Readvertisment: Internal and External Vacancy Announcement: Chief Field Operations, P-5, Fixed Term, Juba- South Sudan, #88534

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, a future

The situation in South Sudan remains complex. The protracted crises and fragile political and security context are resulting in a continued deterioration of the humanitarian situation. South Sudan is characterized by continuous sub-national and inter-communal conflict, recurrent natural disasters, rising poverty, unprecedented levels of food and nutrition insecurity, as well as disease outbreaks. The Sudan Crisis has resulted to date on the arrival of just over a million Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese returnees from Sudan. This added population has further strained existing systems and compounded vulnerabilities; adding to the humanitarian caseload. The fragile peace agreement during the transitional Government arrangement is compounding weak public services and a weak economy. UNICEF is required to work innovatively and across sectors, to build resilience, prevent disaster and improve the lives and well-being of South Sudanese. The context requires working flexibly and rapidly to adapt to multiple operational constraints in the highly volatile and unpredictable context.

How can you make a difference? 

The Chief, Field Operations (and Emergency), is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Field Operations and Emergency Section. The incumbent is accountable for the effective leadership of Field Offices, the Emergency Team, the effective leadership of UNICEF led- Clusters / AoR to ensure timely, effective, and efficient programme delivery at field level, ensuring all blockages, disruptions and delays are avoided to achieve measurable results. In coordination with the Deputy Representatives for Programmes and Operations, ensure the integration of regular and emergency programme activities and direct, lead and enable a team of competent professional and support staff to achieve the strategic goals and objectives of the UNICEF Country Programme including a focus on the most vulnerable children, risk informed programming and inter-sectoral approaches.

Key functions and accountabilities will include but not limited to:

1. Represent strategic perspectives from Field Offices (FOs), the Emergency Team and UNICEF led/co-led Clusters and AoR at the management level.
2. Maintain effective external relationships and engagement on humanitarian matters.
3. Manage, support, and coordinate decentralized Field Offices (FOs) for efficient and effectiveof results for children.
4. Provide overall leadership, guidance, and coordination to South Sudan Country Office (SSCO) emergency preparedness and response interventions.
5. Provide technical guidance and support to strengthen risk informed, resilience programming by UNICEF staff, partners, and Government counterparts.
6. Provide leadership, guidance, and coordination to UNICEF led/co-led clusters in Nutrition Cluster, WASH, Education and the Child Protection Area of Responsibility.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD- Chief Field Operations, P-5, FT, Juba- SSD.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education

 An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, international relations, public administration, government, and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.

• Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant professional experience in programme management, planning, monitoring and evaluation, project administration or another relevant area is required.

Experience in humanitarian contexts is required with experience in development contexts an added advantage.

• Language Requirements

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge in another official UN language languages is considered an asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
• Experience in effective leadership and management of teams to deliver results in high stress/risk environments is desirable.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as 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…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (3)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)
• Works Collaboratively with others (3)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (3)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (3)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply. Candidates who had previously applied do not need to reapply.

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.