Innovation Specialist, P-4, Evaluation Office, New York, USA, #103065

This position is located in UNICEF’s Evaluation Office (EO) in New York, which serves as steward of UNICEF’s evaluation function, steering the development of evaluation policy, strategy and systems, including evaluation quality assurance processes. Its director reports to UNICEF’s Executive Board through an annual report on the evaluation function, which includes information on selected evaluations. The Evaluation Office focuses on the promotion of an enabling environment for evaluation and providing ready access to evaluation information. It also commissions independent corporate evaluations, usually conducted in collaboration with external consultants, and undertakes evaluation capacity development within and outside the organization.

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, a geographically mobile & diverse workforce

This position is located in UNICEF’s Evaluation Office (EO) in New York, which serves as steward of UNICEF’s evaluation function, steering the development of evaluation policy, strategy and systems, including evaluation quality assurance processes. Its director reports to UNICEF’s Executive Board through an annual report on the evaluation function, which includes information on selected evaluations. The Evaluation Office focuses on the promotion of an enabling environment for evaluation and providing ready access to evaluation information. It also commissions independent corporate evaluations, usually conducted in collaboration with external consultants, and undertakes evaluation capacity development within and outside the organization.

The position of Innovation Specialist (P4) is part of the EO’s Innovation, Information, Learning and Uptake unit and will report to the Director, Evaluation Office (D2). The Innovation Specialist will supervise a Knowledge Management Specialist (P3), Learning & Uptake Analyst (P2), an Information Assistant (G6) and consultants as needed.

Purpose

The Innovation Specialist will establish and lead the EO’s Innovation, Information, Learning and Uptake unit. S/he will promote the utility of evaluations agenda, will be responsible for systems to assess evaluations, facilitate learning and knowledge exchange, bringing an innovation lens to the evaluation function and supporting high-level communication efforts.

The Specialist is responsible for conducting these activities in accordance with UNICEF’s mission, guiding principles, standards, commitments and accountability framework as well as UNEG evaluation norms and standards.  

How can you make a difference?

1. Enhance the use of evaluations and evaluation evidence within and outside of UNICEF

• Lead a change process to diversify the EO’s communication and dissemination approaches and channels, including creating videos and blogs on evaluation results, piloting interactive reports/ briefs with infographics, moderating social media accounts and networks; 
• In collaboration with the independent corporate evaluation unit, organize meetings, workshops and other fora to establish a dialogue on evaluation results, recommendations and lessons learned;
• Provide technical support to Regional and Country Offices on approaches to increase the use of evaluation evidence;
• Devise a strategy to measure the use of evaluation evidence both within and beyond UNICEF;
• Promote peer exchange and represent UNICEF in UNEG and other fora concerned with use of evaluation evidence.

2. Lead a systems upgrade process to facilitate assessment/rating of UNICEF evaluations, learning and knowledge exchange on evaluation

• Devise and implement an action plan for systems integration in collaboration with other parts of UNICEF and key partners, to facilitate learning and knowledge exchange within and beyond UNICEF;
• Support the continued implementation and upgrade of the Global Evaluation Reporting and Oversight System (GEROS) which is used to assess and rate UNICEF evaluations;
• Coordinate the implementation of innovative solutions to promote evaluation use;
• Effectively deploy human and financial resources of the Evaluation Office for systems upgrades, state-of-the art software and acquiring licenses.

3. Infuse an innovation lens into the evaluation function

• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce and implement best and cutting edge practices on evaluation methodology, planning and management to support and facilitate evaluation utility and use;
• Identify, design, prototype and scale up innovative technologies, processes and practices to strengthen evaluation use;
• Institutionalize and disseminate best practices and lessons learned to maximize the use of evaluation results to support improved programming and results delivery;
• Promote the use of innovative approaches (including use of big data, technology for data collection and analysis etc.) in UNICEF evaluations;
• Promote agile approaches to evaluation for increased timeliness and responsiveness;
• Act as focal point for evaluation syntheses that bring together UNICEF evaluation evidence and external evidence.

4. Support the Director’s Office in high-level dissemination matters

• Contribute to effective dissemination of evaluation results, Dashboards, annual reports on the evaluation function, etc. to the Executive Board, UNICEF senior management, key donors and other stakeholders;
• Conduct training in-house evaluation experts on how to effectively communicate evaluation results/recommendations to diverse audiences;
• In collaboration with regional evaluation advisers, hold periodic regional knowledge exchange events to showcase evaluation evidence on “what works for children” and to learn about the information needs of governments, civil society and affected populations.
• The Innovation Specialist will perform other related duties and assignments as and when required.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in data science, ICT, media/communications, a social science or related field is required.
• A minimum of eight (8) years professional experience in management, planning and operations, particularly budget and human resources, or related field.
• Knowledge of UNICEF is a requirement.
• Fluency in English is required, and a second UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication
• Working with people
• Drive for results

Functional Competencies:

• Relating and Networking
• Persuading and Influencing
• Following Instructions and Procedures
• Coping with Pressure and Setbacks
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts
• Entrepreneurial Thinking

View our competency framework at:

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.