Consultancy: Senior Leadership Support, Division of Human Resources, New York

It is our intention to create a pool of qualified consultants who can support the Senior Leadership Support team on an ongoing basis. Consultants in the pool can be approached for one of the tasks described below whenever needed. Depending on their availability and their expertise and background the consultants will be contracted for specific deliverables. Under the guidance of the Chief, Senior Leadership Support team, the consultant is expected to provide support to identify talent and build their readiness for key senior and executive roles as well as mid-career level posts from relevant functional areas to feed leadership pipeline and source best-fit talent relevant to the Senior Leadership portfolio. Key tasks including delivering comprehensive reference checks for eligible candidates designated by DHR, support with the Deputy Representative and Leadership talent pool and support in the plan of setting up an elaborate Assessment Center for the Leadership Talent Group.

For over 70 years, UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children, working in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation and AIDS. UNICEF is funded by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF’s focus areas, with an emphasis on equity for the most marginalized children, are Child Survival and Development, Basic Education and Gender Equality, HIV/AIDS and Children, Child Protection and Policy Advocacy and Partnerships. In view of the above context, it is important to attract, recruit and retain the right profile of senior leaders.

UNICEF Division of Human Resources (DHR) has embarked on a reform agenda to measurably improve UNICEF's ability to deliver results for children and young people. One of the primary goals of the reform is to achieve more effective leadership talent acquisition to ensure a flexible, highly skilled, competent and motivated workforce to deliver on organizational objectives. Senior leaders play a critical role in inspiring, steering and motivating the workforce to achieve strategic results. Therefore, high importance is attached to the selection of the right senior staff in the right place at the right time. To improve UNICEF’s effectiveness in assessing top talent, DHR is seeking to engage an experienced individual consultant to provide expertise to ensure the quality of candidates being short-listed and the effective screening of the best talent relevant to the Senior Leadership portfolio.

The consultancy assignment is expected to be done mainly through email, skype (or other similar means), or phone. Travel for face-to-face meeting may be required if necessary.

The consultant will report to the Chief, Senior Leadership Support team (SLST).

BACKGROUND

It is our intention to create a pool of qualified consultants who can support the SLS team on an ongoing basis. Consultants in the pool can be approached for one of the tasks described below whenever needed. Depending on their availability and their expertise and background the consultants will be contracted for specific deliverables.

Under the guidance of the Chief, Senior Leadership Support team, the consultant is expected to provide support to identify talent and build their readiness for key senior and executive roles as well as mid-career level posts from relevant functional areas to feed leadership pipeline and source best-fit talent relevant to the Senior Leadership portfolio. Key tasks including delivering comprehensive reference checks for eligible candidates designated by DHR, support with the Deputy Representative and Leadership talent pool and support in the plan of setting up an elaborate Assessment Center for the Leadership Talent Group.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables:

The consultant will perform the following functions:

• Reference Checking - This assignment is virtually carried out through email, Skype, Zoom or phone. The contracted consultant will be called for service when there are cases requiring reference check services. The consultant will schedule and conduct comprehensive reference checks for the assigned cases in a timely manner (minimum of 5 to 7 references per case, including at least 1 current/former supervisors 2 current/former peers, and 2 current/former supervisees.  More reference sources may be required in exceptional circumstances).
• Talent group establishment and maintenance - The consultant will support recruiters in DHR in identifying potential candidates that meet required eligibility criteria, undertaking research, providing review and analysis in order to establish and maintain updated talent group for leadership positions.
• Support in establishing a best practice Assessment Center as an integral part of our senior talent acquisition process - Provide inputs on trends and lessons learned which will support the establishment of an improvement AC approach.

Expected Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

• A summary report on each conducted reference check process submitted to Chief, Leadership Support Team normally within 5 calendar days after the assignment of the case. The report should cover, at a minimum, the overall summary of the findings, and detailed content of the feedback provided by the individual referees. A case will be deemed complete upon submission and review by the Chief, Senior Leadership Support Team.
• Organize and schedule structured interviews (and other assessments, if any) with pre-screened applicants and provide assessment reports (including the short list of most potential candidates), and update an internal database
• Identify a set of specific service providers that offer assessment center services appropriate to the UNICEF context; Identify possible opportunities for UNICEF to collaborate with other UN system entities in this area; Present a summary of the research outcome and recommendations to a select audience of UNICEF; Prepare a draft Terms of Reference for assessment services, including the areas of assessment based on UNICEF leadership competencies.

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

1) Education

• Advanced degree in Human Resources Management (HRM), Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a relevant social sciences field. A first university degree and additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree;
• Recognized professional certification in HRM is highly desirable.

2) Work experience

• At least five years of progressive experience in human resources management, specifically in recruitment and performance management.
• Familiarity with UN entities and UNICEF is an advantage.

3) Other skills

• Strong organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills;
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English as well as French, Spanish, and/or Arabic. Candidates fluent in two or more UN languages will have a competitive advantage.
• Good judgment, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to work in a multicultural environment.

Requirements:

• Cover letter and Financial proposal that will include:
  • your daily/monthly rate (in US$)
  • Travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Completed Personal History Form (P11) or UNICEF Talent Management Systems profile
• Copy of academic credentials

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

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...

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.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.