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Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Strategic Project Consultant – Research, Event Management and Coordination Section/Division/Duty Station: Programme Group Director’s Office - New York HQ

Duration: August -December 2025

Home/ Office Based: REMOTE 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

The UNICEF Programme Group (PG) serves as the organization’s central platform for advancing programme excellence through evidence-based policies, technical guidance, and strategic programming across sectors. The PG Director’s Office provides global leadership, strategic direction, and quality assurance to ensure coherence and impactful delivery of UNICEF’s programme work.

As the Director’s Office expands its portfolio in Thought Leadership, research, and strategic priorities, it leads critical projects that influence UNICEF’s global agenda.

Amid a period of transition marked by key strategic initiatives and the preparation for major events, this consultancy is designed to provide targeted, time-bound support. The consultant will deliver specific, project-focused outputs in strategic research, event management, fellowship coordination, and information management to enable the Director’s Office to effectively meet its objectives.  

Scope of Work: 

The consultant will provide focused, short-term support to the PG Director’s Office by delivering well-defined outputs that contribute to strategic coordination, research, event preparation, and information management and communications.

Key Project-Specific Tasks and Deliverables

1. Event Management Support for Key Project Milestones

• Support planning and coordination of major events, workshops, and stakeholder consultations linked to the UN General Assembly and UNICEF’s initiatives on debt and child outcomes.

• Facilitate engagement with vendors and partners to ensure smooth logistics, including venue arrangements, communications, and speaker preparation.

• Develop event briefs, agendas, and post-event summaries that document decisions and follow-up actions.

• Engage with UNICEF departments and external partners to ensure seamless delivery of project-related events.

2. Strategic Research and Analytical Support

• Conduct targeted literature reviews and data syntheses to inform strategic project direction and intervention design.

• Assist in the collection, cleaning, and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data related to project outcomes.

• Prepare analytical reports, policy briefs, and presentations that effectively communicate research insights to project leadership and stakeholders.

• Identify innovative methodologies and tools to enhance learning and evaluation processes.

3. UNICEF’s Fellowship Programme

• Liaise with partner universities for successful placement of fellows within UNICEF.

• Support the achievement of key fellowship milestones and deliverables.

• Prepare materials and support engagements related to fellowship activities and publication opportunities.

4. Project Planning and Monitoring Support

• Contribute to the development and updating of project work plans, timelines, and budgets in collaboration with the Program Manager.

• Monitor progress against project milestones and deliverables, producing regular status reports for senior management.

• Assist in identifying risks and supporting mitigation strategies linked to project implementation.

5. SharePoint, Information Management, and External Communication

• Manage and maintain the PG Director’s Office SharePoint site, ensuring documents and folders are current, well-organized, and comply with UNICEF’s information management standards.

• Provide technical support to staff and consultants for uploading materials, maintaining version control, and applying tagging and taxonomy consistently.

• Act as liaison for SharePoint focal points supporting initiatives such as the Africa Strategy and Global Staff Survey, facilitating tracking of deliverables and task completion.

• Proactively recommend and implement improvements to enhance usability, collaboration, and document accessibility.

• Ensure appropriate archiving of completed deliverables according to UNICEF’s document retention policies.

• Support the PG Directors’ engagement with external platforms by contributing to proactive internal and external communications strategies. 

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

#1: Operational onboarding and workstream setup

• 1 x project plan finalized and approved

• At least 3 SharePoint structure reviewed and update plan developed

• 1 x Fellowship programme coordination framework established

30 August 2025

#2: UNGA and debt event support and midterm summary

• Full support for UNGA briefing materials and Director’s participation (briefing notes reviewed, meetings supported)

• Support UNICEF-hosted debt side event (agenda, participant list, logistics)

• Outputs: participation list, invites, agenda, speaker preparation all finalized

30 September 2025

#3: Strategic Research and Analytical Support

• Complete 2 targeted literature reviews to inform priority projects.

• Prepare and submit 2 analytical reports or policy briefs, each summarizing findings with clear, actionable recommendations for project leadership.

• Develop and deliver 1 presentation that effectively communicates key research insights to UNICEF senior management and stakeholders.

30 October 2025

#4: SharePoint Management and Communications

• Review and update the PG Director’s Office SharePoint site structure to ensure all folders and document libraries are organized and aligned with UNICEF’s information architecture.

• Upload or reorganize at least 15 documents, applying consistent tagging and version control to improve accessibility and usability.

• Provide hands-on SharePoint support to at least 3 staff or consultants, including training on uploading procedures and document management best practices.

• Draft and circulate 2 internal communications (e.g., newsletters, project updates) to enhance team engagement and inform key stakeholders of project progress.

• Draft and circulate at least 6 x external communications linked to the events mentioned above.

30 November 2025

#5: Fellowship and Thought Leadership Support

• Support the placement of fellows with partner universities and ensure at least 2 fellowship

• Support the delivery of key fellowship milestones, including orientation and progress tracking.

• Assist in preparing materials and supporting events or publications that promote UNICEF’s Thought Leadership initiatives.

• Develop a plan and roadmap for the fellowship programme in 2026.

30 December 2025

Qualifications

(1) Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Public Administration, Business Administration, Management, International Development, or a related field.

(2) Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in coordination, communication or project management.
• Familiarity with UNICEF or other UN systems is a strong asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, professional correspondence, summaries, and internal updates.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, track workflows, and meet tight deadlines.
• High level of attention to detail, especially in document formatting, data accuracy, and administrative processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and collaboration platforms (e.g., Teams, Zoom) a must.
• Working knowledge of SharePoint, including document management, tagging, and version control.
• Demonstrated tech savviness, with the ability to quickly learn and adapt to new digital tools, platforms, and processes.
• Strong interpersonal and coordination skills, with a proactive, solution-oriented approach to working with diverse teams.

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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

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 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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:  

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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, are encourage to apply are encouraged to apply.

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (if applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.

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.