Representative, D-2, New Delhi, India (readvertisement)

[This position is being readvertised - candidates who submitted an application to the post as part of the SSRRE 2021 process are still under consideration and need not reapply.] As head of a Country Office, the Representative is responsible for providing leadership and vision to the UNICEF country programme team in managing and leveraging resources for the achievement of results and realization of the rights of children. The Representative leads and oversees the various programme sectors and operational service teams ensuring delivery of quality results in accordance with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework, ethics and integrity. The Representative is accountable for ensuring a respectful, non-discriminatory, and nurturing working environment for all staff and personnel, to enable them to effectively and efficiently deliver high-quality results for children. The Representative promotes UNICEF culture change to create and retain a work environment based on UNICEF values and competencies as well as matrix management structures based on cross-silo collaboration and knowledge sharing.

[This position is being readvertised - candidates who submitted an application to the post as part of the SSRRE 2021 process are still under consideration and need not reapply.]

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, dedication.

The Representative serves as the accredited representative of the UNICEF Executive Director in the country and reports to the Regional Director for general direction and oversight. The Representative is responsible for establishing dialogue with the government to develop the framework of cooperation in the country and for working closely and collaboratively with the government and national institutions, stakeholders and partners, to develop the Government-UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation in active support of efforts to advance children’s rights as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, other international treaties/frameworks, the SDGs, and UN intergovernmental bodies.

As head of a Country Office, the Representative is responsible for providing leadership and vision to the UNICEF country programme team in managing and leveraging resources for the achievement of results and realization of the rights of children. The Representative leads and oversees the various programme sectors and operational service teams ensuring delivery of quality results in accordance with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework, ethics and integrity. The Representative is accountable for ensuring a respectful, non-discriminatory, and nurturing working environment for all staff and personnel, to enable them to effectively and efficiently deliver high-quality results for children. The Representative promotes UNICEF culture change to create and retain a work environment based on UNICEF values and competencies as well as matrix management structures based on cross-silo collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Given the potential for private sector fundraising, the Representative has an essential role to play leading the mobilization of resources from the private sector towards funding the Country Programme and to mobilize resources for the organization globally.

How can you make a difference?

• Developing and planning the Country Program
• Leading and managing the CO, including driving cross-functional collaboration between programme, communication, fundraising and operations teams, with aligned objectives.
• Monitoring and quality control of the Country Program
• Representation and external relations at global/national level
• Support to the Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team
• Resource mobilization and partnerships
• Leading private sector fundraising and partnerships
• Cultivating relationships with private sector partners and donors
• Leading innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
• Safety, security and well-being and health of all personnel is your priority concern while delivering results

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

• An Advanced University Degree in social sciences, international relations, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development or other related fields, is required.
• A minimum of 15 years professional development experience that combines intellectual and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level, some of which served in developing countries is required. Relevant professional experience in any UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in working with the private sector and experience in private sector fundraising is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of duty station is considered as an asset.

Person Profile: 

• Dynamic leader with excellent interpersonal skills and collaborative leadership style.
• Experience in managing large office.
• Experience in leading and managing communications, media relations, public advocacy & partnerships, with high level government officials including Presidents, Prime Ministers and CEOs.
• Results-driven and people-oriented management approach with strong ability to influence, negotiate, and build networks and partnerships while improving/ rebuilding systems, streamlining and simplifying processes.
• Excellent political, diplomatic and organizational development skills, combined with a proven ability to succeed in a complex political, diverse and multicultural environment.
• Strong capacity to work effectively in inter-agency and cross-sectoral leadership teams.
• Strong capacity to distill and translate multifaceted and critical issues for organizational attention within the country, the region and at HQ levels.
• Experience in/knowledge of the UN system and knowledge of UNICEF’s work would be an asset.
• Strategic and global thinking and analytical ability.
• Well developed skills in building relationships with and influencing external partners and donors at a senior level (ministerial level in the public sector, C-suite level in the private sector)

Country Typology:  

• Country Income Level: Lower Middle Income
• Duty Station: New Delhi is currently a “B,” family duty station.
• Office Size: 402 staff with 14 field offices
• Annual Budget: $135,000,000
• Schooling: New Delhi India offers a variety of international schools including the American Embassy School, the British School, the German School, Lycée Français International de Delhi, and others. Additional information and links to the various school web sites can be found here: http://www.expatarrivals.com/india/delhi/international-schools-in-delhi

• Brief country context:  
   

  India has a total population of 1.2 billion, and the child population is 444 million, with an adolescent population of 253 million. India is the world’s fourth largest economy with a GDP of US$1,576. The head count of extreme poverty (US$1.90 a day):21 per cent.  (Of the estimated 1 billion extremely poor people globally, 60 per cent live in India and Bangladesh).  Kashmir, a Himalayan territory divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its entirety, remains a highly contentious issue resulting in sporadic (and often violent) clashes. There are 705 ‘Scheduled Tribes’ that constitute 8.6 per cent of the total population (and 10.2 per cent of the child population).  Around 92 per cent of tribal people live in rural areas.  More than 2 out of 5 tribal households are in the poorest wealth quintile, compared with just over 1 in 10 non-tribal households. The Covid-19 crisis has deteriorated the poverty and development challenges in India.  

  The duty station suffers from periodic severe particle and other pollution that may be difficult to handle for person with certain medical conditions such as prevailing asthma or lung disease. Air purifiers are provided in the office and for staff homes. Life chances in India are largely determined by the social stratification of the caste system.  Pervasive norms and attitudes on the value of girls and women continue to have far reaching consequences for India’s development.   

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.

Competencies 

• Builds and maintains partnerships 
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness 
• Drive to achieve results for impact 
• Innovates and embraces change 
• Manages ambiguity and complexity 
• Thinks and acts strategically 
• Works collaboratively with others 
• Nurtures, leads and manages people 

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

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.