Chief Field Officer at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Chief Field Officer, P5

Job Number: 519370
Location: Lagos    
Work Type: Fixed Term Staff

For every child, a future

• Under the guidance of the Representative, the Chief of Field Office (Partnerships) will be responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the Nigeria Country Office’s partnership and resource mobilization strategy, including leveraging and engaging with the private sector, in alignment with UNICEF’s Better Business for Children framework and UNICEF’s local, regional and global resource mobilization priorities.

Key Functions, Accountabilities and Related Duties/Tasks
Resource mobilization and partnerships:

• Develop a comprehensive resource mobilization and partnerships strategy, including with the private sector, to support UNICEF's priorities at the national level. Design a coherent action plan for each component of the strategy: target setting, prospect pipeline, investment cases, cultivation and solicitation, and partnership management.
• Cultivate, solicit and finalize partnerships with corporations, high-net-worth individuals, foundations and other key stakeholders for resource mobilisation and private sector engagement aims, in line with UNICEF's Better Business for Children framework.
• Work in close collaboration with cross-sectoral sections  Communication, Advocacy & Partnership (CAP), Communication for Development (C4D), Social Policy (SP), Management for Results (M4R), and Gender, as well as other programmes sections and Operations, to project a united image of UNICEF's work and brand positioning to UNICEF's donors.

Programme Management:

• Lead and guide a team of professional and support staff overseeing implementation of UNICEF-supported programmes using appropriate strategies and interventions relevant to the State and Country Programme. Ensure effective and appropriate use of human and material resources, working closely with government and other partners, to ensure smooth and efficient execution of UNICEF-supported programme activities.
• Coordinate inter-sectoral programme activities to contribute to the achievement of programme objectives and relevant Sustainable Development Goals.
• Direct, supervise and coordinate implementation of state engagement plans and Field Office workplan, with systematic and regular monitoring of progress to ensure objectives are met.
• Closely monitor financial commitments, expenditure and liquidation of programme and administrative funds allotted to the Field Office, in accordance with financial rules and regulations, ensuring accountability for resources allocated to the office and compliance with all operational systems and procedures.
• Ensure established relevant internal controls are monitored and adhered to.

Knowledge Management:

• Ensure that country programmes are supported by knowledge management through data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting as well as participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of lessons learned" and other corporate-level databases; participate in information exchange through donor and media visits as well as in the development of training and orientation material.

Programme planning and development:

• Keep abreast of development policies of Federal and State Governments and the socio-economic scenario of the area.
• Support the Lagos State Government to develop a Plan of Action for children based on an up-to- date situation analysis, with attention to gender equality and the equity perspective (identify and track gender inequalities, equity aspects of child vulnerabilities, and promote interventions to address both).
• Strengthen coordination between sectors and between different levels of government for policy implementation. Support the development of state engagement plans between UNICEF and the Lagos State Government.

Rights-based and results-based programme management approach:

• Ensure a rights-based programmes approach in the formulation of programme goals and objectives and the development of strategies and implementation frameworks.
• Formulate consistent and effective planning, design, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of programmes and projects.
• Bring coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes, using a results-based management approach to programme planning and design.
• Prepare and submit viable recommendations on project implementation, alternative approaches, and optimal utilization of resources that contribute effectively to the fulfilment of the rights of children and women, and recommendations on programme, new initiatives and management issues to ensure achievement of stated objectives.

Programme monitoring/evaluation:

• Coordinate timely programme reviews with both government and other partners.
• Develop and make effective use of programme monitoring systems and ensure that information generated leads to improvement of project performance and feedback to staff.
• Direct, supervise and coordinate the preparation of all programme reports required by the country office and donors. Provide inputs and support required during evaluations.

National and local capacity building/sustainability:

• Provide authorities and service providers with technical support and guidance to plan and organize training programmes for capacity building and programme sustainability.
• Ensure the building and reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of national and local partners, starting with taking a strategic approach to the identification of these partners and partnerships.

Rights perspective and advocacy at the national, community and family Levels:

• Conduct policy analysis from a children's and women's rights perspective and advocacy at the government, private sector, community and family levels for elevating credibility in national and international policy debates.
• Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through active advocacy and communication in line with UNICEF's national advocacy guidelines and strategy.

Representation, advocacy, coordination and collaboration with partners:

• On behalf of the Country Representative, represent UNICEF in Lagos, and advocate for policies supportive of UNICEF goals and objectives, building alliances with government, the private sector, media - both traditional and non-traditional, innovative entrepreneurs seeking solutions that can impact positively on children's lives, NGOs and community groups towards the achievement of these goals. Represent UNICEF in meetings with senior government officials, private sector leaders, multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies and non-governmental organizations, maintaining an effective working relationship and advocating for the rights of children in all fora. Represent UNICEF and ensure increased commitment of UNICEF working under United Nations Joint Partnership framework.
• Establish effective partnerships with the Government, bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs, civil society and local leaders, the private sector, media, and other UN agencies to support sustained and proactive commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and to achieve global UN agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals and Generation Unlimited. Identify other critical partners, including in the world of innovation, promote awareness and build capacity of partners, and actively facilitate effective collaboration within the UN family.
• Develop partnerships and collaboration in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation and movement/distribution of supplies. Link to the Regional Programme Knowledge Network to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme data.
• Collaborate with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavours and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability.
• Maintain close collaboration with heads of sectoral programmes in the CO for effective overall coordination on programmes.

Governance and Office management:

• Provide leadership to a team with diverse backgrounds and experience, so that they successfully work towards a common goal. Identify and recommend human resources required for programmes, assign tasks to staff in the Field Office, monitor performance, complete the performance appraisal process, as required; and ensure appropriate professional development, training and motivation of staff.
• Put in place structures for optimal management of the Field Office and participate in country office forums for governance. Ensure the organisation of regular staff and programme meetings and follow up on decisions and recommendations. Provide input to the Country Management Team.

Job Requirements
Education:

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.

Work Experience:

• Ten years of relevant professional work experience is required.
• International and developing country work experience and field work experience.
• Background/familiarity with Emergency.

Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate:

• UNICEF's core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Application Closing Date
Thursday, 7th February, 2019; 23:55:00 GMT+0100 (West Africa Standard Time)

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.