Knowledge Management Specialist, P-3, Fixed Term, Polio Eradication Programme, New York, USA

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.

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

For every child, Health

UNICEF’s dedication to polio eradication, highlighted by its classification as a Level 3-like emergency, underscores its commitment to global health and child welfare. This priority aligns with UNICEF’s mission of promoting every child’s right to health, education, and protection, particularly those most disadvantaged. Within this framework, the Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) plays a crucial role, focusing on the accessibility and dissemination of vital knowledge and tools developed by UNICEF and its partners. The initiative’s success is pivotal in supporting social and behavior change (SBC), vaccine procurement, and management, especially in regions facing polio outbreaks and polio Epidemic challenges.

How can you make a difference? 

The Knowledge Management (KM) Specialist is integral to Polio Eradication efforts and is tasked with identifying, managing, capturing, and sharing critical information to advance not only SBC practices but to enhance overall program effectiveness. This role is essential for meeting the knowledge needs of the Polio Eradication Team across all levels of UNICEF, ensuring strategies are in sync with UNICEF’s global Knowledge Management strategies.
The Specialist will be accountable for enriching UNICEF’s KM approach, Implementing and improving the Polio KM strategy, leveraging new tools and methodologies, and fostering a collaborative learning environment that supports the global objective of polio eradication.

Key accountabilities and tasks included the following:

• Lead Knowledge Management Strategy:
  • Drive the implementation of the NYHQ Polio SBC KM Strategy while expanding its scope to develop a comprehensive, multi-sector KM strategy. Ensure alignment with UNICEF’s broader goals and the GPEI’s knowledge capital by engaging with key sectors, including Outbreaks, Research, M&E, Vaccines, Cold Chain, and Logistics.
  • Design and execute a detailed roadmap for KM initiatives, integrating innovative methodologies and tools to optimize knowledge sharing and utilization.
• Capture and Synthesize Knowledge:
  • Collaborate with regional and country offices to identify, analyze, and document critical insights from field operations. Develop knowledge products, including analytical summaries and case studies, that reflect best practices and lessons learned, ensuring these resources are tailored to meet programmatic needs.
• Curate and Share Knowledge:
  • Manage and enhance key knowledge-sharing platforms, such as the Polio SBC SharePoint sites and poliokit.org, ensuring they are dynamic, user-friendly, and accessible for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Organize and maintain a repository of knowledge assets, prioritizing timeliness and relevance to improve decision-making processes across teams.
• Build KM Capacity:
  • Lead training workshops and engagement activities to strengthen KM skills within UNICEF teams and among partners. Empower stakeholders to adopt and adapt KM tools and practices, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning.
• Drive Effective Communication:
  • Develop and disseminate a global Polio SBC newsletter, ensuring consistent communication of critical updates, success stories, and best practices. Produce well-documented case studies that inspire innovation and operational excellence across the program.
• Evaluate and Optimize KM Initiatives:
  • Establish clear metrics to measure the performance and impact of KM initiatives. Continuously monitor, evaluate, and refine strategies based on data-driven insights and feedback to maximize effectiveness and engagement.

Each function contributes to a robust and dynamic knowledge management framework, vital for the success of UNICEF’s polio eradication efforts.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree in knowledge management, organizational learning, international development, public health, international affairs, or another relevant discipline. A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with two additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• Work Experience:
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible and relevant work experience in knowledge management systems development, content management, information architecture, KM strategy implementation, and collaborative platform management (e.g., SharePoint, Confluence). Experience in enhancing user engagement through effective information dissemination and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing within an organization is also essential.
• This experience should demonstrate a deep understanding of knowledge management principles and the ability to effectively deliver knowledge management and organizational learning activities within diverse and dynamic environments.
• Demonstrated experience in documenting cases/experiences/lessons learned is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Fluency in French is a strong asset.

Desirables:

• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and editing SharePoint sites and websites for development-specific subjects and assets.
• Experience in developing and organizing capacity-building activities/events/projects and data curation and analysis would be considered assets.
• Ability to link content development and engagement strategies that facilitate timely, helpful information delivery through knowledge platforms and activities.
• Excellent facilitation, program/activity management, written and oral communication skills.
• Understanding of UNICEF systems and procedures.
• Working experience within UNICEF or other UN entities would be an asset
• Language: Fluency in French is a strong asset. Knowledge of another official 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…

(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 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 jobs-near-me.org 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.