Chief Field Office, NO-3, Temporary Appointment, Boa Vista, Brazil #120280

The Chief Field Office leads and oversees all program sectors and operational services and ensures the delivery of timely and quality results in accordance with UNICEF Corporate Emergency Framework (Migration Response, COVID-19), in coordination with the Chiefs of programme thematic areas at national level as well as with the Coordinator of Amazon Territory (TAM) on implementation of UNICEF’s regular Country Programme results in Roraima State.

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, commitment

Job organizational context:

UNICEF has been responding to the Venezuelan migration crisis since 2018, with the opening of a dedicated field office in Boa Vista, Roraima, working alongside the federal government, UN agencies and partners to support local authorities to address the needs of children and adolescents on the move.

Under the overall guidance of the Amazon Territory Coordinator, and working closely with the Emergency Manager, the Chief of Office (CFO) is accountable for leading and managing the Migration, COVID-19 related programs and projects in Indigenous territory, for Roraima State, progressively aligning these with UNICEF Country Programme strategies and Flagship initiatives.   The CFO is responsible for the effective management of UNICEF presence in Roraima, staff and asset. The CFO is responsible for UNICEF representation, advocacy, and partnership with State and municipal authorities, as well as with with ‘Operação Acolhida’ and other UN agencies. The CFO leads and oversees all program sectors and operational services and ensures the delivery of timely and quality results in accordance with UNICEF Corporate Emergency Framework (Migration Response, COVID-19), in coordination with the Chiefs of programme thematic areas at national level as well as with the Coordinator of Amazon Territory (TAM) on implementation of UNICEF’s regular Country Programme results in Roraima State.

Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:

Key accountabilities

• Lead the effective and efficient planning, implementation and administration of UNICEF Programming in Roraima, including Migration Crisis Response Programme interventions, UNICEF Country Programme flagship initiatives, COVID-19 and Indigenous related programs, advising on alternative approaches, optimal utilization of resources and providing strategic leadership on the integration of emergency interventions into long-term programming.
• Responsible for the overall representation and articulation of UNICEF strategic engagement and contribution within ‘Operação Acolhida’, interagency coordination platforms, and engagement with State and municipal counterparts including on integration of recovery and capacity development approaches for programme sustainability.
• Provide leadership on the humanitarian-development nexus, progressively integrating the Migration Response, COVID-19 and Indigenous related programmes, with UNICEF Country Programme strategies and Flagship initiatives.

Duties and Tasks

Effective management of UNICEF presence, staff, and assets

• Represents UNICEF in Roraima, active engagement in government and inter-agency meetings and events, moving forward the agenda for children.
• Responsible for the safety, security, and well-being of all UNICEF field-based staff.
• Effectively lead and supervise the Field Office team. Promote constructive means of identifying issues and devising joint solutions as well as optimal information exchange to ensure teams members are well informed.

Programme Development and Management

• Review and assess the technical, institutional and financial feasibility and constraints of programme/projects.
• Adopt rights-based programmes approach in the formulation of programme goals and objectives and development of strategies and implementation frameworks.
• Provide leadership and ensure timely and quality planning of SELO strategies in Roraima, through regular contribution to the Municipal Management Teams and SELO implementing partners.
• Identify critical rights-based intervention points and measures including through efficient and timely monitoring and regular analysis of local socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects.
• Draft changes to/or prepare programme work plans, in line with results-based management standards and approaches. Prepare program recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation, and new approaches, methods, and practices.

Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration

• Develop partnership and collaboration with counterparts in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation and movement/distribution of supplies.
• Collaborate with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavors and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability, in particular related to Implementing Partners capacities, compliance with UNICEF procedures and timely HACT Management and Programme Assurance Activities (including audit/micro-assessment/spot checks/programme visit).
• Maintain close collaboration with heads of sectoral programmes in the CO, Regional and HQ advisers for effective overall coordination on programmes and for UNICEF sector leadership coordination accountabilities at State level.
• Plans, develops and implements sectoral programme(s) by collaborating with the government and other partners, including through established inter-agency coordination platforms and within the ‘Operação Acolhida’ Government Response.
• Provide leadership in provision of technical advice, negotiation, advocacy and promotion of State level goals, leading to agreement on practicable and priority actions to be supported by UNICEF.
• Coordinate and manage the UNICEF municipal SELO programme in Roraima, with appropriate tools for planning, coordination and monitoring.
• Oversee and coordinate the development and implementation of programme components of Child Protection, Buscar Activa Escolar (BAE)- Active Search for children out of school; 1 Million of Opportunities and Early Childhood Development; including establishing the programme partnerships and a clear operational plan.

Optimum Use of Programme Funds

• Monitor the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds.
• Take appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds.
• Responsible for certification of allocation and disbursement of funds.
• Determine supply and cash needs to ensure programme delivery meets targeted goals and objectives.

Knowledge Management, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Provide guidance and timely quality inputs on situation analysis and vulnerability assessments and on UNICEF’s program monitoring and reporting accountabilities within the Humanitarian HPM system. Promote inter-agency monitoring initiatives, including within the R4V framework.
• Undertake field visits and ensures that staff conduct field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decides on required corrective action.
• Ensure that Migration Response Program is supported by knowledge management through data collection and analysis (within the existing HPM frameworks) and complete and accurate reporting as well as participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of "lessons learned" and other corporate-level databases.
• Participate in information exchange through donor and media visits as well as in the development of training and orientation material

Policy, Advocacy and National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability

• Conduct policy analysis from a children's and women's rights perspective and advocacy at the government, community, and family levels for elevating credibility in national and international policy debates. Promote the organization goals of UNICEF (including global, regional, and national commitments and agendas for children on the move, in humanitarian, COVID-19 and indigenous people contexts) through active advocacy and communication.
• Provide authorities and service providers with technical support and guidance to plan and organize training programmes for the purpose of capacity building and programme sustainability.
• Ensure the building and reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of the state and local partners starting with taking a strategic approach to the identification of these partners and partnerships.
  
  

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

Education:

An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: programme management, social sciences, international relations, public administration, government, and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, public health, social or community development, or another relevant technical field related to the work of UNICEF.

Experience:

A minimum of five years of professional work experience in programme management, planning, monitoring and evaluation, project administration or another relevant area is required.

Previous experience in people management.

Relevant experience in a UN system agency is considered as an asset.

Familiarity/ background with emergency is considered as an asset.

Relevant experience of engagement with national/local authorities and work with CIMIC (Civil-Military Coordination) mechanism an asset.

Rights-based and Results-based approach and programming.

Humanitarian standards, programming in emergency settings, UNICFE policy, procedures, and guidelines an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluent in spoken and written communication in English and Portuguese, knowledge of Spanish is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and the following competencies: Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1), Works Collaboratively with others (1), Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1), Innovates and Embraces Change (1), Thinks and Acts Strategically (1), Drive to achieve impactful results (1), and Manages ambiguity and complexity (1).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

Candidates must be Brazilian citizens. 

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

All candidates who wish to apply to this Vacancy Announcement are requested to prepare and submit their application in English.