Consultancy - GIGA Engagement and Planning Specialist - Office of Global Innovation (6 months)

 UNICEF's Office of Innovation creates opportunities for the world's children by focusing on where new markets can meet their vital needs. We do this by:  

• Connecting youth communities (or more broadly ­­ anyone disconnected or under­served) to decision­ makers, and to each other, to deliver informed, relevant and sustained programmes that build better, stronger futures for children. 

• Provoking change for children through an entrepreneurial approach ­­ in a traditionally risk­ averse field ­­ to harness rapidly moving innovations and apply them to serve the needs of all children. 

• Creating new models of partnership that leverage core business values across the public, private and academic sectors in order to deliver fast, and lasting results for children.  

Your main responsibilities will be: 

Promote external visibility of GIGA 

• Support the GIGA team in promoting its work to the outside world - both through events as well as supporting production of communication materials 

• Represent the Office of Innovation at GIGA-related events to help build the base of potential supporters and collaborators (e.g. donors, governments, United Nations offices or agencies, etc.) 

• With GIGA Country Engagement team, develop strategies around participation in relevant external events  

Lead logistical planning & execution of GIGA events 

• Provide specialized support to the GIGA team when developing concept notes, budgets and timelines for regional workshops or training activities serving government, private and public sector stakeholders 

• Conceptualize and create template for GIGA regional workshops and trainings with agenda, typical target participants, etc.  

• Lead logistical coordination (including booking travel, accommodation, venues, managing guest lists, and ensuring the availability of required materials) of regional workshops or other large-scale or strategic events that engage GIGA stakeholders, in close coordination with the internal GIGA team as well as UNICEF Country Offices and relevant government agencies  

• Create ‘GIGA events package’ (and update it with lessons learned after every workshop/training event) of documents for sessions that will be repeated in future such events including assessment/analysis frameworks, training materials, discussion prompts, FAQs, etc.  

• In close collaboration with Communications and Design teams, develop materials and ensure consistency and accuracy of messaging and visual assets created for GIGA events 

• Own end-to-end execution of regional workshops, ensuring each is completed smoothly and step up to resolve any problems that might occur 

• Support with required follow-up with participants post-workshops 

• Document event summary, lessons learned and the evolution of events 

Planning and executing other events 

• Lead the end-to-end execution of related events such as the Venture Fund cohort workshops, ensuring each is completed smoothly and step up to resolve any problems that might occur 

• Provide support to other team events as required 

Keeping the team organized and informed 

• Manage lines of communication and maintain relationships with event agencies; various UNICEF Country Offices, and Programme Division; collaborators at other UN agencies; partners from governments, academia, and private sector 

• Provide inputs to decision-making regarding internal systems and evaluate emerging technologies that are relevant to events or relationship management 

• Manage the Trello board for GIGA Country Engagement and ensure that it is kept updated 

• Take ownership of the development and maintenance of the GIGA team’s event calendar and keep the team informed 

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in communication, international relations/political science, international development or other relevant field.  

             A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 4  years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an   advanced university degree. 

• A minimum of 2 years of progressive experience in non­profit development, public relations, partnerships, project management or event management 

• Very strong planning, communication, writing and editing skills with keen attention to details 

• Experience with events big and small, from delivering a creative concept and designing an agenda, to identifying event milestones and deadlines, to directing and overseeing coordination leading up to and at the event 

• Scrappy, creative, obsessively organized, in your element when on the move or coordinating multi­nationally; highly adaptable and very personable, someone that people quickly warm up to  

• A track record of organizing events at UNICEF or at the United Nations and/or managing public sector partnerships a huge plus  

• Experience with curating keynotes and panel sessions for industry thought leaders a plus 

• Experience with vendor/supplier liaison: venues, hotels, AV, etc. Experience working with Concur a plus 

• Familiarity with UNICEF’s Innovation work and the GIGA initiative an asset 

• Experience working with UNICEF Country Offices a major plus 

• Must be able to travel at least four times a year and work events outside of normal business hours, as needed 

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 

Payment details and further considerations 

• Monthly payment, based on monthly tasks and progress reports, approved upon monthly review with supervisor. 

• Consultant is responsible for his/her own health insurance 

• Consultant is eligible for standard DSA for all work-related travel 

• Consultants are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance 

• Consultant is eligible for roundtrip airfare to and from the duty station at the beginning and end of the assignment.