Chief Child Protection, P4, Fixed-term, Colombo, Sri Lanka #93932

The Chief is responsible for managing and supervising all stages of child protection programmes/projects from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable contributions to national and international efforts to create a protective environment for children against all harm and to protect their rights to survival, development and well-being, as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties/frameworks and UN intergovernmental bodies.

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, Hope

How can you make a difference?

Join our dynamic team as Chief, Child Protection UNICEF Sri Lanka! The Chief is responsible for managing and supervising all stages of child protection programmes/projects from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable contributions to national and international efforts to create a protective environment for children against all harm and to protect their rights to survival, development and well-being, as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties/frameworks and UN intergovernmental bodies.

Key accountabilities include;

1. Managerial leadership

• Monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
• Provide timely guidance to enable the team to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently.
• Supervise team members by providing them with clear objectives and goals.

2. Programme development and planning

• Set programme priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans.
• Keep abreast of national, regional and international development priorities on child protection and rights to leverage UNICEFs position and competencies with donors, national governments, communities and constituents.
• Ensure alignment with overall UNICEF Strategic (Child Protection) Plans, regional strategies and national priorities, plans.
• Ensure emergency preparedness is contained in national programmes/projects.

  3. Programme management, monitoring and quality control of results

• Plan and collaborate on monitoring and evaluation initiatives to establish benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators.
• Participate in major monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts.
• Monitor programmes/projects to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems.
• Plan, approve, monitor, certify, and control the use of programme resources
• Prepare programme/project reports to donors and other partners to keep them informed on programme progress and critical issues.

4. Advisory services and technical support 

• Provide technical advice to key government officials, NGO, UN system and other country office partners.
• Participate in strategic discussions to influence policy and agenda setting for combating poverty and all forms of discrimination against women/children.

5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with local/national governments, UN system agency partners, donors

• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on child protection and related issues

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable child protection programme.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce, and implement best and cutting-edge practices on child protection management and information systems.

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

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.

Experience: 

• A minimum of eight years of professional experience in planning and managing in child protection related areas, at the international level, is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in programme development in child protection related areas in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in justice is considered an asset.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.

Language Requirements:  

• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are...

• Leading and supervising
• Formulating strategies/concepts
• Analyzing
• Relating and networking
• Deciding and initiating action
• Applying Technical Expertise

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.

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.

Remarks:

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