Temporary Appointment: Programme Specialist, (P-4), Office of Director - Programme Division, NYHQ # 0108549

Under the guidance of the Deputy Director – Programmes, the incumbent will be responsible for providing programme support to the Deputy Director's office in the planning, implementing and coordination of activities under his/her portfolio, including standard setting and outcome/progress monitoring of work-plans of the five Sections of the Crosscutting Cluster; technical inputs to programme development for new and emerging areas; coordination of the research portfolio; statutory reporting and liaison with major stakeholders of the results set under the Deputy Director's accountability.

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.

The Programme Specialist is located in the Programme Division (PD) within the Director’s Office (PDDO) and reports directly to the Deputy Director for Cross-Cutting Areas who oversees the Cross-cutting sections (ADAP, ECD, Disability, C4D and Human Rights) and manages PD’s research, evaluation and knowledge management portfolio, in addition to leading programme development in emerging programme areas such as migration and urbanization. The Programme Specialist interacts regularly with staff in the Cross-cutting cluster, PDDO and the other PD Sections as well as supports effective inter-sectoral collaboration and coordinated information flow with other HQ divisions and Regional and Country Offices in matters pertaining to the accountabilities of the Deputy Director.  The post requires occasional interaction with external partners (UN Agencies, NGO partners and Member States).

For every child,

Under the guidance of the Deputy Director – Programmes, the incumbent will be responsible for providing programme support to the Deputy Director's office in the planning, implementing and coordination of activities under his/her portfolio, including standard setting and outcome/progress monitoring of work-plans of the five Sections of the Crosscutting Cluster; technical inputs to programme development for new and emerging areas; coordination of the research portfolio; statutory reporting and liaison with major stakeholders of the results set under the Deputy Director's accountability.

How can you make a difference?

Planning and results monitoring for the Cross-Cutting Cluster

• Provide technical support to five Cross-cutting Sections. And the cross-divisional team pf migration, urban and climate, ensuring alignment of their strategies, annual work-plans and other planning exercises with Sectoral strategies, the divisional Office Management Plan and UNICEF Strategic Plan goals.
• Establish mechanisms to monitor progress in the achievement of planned results of the Cross-cutting sections, including through dashboards, review of COARs, RAM indicators, etc.
• Coordinate the development and monitoring of the Cluster compacts with Regional Offices to ensure effective and timely country support in cross-cutting programming.

• Establish effective mechanisms for gathering, consolidating and ensuring quality control of the Cross-cutting Cluster sections' timely and quality inputs to statutory reports [annual reports, thematic reports, inputs to the Executive Director Annual Report (EDAR)], etc.

Technical support for research, evaluation and knowledge management

• Support the Deputy Director in the review and quality assurance of divisional knowledge products (publications, technical guidance, briefs). Engage with the PD Knowledge Management (KM) Working Group on behalf of the Deputy Director, keeping track of divisional KM goals and products.
• Act as Secretariat of the Interdivisional Research Task Force coordinating the development of annual work-plans, implementation of initiatives and exchange with relevant key stakeholders within PO, HQ Divisions and the field.
• Deliver high quality analysis by drawing on lessons learned from strategic reviews and evaluations, reviews and surveys, information provided in Country Office Annual Reports and other sources on issues pertaining the Deputy Directors' portfolio. Contribute to the documenting of good practices as relevant to advance programme development in emerging areas

Coordination and networking

• Support effective coordination between the office of the Deputy Director and other relevant parts of the organization, through regular convening and consultations with PD Sections chiefs, HQ Divisions, and/or Regional and Country Officers on issues pertaining to cross-sectoral programming and emerging areas.
• Establish and manage efficient procedures for smooth liaison and knowledge exchange on tools and guidance across the Cross-cutting Cluster, to ensure coherence of information and guidance to the field on cross-cutting programming.

To qualify as a champion for every child, the candidate must have…

• Advanced University Degree or equivalent in one or more of the following disciplines: Social Sciences, International development, Policy development, or other related fields with significant focus on child rights, research and programme planning
• At least 8 years of relevant work experience at the national or international level in programme planning, coordination and implementation, hands-on experience at country level is required.  Experience in multi-sectoral, Cross-cutting programming for children and adolescents would be preferred.  Sound knowledge of UNICEF’s rules and procedures would be an asset.
• Fluency in English (oral and written) and another UN language is required.

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. To view our competency framework, please click here.

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.

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.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.