Deputy Representative, Operations at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (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: Deputy Representative, Operations

Job No: 579724
Location: Abuja
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Level: P-5
Categories: Operations
Duration: 3 months

Organizational Context and Purpose

• The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, advocacy, and operations.
• The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action.
• For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop, and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism.
• To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated.
• There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries.
• This focus on equity is vital as it accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

• As a Strategic Business Partner and Deputy for the Head of Office, the incumbent will be responsible to lead for results, drive change, provide risk-informed, solution-focused analysis, advice, and services, and contribute to programme and management decisions for delivering results for children in all operational contexts.
• The Deputy Representative, Operations will be entrusted with five pillars, the core focus of all operations functions: Valuing People, Valuing Money, Valuing Risk Management, Valuing Systems and Structures, and Valuing Partners.

Responsibilities
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Valuing People: Lead, manage and develop people resources to promote technical competence and foster career progression and retention of a “fit for purpose”/ agile operations workforce.
• Valuing Money: Champion strategic resources to achieve organizational goals and ensure Value for Money (VfM).
• Valuing Risk Management: Enhance Risk Management to increase organizational performance and strengthen internal control.
• Valuing Systems and Structures: Ensure further operational centralization and optimization for maximized efficiency gains.
• Valuing Partners: Strengthen internal and external-facing partnerships and leverage UNICEF’s oversight and understanding of financial management across all areas of the office.
• The ability of the Deputy Representative, Operations to effectively lead, and oversee the operations functions for the efficient delivery of related services, directly impacts program performance, resource mobilization, and delivery of results for children. This, in turn, contributes to maintaining/enhancing the credibility of UNICEF as an effective and responsible manager of funds and resources entrusted to the organization and to furthering UNICEF’s image as a competent organization for delivering cost-effective and sustainable program results in regular and emergency settings.
• The ability of the Deputy Representative, Operations to comprehensively and timely identify, assess, mitigate, monitor, review, and report on the most significant risks that could potentially harm the organization, is a critical element of UNICEF’s risk and internal control performance management framework. Risk management skills are necessary to safeguard UNICEF’s reputation, resources, continuity of operations, and reputation to fulfill its primary mission to save and protect children, globally.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have
Education:

• An Advanced University Degree (Master’s and above) in one of the following areas is required: Business management, Financial management, Accounting, Public Finance, and related operations functions (Supply Chain, Human Resources, Information Technology, International Business, Project management, etc.).
• A full professional accounting designation (CA, ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CPFA, Expert Comptable) from an internationally recognized institute/body of accountancy with valid membership in good standing is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience, at the national and international level, is required, specifically in advocating and implementing strategic organizational initiatives in one or more operations management areas including budget, financial management and reporting, facilities management, administration, supply and logistics management, information and communication technology, and human resources.
• Experience in humanitarian settings is strongly desired.
• Prior experience in the development sector or UN system/international NGOs would be an asset.
• For country offices with a significant private sector fundraising operation, prior experience working with or in the private sector, and supporting private sector fundraising, is desirable.
• Additional experience in one or more of the following areas, would be desired:
  • Audit and investigations.
  • Safety and security.
  • Grant Management.
• Experience in a UN system agency, large private or public company, or experience working in a developing country and/or humanitarian/emergency context is an asset.
• Experience in working with corporate ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) and IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) is highly desirable.
• Experience in Results-Based Management is a requirement.
• Experience in managing successful client-oriented work units is an asset.
• Experience in co-creating policy is desirable.
• Prior experience working with diverse stakeholder groups or multi-stakeholder partnerships is highly desirable.
• Previous hands-on experience in strategic and managerial leadership is required.
• 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.

Application Closing Date
7th February, 2025 (W. Central Africa Standard Time).