Consultant - Project Management Capacity Development, Beijing, China

UNICEF is seeking a Project Management Consultant to strengthen our project management and create a contextually appropriate approach for relevant activities across the country programme. This will be an approach that complements the organizational planning processes and tools whilst building capacity in project management.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up.

For every child, results

UNICEF China has strong mechanisms for work planning and reporting of results and an approach that aims to take pilots to policy to scale. Workplans are created in consultation with an array of implementing partners and activities agreed on a yearly basis. The activities represent a mix of service delivery style pilots in the field, capacity building for professionals, analysis and research with accompanying publications, and advocacy related meetings and media work. Reporting on results of activities occurs via UNICEF’s results assessment module each year. 

Between the milestones of planning and reporting, UNICEF programme officers are engaged with implementing partners, who deliver specific activities (referred to herein as ‘project management’).  A range of techniques are used in UNICEF China during this phase of activity informed by our results-based management approach and our programme manual. Several statutory checklist style tools are used for assessing financial integrity of partners.

The approach to project management varies by activity, officer, and technical area. Many approaches to project management are based on unwritten routines and practices that are tacitly entrenched amongst experienced programme officers, and learned by doing for new programme officers. 

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF is seeking a Project Management Consultant to strengthen our project management and create a contextually appropriate approach for relevant activities across the country programme. This will be an approach that complements the organizational planning processes and tools, not duplicates or replaces – whilst building capacity in project management.

Key deliverables will include:

• A desk review of current organizational planning and reporting processes and tools
• Four or more in-depth reviews with project teams in UNICEF China including with government partners
• Creation of a project management approach for use across UNICEF China including updating the UNICEF China Programme Manual
• Delivery of training events on the project management approach for programme staff

The assignment will comprise 80 working days over 4 months beginning 14 May and ending 14 September. The consultant will be asked to work in the UNICEF premises in Beijing for the duration of the assignment.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field including training or diploma in project management
• At least five years of experience from project management
• Experience of developing project management tools and best practices
• Excellent training and teaching skills
• Fluency in English with effective communication and writing skills. Knowledge of Chinese is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

• Respect for and adherence to UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, and Integrity
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work in a multicultural environment
• Strong drive for results, setting high standards for the quality of work

If you recognize yourself from the above and wish to make a difference for every child, please review the full Terms of Reference through this link and send a Cover Letter and CV as well as a financial proposal indicating your monthly consultancy rate to beijinghr@unicef.org, or apply online through www.unicef.org/employ (requisition 512381). The deadline for receipt of applications is 1 May 2018.