Chief, Programme Services, P5

The post is responsible for management oversight of the Programme Services team across three areas of strategic importance. First, ensuring that strategic advice is provided to private sector fundraisers on how to effectively mobilize high quality income and strategically allocate contributions to UNICEF’s priority programme areas. Second, overseeing the team’s knowledge management functions, including positioning the team as a hub of programmatic information for colleagues across the Division, and overseeing production of a range of customized and off-the-shelf fundraising products and online platforms. Third, guiding the team’s business analysis functions, including on financial monitoring and reporting, financial analysis and grant management issues.

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, Hope...

The children's rights are valid for every child worldwide - also with us. The Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) based in Geneva, Switzerland aims to achieve results for children by maximizing UNICEF's private fundraising and advocacy around the world. To carry out this mission, PFP coordinates fundraising activities and private sector partnerships with 34 National Committees for UNICEF and 21 of the organization's country offices. The Division also implements global strategies in child rights advocacy, communication and brand positioning in National Committee countries through a range of partnerships, including with the media, corporations, civil society and young people.

How can you make a difference?
As Chief of Programme Services, you will be responsible for the following:

1. Oversee the team’s strategic advisory role to private sector fundraisers on how to effectively mobilize high quality income and strategically allocate contributions to UNICEF’s priority programme areas.  This includes guiding negotiations between National Committees and regional/country offices when developing programme proposals, thus ensuring high quality, flexible funding, efficient processing of financial contributions and donor satisfaction with the highest quality reporting. These functions include providing advisory services to National Committees and PFP colleagues regarding priority programmes and funding options. They also include relationship management with regional and country offices and Headquarter Divisions to ensure the effective flow of high quality and timely information on programmes and funding needs.

2. Oversee the team’s knowledge management functions, including positioning the team as a hub of programmatic information for colleagues across the Division, including those involved in fundraising, private sector engagement, communication, and advocacy.  Special attention is placed on overseeing production of a range of customized and off-the-shelf fundraising products and online platforms.  This includes ensuring the production of two streams of high quality donor materials for National Committees, which seek to encourage them to raise high quality, flexible income (RR and OR) and lead to greater donor satisfaction: (a) off-the-shelf products such as the Natcom Donor Toolkits, fundraising initiatives, and the annual Report on Regular Resources; and (b) customized products such as proposals and reports tailored for high-value private sector donors. This function also includes overseeing the development of tools and technologies to share donor materials with National Committees in an efficient and engaging way; notably, through the team’s Funding Marketplace content management system.

3. Develop and manages initiative to strategically allocate National Committee funding to priority programme areas, in consultation with New York HQ Divisions, regional offices and country offices.

4. Provide knowledge management and capacity strengthening leadership to National Committees, field offices, and HQ on issues of quality income, results-based fundraising, and production of high quality donor materials. Stay in touch with latest thinking and trends in programme delivery and contributes to UNICEF’s global fundraising expertise through workshops and global network meetings.

5. Guide the team’s business analysis functions, including on financial monitoring and reporting, financial analysis and grant management issues – the latter ensuring that all incoming private OR grants are aligned with quality income principles and that the intent of donors and recipient offices are properly reflected in UNICEF’s corporate grant management system (VISION). Oversee performance monitoring and analysis of National Committee quality income trends, utilizing results and evidence to influence corporate, major donor, and foundation fundraising strategies in consultation with PFP and National Committee colleagues.

6. Lead and manage the Programme Services team’s goal of maximizing results, ensuring work plans are developed and objectives and targets are achieved.

7. Promote quality income fundraising for emergencies and humanitarian crises. This includes ensuring that policy guidance to National Committees and country offices for private sector emergency fundraising is reviewed and maintained.

8. Ensure a risk management approach is taken in relation to the work of Programme Services and, in liaison with other HQ Divisions, contributes to UNICEF policies, rules and regulations related to funding issues, programme implementation, and reporting.

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

• An advanced university degree in marketing, economics, social sciences, fundraising, international relations, development studies, communication, business administration, law or equivalent. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
  
  

• Minimum 10 years relevant work experience with management of donor relationships and in particular of private sector donors, some of which in developing countries and at the senior management level.

  Preference will be given to candidates with international fundraising experience and those with experience of managing significant (i.e. multi-million $) annual income/expenditure budgets. Knowledge of the UN system is an advantage.

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) 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.

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.