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.

At the global level, the Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) coordinates and provides support to National Committees and Country Offices (COs) in all private sector fundraising and partnership activities, in cooperation with Regional Offices (ROs) and with other Headquarter (HQ) divisions.

This post is part of the office of the Deputy Director of Operations and Finance (O&F), within PFP. The office is accountable for the management of the oversight framework for private sector activities with responsibilities that include risk management, management of oversight activities, coordinating planning and results across the O&F Section, ensuring O&F plans are risk informed, with an aim for continuous improvement, changes are managed and results are monitored.

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

For every child, a Champion

Reporting to the Deputy Director Operations and Finance, the incumbent will lead risk management in UNICEF’s Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division.  This includes leading global projects to manage operational risks that could affect fundraising from the private sector in UNICEF Country Offices, managing change initiatives in Operations and Finance, managing oversight activities, and advising the Deputy Director for Operations and Finance.

The position is also responsible for leading change initiatives to improve the effectiveness and efficiencies in operational processes involving National Committees (NCs) and country offices (COs), supporting the Divisions overall internal control mechanisms, and developing and coordinating an Operations Community to ensure efficient knowledge sharing and mainstreaming of best practices.

How can you make a difference? 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Risk and policy management including advisory services to PFP and PSFR COs. This includes leading global projects to mitigate key fundraising-related risks e.g. data security and data privacy.
2. Management of oversight activities which include internal and external audits. This includes periodic analyses of internal and external audit reports of Country Offices with fundraising operations to identify trends and systemic issues being raised and identify potential solutions to address the issues.
3. Strategic operations development and change management within PFP. This includes leading PFP’s Operations and Finance change initiatives to improve the effectiveness and efficiencies in operational processes.
4. Support NC and PSFR CO operations capacity building and training. This includes leadership of the private sector fundraising operations community of practice.
5. Annual planning, reporting, and monitoring for Operations and Finance.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Education:

• An advanced university Degree in one of the following fields is required: Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• A recognized professional accounting certification (CA, CPA, ACCA, CIMA) is an asset.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience offering management advisory support in a complex setting is required.
• Experience working in Finance including managing audits is required.
• Experience in risk and policy management is required.
• Demonstrated experience in operations management and stakeholder coordination and management is required.
• Experience in managing a global project is an asset.
• Significant experience working in private-sector fundraising operations and supporting private-sector fundraising is an asset.
• Experience with managing fundraising-related risks such as data security and data privacy, is an asset.
• Work experience in a country office context is an asset.
• Experience supporting change management is an asset.
• Experience with UNICEF/UN is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN 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…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

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.

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

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.