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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, the right to Deliver

How can you make a difference

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Partnership Manager, SPPC, and in close collaboration with the senior technical leads within UNICEF Supply Division, the Programme Manager will provide overall programme management and process leadership for UNICEF's engagement in the Humanitarian Leadership Group on Supply Chains (HLGSC). The Programme Manager will lead the planning, coordination, governance and stakeholder engagement required to deliver UNICEF's HLGSC commitments and the Preparedness and Localisation workstreams. The role will be supported by the Partnerships Unit and will work closely with UNICEF technical experts and counterparts in International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and other partner organisations. While the Programme Manager is responsible for programme delivery and coordination, technical leadership and content development remain the responsibility of the designated technical experts.

Strategic coordination and programme leadership:

• Lead the overall coordination of UNICEF's engagement in the HLGSC, ensuring coherent implementation of UNICEF's commitments across all workstreams.
• Maintain strategic oversight of programme priorities, milestones, risks and interdependencies, advising management on emerging issues and opportunities.
• Coordinate UNICEF's engagement with DG ECHO, HLGSC governance structures, co-lead organisations and other strategic partners.
• Support UNICEF leadership through preparation of strategic briefings, governance meetings and management updates.
• Promote alignment across HLGSC workstreams and ensure effective information sharing within UNICEF.

Programme management – preparedness and localization:

• Lead programme management of the Preparedness and Localisation workstreams on behalf of UNICEF and the co-lead organisations, including coordination of the Expert Groups and Technical Working Groups (see below).
• Develop and oversee implementation plans, workplans, budgets, milestones and reporting.
• Monitor progress against agreed deliverables and proactively identify and resolve delivery risks and bottlenecks.
• Coordinate testing, validation and governance processes to ensure timely delivery of programme outputs.
• Support the technical leads by providing strong programme management, coordination and delivery oversight.

Multi-stakeholder coordination and partnership management:

• Plan and oversee coordination of the Expert Groups, Technical Working Groups and broader stakeholder engagement processes.
• Facilitate collaboration across UNICEF, IFRC, DRC, DG ECHO, NGOs, UN agencies, private sector, donors, academia and technical experts.
• Lead preparation of workshops, consultations, governance meetings and decision-making processes.
• Build consensus across diverse stakeholders and ensure effective follow-up of agreed actions and decisions.
• Represent or support representation of UNICEF in relevant HLGSC meetings, external engagements and technical forums, as appropriate.

Monitoring, reporting and knowledge management:

• Monitor programme performance and prepare high-quality reports, donor updates and governance documentation.
• Maintain programme documentation, risk registers and action trackers.
• Capture lessons learned and contribute to continuous improvement of HLGSC processes and approaches.
• Support communication and advocacy activities related to UNICEF's HLGSC engagement.

Other strategic multi-stakeholder initiatives:

As programme priorities and workload permit, contribute to the development and coordination of other strategic multi-stakeholder collaboration initiatives led by UNICEF Supply Division, particularly those aimed at strengthening humanitarian and health supply systems, partnerships and innovation.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Programme Manager P4

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, International Development, Public Administration, Humanitarian Affairs, International Relations or another relevant field. 
• Work Experience: At least 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in programme management, partnership management, or strategic coordination. 
• Skills: Strong programme and project management skills, including planning, implementation, monitoring and risk management in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership management skills, with the ability to build consensus and influence diverse stakeholders without formal authority. Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex programmes involving multiple organizations, governance structures and technical workstreams. Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into practical approaches and actionable recommendations. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the preparation of high-quality briefing materials, reports and presentations for senior management and external stakeholders. Proven facilitation skills, including designing and leading workshops, consultations and multi stakeholder meetings. 
• Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Knowledge of humanitarian systems, humanitarian supply chains, systems strengthening or humanitarian reform initiatives is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with donor-funded programmes and results-based programme management is an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

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…

(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

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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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, eligible and suitable candidates 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.

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

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.

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.