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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

The Programme Group (PG) provides global leadership to achieve results for disadvantaged and excluded children, aligning with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, the Sustainable Development Goals, and key international child rights conventions. PG supports Member States in fulfilling their commitments under these conventions and consists of six programme teams, a Programme Strategy and Coordination hub, the Director’s office, and specialized issue-based teams. Strategic Operations, led by the Chief Strategic Operations, ensures effective resource use, risk management, and value-driven partnerships. It offers advisory and technical support on budget, operations, and partnerships to PG teams, including Polio and GenU.

For every child, an opportunity……

We are seeking a dynamic Strategic Business Partner to drive operational excellence across key functions such as budget management, supply chain logistics, facilities, and human resources. This role involves providing risk-informed, solution-oriented analysis, reviewing business transactions for efficiency, and ensuring value for money. The ideal candidate will support Results-Based Management frameworks, contribute to procurement strategies, and manage consultant rosters. They will also lead capacity-building initiatives and collaborate with teams to enhance processes, focusing on core pillars such as Valuing People, Money, Risk Management, Systems, and Partners.!

How can you make a difference?

Operations Support and Management:

• Analyze services in budget, financial management, facilities, administration, supply and logistics, ICT, human resources, and safety and security.
• Review business transactions for efficiency, performance, risk management, and fraud prevention.
• Conduct cost analysis, estimate annual costs, track actual costs, and share DFRs.
• Understand business needs to propose value-for-money solutions.
• Contribute to CPD, CPMP, AMP, and support Results-Based Management

Supply and Logistics:

• Analyze supply and logistics strategies to meet programmatic needs with a focus on Value for Money.
• Ensure procurement of fit-for-purpose products and services.
• Provide regular feedback on risks and achievements in supply and logistics.

Consultant Management:

• Provide technical support for the formalization and management of the consultant roster.
• Coordinate and centralize consultant rosters for easy access and monitoring.
• Serve as the technical focal person for consultant-related issues.
• Outline business processes, identify best practices, and create SOPs for LTAs.
• Monitor LTAs and ensure timely extensions.

Financial and Audit Support:

• Analyze accounts, analyze and monitor open items, and prepare write-off submissions for unrecoverable accounts.
• Collaborate with service providers to improve processes and minimize duplication.
• Support external and internal audit reviews, contribute to audit observations, and monitor implementation of recommendations.
• Provide inputs to monthly KPI reports and arrange capacity-building sessions.

Strategic and Operational Excellence:

• Act as the focal person for operational issues in Nairobi and forge partnerships with PG teams.
• Stay updated on industry standards, share best practices, and support excellence in operations.
• Participate in the review of internal controls and policies, support anti-fraud systems, and contribute to IT-enabled business processes.
• Engage in UN Reform initiatives, facilitate Business Operating Services (BOS), and support the potential “one back office” in country offices.

The following minimum requirements:

A University Degree (Bachelor’s) in one of the following areas is required:

• Business management
• Financial management
• Accounting
• Public Finance

A professional certification from a recognized professional institution (such as ACCA, CPA, CMA etc.,) is an asset.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 2 years of professional experience either nationally or internationally, in one or more areas of operations management. This includes budget management, financial reporting, facilities management, administration, supply and logistics, information and communication technology, human resources, business analysis, and project management.
• Understanding of Results Based Management is a requirement.

Desirables/Assets:

• Experience in a UN system agency, large private or public organization, or experience working in a developing country and/or humanitarian/ emergency context is an asset.
• Experience in private sector fundraising operation, prior experience working with or in the private sector, and supporting private sector fundraising, is an asset.
• Experience in working with corporate ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) and IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) is highly desirable.
• Experience in supporting successful client-oriented work units is an asset.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications is required.

Language Requirements

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

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

 The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• 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 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

All selected candidates will 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 is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

 Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

 Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.