Deputy Executive Director, Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations, (ASG), New York, USA

The Deputy Executive Director, Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations, is one of four Deputy Executive Directors who advises and assists the Executive Director of UNICEF in the overall direction and strategic leadership of the organization, with particular focus on humanitarian policy and response and the delivery and sustainable access to essential products and services for children in need.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. For 75 years UNICEF has worked to improve the lives of children and their families. Saving and protecting lives and promoting child rights require a global presence and strong partnerships with governments, international and regional organizations, civil society and the private sector. All children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfil their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child, dedication.

The Deputy Executive Director, Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations, is one of four Deputy Executive Directors who advises and assists the Executive Director of UNICEF in the overall direction and strategic leadership of the organization, with particular focus on humanitarian policy and response and the delivery and sustainable access to essential products and services for children in need.

The Deputy Executive Director, Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations, leads the implementation of UNICEF's core commitments for children in humanitarian settings (CCCs), and UNICEF’s delivery of products for children in line with UNICEF’s programmatic activities, including rapid response to emergencies. The Deputy Executive Director, Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations provides leadership for UNICEF’s humanitarian policy and action in response to emergencies, including public health emergencies and pandemic preparedness, and UNICEF’s supply operations across UNICEF programmes of cooperation and humanitarian crises, including procurement services on behalf of governments and partners. The Deputy Executive Director oversees engagement in the children and armed conflict agenda.

Together with the DED Programmes, the DED Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations will guide and lead UNICEF's work on children on the move, protection against sexual exploitation and abuse, and disaster risk reduction, as well as the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.

The Deputy Executive Director supervises and leads the work of the Office of Emergency Programmes, the Office of the Security Coordinator, and the Supply Division.

How can you make a difference?

In close coordination with and under the direction of the Executive Director, the overall responsibilities of the Deputy Executive Director, Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations include:

• Leadership in humanitarian action: Leads the formulation and effective and timely implementation of UNICEF’s humanitarian response in line with the core commitments for children in humanitarian settings. Scans the horizon and ensures focus on emergency preparedness and contingency planning. Leads UNICEF’s efforts for preparedness and response to public health emergencies.
• Humanitarian Policy: Expands, transforms, and guides UNICEF’s engagement, policy dialogue and advocacy to address critical issues affecting children and women in conflicts and disasters, both internally and externally.
• Inter-agency coordination: Provides policy guidance, representation, coordination and leadership on organization-wide efforts to engage with key partners and partnerships through the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and other inter-agency coordination mechanisms to ensure prioritized focus on the protection of children and women in the humanitarian response.
• Supply and logistics functions: Oversees and leads UNICEF’s supply and logistics operations to deliver lifesaving supplies at a global scale.  Works with international markets to shape and influence the quality and pricing of essential commodities, increasing access to fulfil children’s rights.
• Procurement services: Oversees UNICEF’s role in this area with a continuous focus on improving equity in access and strengthening national systems.
• Management and Administration: Effectively and efficiently directs and manages UNICEF's resources in accordance with relevant rules, policies, procedures and standards, and promotes a work environment supportive of UNICEF's staff as its greatest asset.
• Any other activities as requested by the Executive Director to advance UNICEF’s mission.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, public administration, political or social sciences, business administration, or related area.
• At least fifteen years of progressively responsible professional experience in leading and managing diverse and complex teams at an international level, including, but not limited to, international organizations, governments, private sector or NGOs.
• Track record in leading humanitarian action in complex environments.
• Experience in leading and managing complex security situations.
• A results-driven and people-oriented management approach with strong ability to influence, negotiate, and build networks and partnerships.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative leadership style, and demonstrated ability to work in a diverse multicultural, multi-ethnic environment, including working effectively in inter-agency and cross-sectoral leadership teams.
• Excellent political and diplomatic skills, combined with a proven ability to achieve results in a complex political environment.
• Strong capacity to distill, analyze and translate multifaceted and critical issues from various sources.
• Knowledge of development and humanitarian issues and policies.
• Excellent communication skills, fluency in English, and working knowledge of another official UN language.
• Experience in or knowledge of the UN system and knowledge of UNICEF’s work.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter:https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

1. Builds and maintains partnerships
2. Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
3. Drive to achieve results for impact
4. Innovates and embraces change
5. Manages ambiguity and complexity
6. Thinks and acts strategically
7. Works collaboratively with others
8. Nurtures, leads and manages people

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

Remarks:

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.