Recrutement de 01Chief Field Office

Recrutement de 01Chief Field Office

Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Duty Station: Apia
Level: P-4
Location: Samoa
Categories: Senior Leadership Vacancies
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.

And we never give up.

For every child, support.

Background

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work in the link provided here www.unicef.org/pacificislands

The Polynesian Pacific Island country of Samoa consists of 10 islands, with its capital of Apia located on the main island of Upolu. The country’s population of 198,600 includes approximately 99,189 children. Most of the country’s population live in rural areas, with only 18.9 per cent concentrated in urban areas. Agriculture is the main industry in Samoa, followed by fisheries, tourism and small-scale manufacturing, all of which are under increasing threat from natural disasters. A significant number of Samoans leave the country to work abroad, with the result that remittances are a key source of household income.

The UNICEF Pacific – Samoa Field Office team is based in Apia and consists of five staff (three nationals, two internationals including the Chief of Field Office) and a number of consultants. The Samoa Field Office covers UNICEF programming in Samoa, and mostly remotely Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.

How can you make a difference?

The Chief of Samoa Field Office is accountable for managing and leading the total programme commitment of this field office within the Pacific multi country programme. The CFO represents UNICEF in his/her Area of Responsibility, leads and oversees the various programme sectors and operational service teams, ensuring the delivery of quality results in accordance with UNICEF’s programme of cooperation, country programme management plan, and overall vision set forward by the Representative.

In fragile and humanitarian contexts, UNICEF action is guided by its global Policy and Framework for humanitarian action: the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities

1. Effective management of UNICEF presence, staff and assets

Represent UNICEF in the region, by participating in meetings and events, moving forward the agenda for children, in coordination with Governments, Resident Coordinator Office and development partners.
Facilitate, take and implement measures to ensure safety and security of UNICEF staff and assets.
Effectively lead the Field Office team and manage the performance and conduct the staff members to deliver results for children.
2. Knowledge Management for Programmes

Ensure that area/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.
3. Programme Development and Management

Identify critical intervention points and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring system; analyse country level socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects.
Draft changes to/or prepare programme work plans as required. Prepare program recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation, and new approaches, methods and practices.
Establishes programme workplans, monitors compliance and provides training, support and guidance to the programme team in order to meet objectives. Identifies human resources requirements and on-going staff development needs.
Reviews and evaluates the technical, institutional and financial feasibility and constraints of programme/projects in collaboration with Government and other partners.
Prepares relevant programme reports required for management, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, etc.
4. Optimum Use of Program Funds

Establish and supervise programme work plans and monitor progress and compliance. Monitor the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Take appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds. Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.
5. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations

Undertakes field visits and ensures that his/her staff conduct field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decides on required corrective action.
Carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluate and participate in the major programme evaluation exercises in consultation with the Representative, the Operations Officer, the Evaluation Officer and others to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery. Participate in annual sector review meetings with government counterparts. Ensure the timely preparation of annual program status reports.
6. Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach

Adopt rights-based programmes approach in the formulation of programme goals and objectives and 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.
7. National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability

Provide authorities and service providers with technical support and guidance to plan and organize training programmes for the purpose of capacity building and programme sustainability.
Ensure the building and reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners starting with taking a strategic approach to the identification of these partners and partnerships.
8. 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, 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 national advocacy guidelines and strategy.
9. Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration

Develop partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, 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. Linkage 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 endeavors and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability.
Maintain close collaboration with heads of sectoral programmes in the CO, Regional and HQ advisers for effective overall coordination on programmes.
Plans, develops and implements sectoral programme(s) by collaborating with the government and other partners. Provide leadership in provision of technical advice, negotiation, advocacy and promotion of area/country level goals, leading to agreement on practicable and priority actions to be supported by UNICEF programme and country level cooperation.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education
An advanced university degree 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
Experience
A minimum of eight years of professional work experience in programme management, planning, monitoring and evaluation, project administration or another relevant area is required
Experience working in a developing country and in the Asia Pacific region is highly desirable
Programme and team management experience is required
Experience in a representation role would be an asset
Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset
Familiarity/ background with emergency is considered as an asset
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 values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are...

Nurtures, Leads, and Manages People
Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness
Works Collaboratively with others
Builds and Maintains Partnerships
Innovates and Embraces Change
Thinks and Acts Strategically
Drives to achieve impactful results
Manages ambiguity and complexity
View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Remarks

UNICEF's active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. Eligible and suitable candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, are encouraged to apply to become a part of the organization.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). 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.

This re-advertisement is open to internal and external applicants. Candidates who may have applied earlier are welcome to re-apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Advertised: 15 Aug 2023 Samoa Standard Time
Deadline: 28 Aug 2023 Samoa Standard Time