEF’s programmes.

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

Education: An advanced university degree in development studies, social policy, social protection, international development, business administration, economics, or other relevant field is required.

Experience: A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in social protection, child protection and systems strengthening is required at the national and international level some of which with the UN and/or in a developing country. Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered a strong asset.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

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.

Functional Competencies:

• Formulating strategies and concepts (III)
• Analyzing (III)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Deciding and Initiating action (II)
• Applying technical expertise (III)
• Planning and organizing (III)

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.

Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offers of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.