Market Development Manager. P4, Digital Impact Division, (Digital Inclusion) Geneva, Switzerland, #135975, (Temporary Appointment)

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, a digital future.

About UNICEF Digital Impact Division (DID)

Digital Impact Division (DID) is at the heart of reshaping how UNICEF delivers lasting results for children. We are committed to harnessing the full potential of emerging digital technologies to advance UNICEF’s mission.

DID works in close collaboration with regional Digital Impact teams and colleagues across headquarters divisions, regions, and country offices to leverage technologies and capabilities that accelerate progress on UNICEF’s goals, strengthen community resilience, and expand access to essential digital services and information.

Our mission is to enhance UNICEF’s global digital impact by promoting equitable access to information and services, empowering communities to create lasting, positive change for children, and foster a more inclusive, interconnected, and sustainable world for every child, everywhere.

About UNICEF Digital Inclusion (DI)

UNICEF’s Digital Inclusion programme supports governments and partners to improve equitable, affordable digital access for children, schools, and communities. The programme engages with regulators, operators, and public institutions to explore innovative approaches to connectivity, infrastructure governance, and digital public goods.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the general guidance of the Digital Inclusion – Delivery Solutions Section Programme Manager and with matrix reporting to UNICEF Supply Division’s Service Contracting Center Chief, the Market Development Manager will be responsible for:

Strategic Leadership and Management:

• Lead a team of professionals to develop the market intelligence that will help to implement the school connectivity procurement strategy, including a Market Researcher, an African-based market development consultant, and a Data Scientist.
• Develop a strategy and associated work plan to increase industry participation and create government demand for DI and UNICEF’s procurement tools and services.
• Monitor team performance, provide guidance, and evaluate achievements.

Building demand for Digital Inclusion’s procurement tools:

• Engage with governments to promote DI’s procurement work and understand any obstacles they face to adopt DI’s tools.
• Work with DI’s Delivery Solutions team to adapt its approach considering governments evolving needs, new market trends, and changing ecosystem landscape.
• Build collaboration frameworks with global and regional multilateral organizations to generate synergies drive a common agenda in promoting more investment in and scaling procurement of school connectivity solutions.

Technology and industry engagement:

• Lead the team’s efforts in staying abreast with connectivity technology developments, ensuring that UNICEF’s supply offer stays relevant and embraces fore-front technologies that align with DI’s scale-up agenda.
• Keep an open dialogue with the industry to unearth supply side challenges and opportunities for the implementation of DI’s procurement tools, and work with the Procurement Section team to make the necessary adaptations in their approach.
• Explore and evaluate innovative approaches for DI’s procurement offer that have a strong potential for impact and scale.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration:

• Work with internal and external stakeholders to advance DI’s procurement and scale up strategies, supporting the delivery work led by the Contract Manager.
• Engage with partners and financiers to support the development and implementation of a market acceleration plan to scale the provision of connectivity solutions for schools.
• Represent Digital Inclusion and UNICEF in discussions with key partners and events to advance DI’s procurement work and agenda.

Market Analysis and Innovation:

• Lead a market research agenda to inform procurement strategies and identify opportunities for innovation.
• Lead the development of quantitative models that support qualitative market research to inform action and estimate impact of DI’s procurement work.
• Support the development of financing structures and mechanisms to improve market dynamics and reduce costs.
• Promote the commoditization of the Gigabyte for school connectivity to achieve cost efficiencies.
• Exploring and analyzing opportunities to deploy DI’s connectivity procurement tools beyond schools, for instance in health facilities or community centers.

Reporting:

• Prepare detailed reports and presentations for senior management, highlighting achievements in creating a more enabling environment for the implementation of DI’s procurement value proposition.
• Prepare reports, briefing notes, or other supporting documents presenting the results of custom analysis conducted by the team.

**This is a temporary appointment available until 31 December 2026, possibility of extension is subject to satisfactory performance and budget availability to a maximum of 364 days**

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) or MBA with a focus on Market Strategy, Telecommunications, Economics, Computer Science, Network Engineering, Public Administration, or a related field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in the telecommunications sector, preferably with a focus on connectivity solutions.
• Previous experience working in digital inclusion and internet connectivity services in developing (or LMIC/MIC) countries, preferably in Africa, will be considered a strong asset.
• Demonstrated experience in the public or private sector, with a strong understanding of market dynamics and stakeholder mapping of the connectivity sector is an asset.
• Demonstrable experience in market analysis and modelling, competitive intelligence, and forecasting in the connectivity sector is an asset. Published research work on these topics is a strong asset.
• Prior experience working with governments, technology providers, and non-profit organizations in the connectivity sector is an asset.

Skills:

• Proven experience in strategic planning, the ability to foster effective industry relationships, engaging in productive dialogue to influence key industry trends.
• The ideal candidate will have a history of collaborative work with industry associations, regulatory bodies, and key market influencers to shape the connectivity solutions landscape.

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.

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 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.

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.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

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.