Market Research Manager, P-4, FT in MSFIC, UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen DK

Under the supervision of the Chief, Markets, Supplier Financing & Innovation Centre, the incumbent will be expected to coordinate and undertake Supply Division’s market research and analysis, designing frameworks and informing strategies to achieve improved market conditions for existing and future strategic supplies and services for children.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. This means that all children can access and benefit from goods and services that provide an opportunity for each child to survive, develop, thrive and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. As articulated by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), children and especially the most marginalized populations face the greatest challenges as a result of climate change, urbanization, migration, humanitarian emergencies, spread of neglected infectious diseases as well as the rise in prevalence of non-communicable diseases. These underscore the importance of UNICEF’s continued efforts to realize the rights of every child. While new or augmented programmatic responses may be necessary to address these issues, many may necessitate new partnerships, new products and market creation.

Job organizational context

Through the Markets, Supplier Financing, and Innovation Centre (MSFIC), UNICEF Supply Division seeks to influence positively the market dynamics to ensure commodities are fit for purpose, available, affordable, and produced by a competitive supply base, as well as to encourage product innovation of essential commodities to meet the changing needs of children in the SDG era.

While MSFIC will coordinate the efforts of influencing markets across UNICEF Supply Division’s different procurement centres and units, with each procurement centre playing a critical role in identifying and defining the procurement approaches required, MSFIC will assist and facilitate this body of work with strategy design/review, market research, analysis, supplier financing, communication, leveraging partnerships, and promoting market information transparency.

The Market Research Manager is required to work with colleagues from across UNICEF Supply Division to support design and strengthen strategic procurement efforts, including those related to Product Innovation Projects (PIPs). The Manager needs to be a credible source of market intelligence to be able to impact the decision making process of senior staff in the organization. In order to review, design and strengthen market influencing strategies, the Manager needs to be comfortable with leading and supporting strategy development. The Manager will be expected to interpret market research and discern how market shaping interventions can positively influence supplier behaviour. Given the degree of collaboration, the Manager will serve as one of Supply Division’s key interlocutors with other market shaping partners. It is expected that the manager will also have at least two direct reports who support the Manager and execute other aspects of the market influencing agenda such as the market information transparency agenda.

Purpose for the job

Under the supervision of the Chief, Markets, Supplier Financing & Innovation Centre, the incumbent will be expected to coordinate and undertake Supply Division’s market research and analysis, designing frameworks and informing strategies to achieve improved market conditions for existing and future strategic supplies and services for children.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities

• Coordinate Supply Division’s work in market research and analysis: Plan and execute market research projects, prepare reports of findings through graphic data illustration and translating complex findings into easy to understand and clear recommendations for both existing products, and PIPs.
• Monitor pricing trends, supplier development, key product pipelines, and track key industry statistics and dynamics including as an input to procurement strategy development and particularly for new/future products, services and markets. [Likely focus on health, nutrition, and products/services used in predominantly low and middle income countries, or emergency settings]
• Coordinate and contribute to the work on development of market influencing frameworks, policies and strategies for essential commodities for children through rigorous market research and analyses.
• Support UNICEF’s engagement strategy with key manufacturers and suppliers – ultimately to positively influence markets of key supplies and services for children.
• Support the secretariat for UNICEF’s internal Products & Markets Advisory Board (that provides high level guidance on market influencing and product innovation efforts across the organization); and furthermore, lead the secretariat for SD’s Influencing Markets Advisory Group (that coordinates strategic and tactical market shaping efforts within SD).
• Collaborate with Supply Division procurement centres, UNICEF stakeholders and key external partners to help drive procurement strategies and shape critical markets for essential products and services for children.
• Support efforts to influence local market agendas in programme countries with well-designed research, analysis and implementation plans.
• In coordination with colleagues in Supply Division, engage with UNICEF’s market shaping partners; e.g. with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gavi Secretariat, the Global Fund, CHAI, PATH, Product Development Partnerships, WHO, PAHO, UNIDO, and others.

Core Values
• Commitment
• Diversity and inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies
• Communication (level II)
• Drive for results (level II)
• Working with people (level II)

Functional competencies
• Creating and Innovating (level II)
• Entrepreneurial Thinking (level II)
• Deciding and Initiating Action (level II)
• Applying Technical Expertise (level III)
• Analytical and Conceptual Thinking (level III)
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts (level II)

Education

A completed Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree) in Business, Economics, or relevant applied sciences is required.

Experience

Minimum of eight (8) years relevant professional work experience including at least three (3) at the international level is required.

Experience in the following areas in the private or public sectors is required:

• Commercial activities in developing and industrialized countries.
• Worldwide strategic procurement, contract negotiations and administration, combined with broader economic knowledge.
• Market research issues relating to health, nutrition, and/or products used in resource-poor settings.

• Development of demand forecasts, economic/epidemiological models, or other types of complex projections.

   

  Experience in the following areas in the private or public sectors is preferred:

• Technical support to countries with strategic procurement.

• Computer applications especially data analysis/visualization applications.

   

   Language requirements:

  Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in another UN official language (Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic, Chinese) is an asset.

   

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

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 organisation.

You can apply to the above position by creating your profile, and application on our web site: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index.php