Planning Specialist, P3, Geneva

Under the general supervision of the Regional Director for the CEE/CIS, the Planning Specialist, provides professional assistance and support for planning and coordination activities to meet strategic results. He/She in addition to the below will also supports facilitation and coordination of the management mechanisms of the regional office, including managing the agenda and follow-up actions of the Regional Office Management Team and the wider management team; researches and analyses UNICEF strategies, reports or programmes, drafts briefings and prepares presentations for the Regional Director (RD) and Deputy Regional Director (DRD).

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,

Located in Geneva, Switzerland, the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (RO ECA) coordinates and supervises UNICEF’s work in 22 countries and entities to ensure that no child is left out in our efforts to realize their rights.

The Regional Office advocates at regional level for investment in children and for children-centred social policies. And we aim to develop regional partnerships for the achievements of the Millenium Development Goals and push for sustainable development beyond 2015.
Through the Regional Knowledge Management and Leadership Agenda, UNICEF is supporting governments to address common challenges across the region, to galvanize horizontal cooperation and mutual learning and to document impact level results for children in multiple countries which share a similar historical context.

UNICEF liaises with major international governmental bodies on regionwide children ‘issues such as the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe.

We provide technical support, policy guidance and oversight, and intellectual leadership on children's issues to the UNICEF Country Offices. We coordinate UNICEF's engagement in the UN Coherence process in the region, as well as support resource mobilization efforts for Country Offices.

The work of the Regional Advisors is organised around UNICEF’s key priorities in the region: Health and Nutrition, Children and AIDS, Basic Education and Gender Equality, Child Protection, and Emergency Preparedness and Response. A range of cross-cutting programmes support these priorities, including Communications, Advocacy and Partnerships for Children’s Rights, Communication for Development, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation as well as IT, HR and Operations.

How can you make a difference?
Under the general supervision of the Regional Director for the CEE/CIS, the Planning Specialist, provides professional assistance and support for planning and coordination activities to meet strategic results. He/She in addition to the below will also supports facilitation and coordination of the management mechanisms of the regional office, including managing the agenda and follow-up actions of the Regional Office Management Team and the wider management team; researches and analyses UNICEF strategies, reports or programmes, drafts briefings and prepares presentations for the Regional Director (RD) and Deputy Regional Director (DRD).

This will include:

1. Information Management

a) Keep abreast of critical/strategic initiatives as delegated/requested by the RD and DRD, and prioritize issues in need of immediate attention. Strengthen and ensure planning mechanisms within the Front Office.
b) Participate in travel and meetings as required, including organizing meetings, note taking, reporting on outcomes and following up on actions.
c) Organize and draft responses and provide editorial and substantive inputs as necessary in correspondence submitted for the signature of the RD or DRD. This requires reading of relevant incoming/outgoing materials, correspondences, and contractual documents for accuracy and detail.
d) Ensure and strengthen the smooth flow of relevant information from and to the Front Office, to country offices and HQ, as well as external partners as requested.

2. Programme Development and Management

a) Contributes to drafting annual work plans, key activities and calendar of milestones for the Front Office, following the results of the ROMP and its Integrated Results and Results Framework, and related reporting.
b) Prepare substantive materials such as background papers for speeches, talking points for meetings, briefing notes and presentations in consultation with relevant colleagues.
c) Support the RD and DRD in relation to UNICEF's work in the Country Offices, including feedback to CO’ Annual Reports; in particular, act as the Front Office focal point for briefing/country notes for missions in consultation with relevant colleagues, including Representatives.

3. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations

a) Attends RO management and other meetings, prepares notes, monitors and ensures follow-up actions related to planning and coordination and other management decisions, including facilitating internal communication.
b) Provide professional assistance in the preparation of documentation by collecting and analyzing data and monitoring implementation progress when required. Contribute to the identification of critical intervention points and measures by administering a consistent monitoring system. Draft or prepare action plans as required. Propose adjustments/changes in action plans.

4. Coordination and Collaboration

a) Facilitate collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and other partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development information. Establish and maintain linkage to ensure the availability of current and accurate facts to inform the Regional priorities.
b) Maintain close collaboration with Regional Advisers, country offices and HQ Officers for overall coordination.
c) In order to facilitate collaboration with external counterparts, the regional UN interagency mechanisms such as the Regional Coordination Mechanism and Regional UNDG, consolidate and draft regional positions in collaboration with relevant colleagues.

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

• An Advanced University Degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines, with specialized training in conflict resolution.

• Minimum five years of relevant professional work experience in a coordination or executive manager role.

• Strong interpersonal skills in being able to develop and maintain effective working relations with a diverse range of stakeholders.

• Ability to work independently, be proactive and possess strong organizational skills, with a good attention to detail.

• Developing country work experience or field work experience previous work experience in a coordinating role is highly desirable.
• Fluency in English (written and oral) is required. Knowledge of an additional UN language (Russian) is considered 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.