Market Research Specialists, P-3 (3 Positions: 2FT (1 year), 1TA (364 days), Markets and Supplier Financing Centre (MSFC), UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen, Denmark

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, Health

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in 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 is why the focus on equity is so vital. 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.

UNICEF is leading efforts to procure and supply COVID-19 vaccines in what could possibly be the world’s largest and fastest ever procurement and supply of vaccines, as part of the global vaccine plan of the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX Facility) led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

With several vaccine candidates showing promise, UNICEF Supply Division, in collaboration with the PAHO Revolving Fund, will lead efforts to procure and supply doses of COVID-19 vaccines on behalf of the COVAX Facility for 92 low- and lower middle-income countries whose vaccine purchases will be supported by the mechanism through the Gavi COVAX AMC as well as a buffer stockpile for humanitarian emergencies. In addition, UNICEF Supply Division will serve as procurement coordinator to support procurement by higher-income economies, which have expressed their intent to participate in the COVAX Facility and would finance the vaccines from their own public finance budgets. UNICEF will undertake these efforts in close collaboration with WHO, Gavi, CEPI, PAHO, World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners.

UNICEF is also a key stakeholder in the other pillars of the ACT-Accelerator (ACT-A) initiative – a new, groundbreaking global collaboration to accelerate the development and equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics to address the COVID-19 pandemic – with UNICEF Supply Division co-leading or supporting several workstreams.

 

Market Research Specialist (Financing)

Fixed-Term Appointment (1 year)

 

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Market Research Manager, MSFC, the incumbent will be expected to support Supply Division’s market research and supplier financing activities, including contributing to the design and execution of innovative financing mechanisms to achieve improved market conditions for key strategic supplies for children.

 

Key Duties & Tasks:

• Support work on development of market influencing frameworks, policies and strategies for essential commodities for children through rigorous research and analyses.
• Collect and analyse composite market data and translate complex findings into easy to understand and clear recommendations.
• Measure the effectiveness of Supply Division’s procurement strategies in achieving market objectives and make recommendations for improvements.
• Collaborate with Supply Division procurement centres, UNICEF stakeholders (e.g. Innovative Financing Team) and key external partners to help drive procurement strategies and shape critical markets for essential products and services for children by interpreting market research and discerning how novel financing and risk-sharing approaches can positively influence supplier behavior.
• Contribute to the development of and provide advice to management on tailored and targeted financing structures to support improved market dynamics, including the deployment of special contracting (e.g. firm commitments/volume guarantees, prepayments), as well as ‘pull’ mechanisms or other financial incentives to drive the development and scale up of novel products.
• Conduct risk–benefit analyses to maximize the value of financing interventions and appropriately balance supplier and buyer risks.
• Manage of special contracting funds including monitoring and reporting of the FAST Fund and development of quarterly / annual reports on special contracting and fund utilization in partnership with the Financial Management Centre.
• Support UNICEF’s engagement and negotiations with key manufacturers and suppliers – ultimately to positively influence markets of key supplies and services for children.
• Support expanded access to financing for suppliers in program countries as part of a ‘local market’ influencing strategy to improve local markets and/or increase on-continent production.
• In coordination with colleagues in Supply Division, engage with UNICEF’s market shaping partners and public and private financiers especially in relation to potential special contracts and supplier financing endeavors; e.g. with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gavi Secretariat, the Global Fund, UNITAID, the World Bank, IFC, UNCDF, DFID/CDC Group, and others.

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

Required:

• An Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree) in Business, Economics, Financing, or other related discipline.
• A minimum of five (5) years professional work experience at the international level in market research, market shaping, economics, finance, public or private sector procurement, business management, business development, or other relevant field
• Proven experience in the following areas in the private or public sector is required:
  • Market dynamics relating to health, nutrition, water, sanitation, education and/or products used in resource-poor settings.
  • Large-scale commercial activities in developing and industrialized countries.
  • Structured finance, innovative financing and/or or complex supplier financing mechanisms.
  • Building, managing relationships and external partnerships
• Fluency in English.

Desired:

• Prior relevant work experience in the UN system, other international development organization or national government.
• Proficiency in another UN official language is an asset.

 

Market Research Specialist (Innovative Procurement & Contracting)

Fixed-Term Appointment (1 year)

 

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Market Research Manager, MSFC, the incumbent will be expected to support Supply Division’s market research and analysis and contribute to designing frameworks and informing innovative procurement and contracting strategies to achieve improved market conditions for existing and future strategic supplies and services for children.

 

Key Duties & Tasks:

• Support work on development of market influencing frameworks, policies and strategies for essential commodities for children through rigorous research and analyses.
• Collect and analyse composite market data and translate complex findings into easy to understand and clear recommendations.
• Conduct research on, keep abreast of and act as a resource for best practices, latest trends and developments in innovative public and private sector procurement.
• Support knowledge sharing across Supply Division’s procurement centres and within UNICEF’s Supply Community on innovative procurement/contracting strategies, approaches and tactics.
• Measure the effectiveness of Supply Division’s procurement strategies in achieving market objectives and make recommendations for improvements.
• Work with Supply Division procurement centres and contracting centre, UNICEF stakeholders and key external partners to help drive procurement strategies, collaborative procurement approaches and shape critical markets for essential products and services for children by interpreting market research and discerning how novel, state-of-the-art procurement and contracting approaches can positively influence supplier behavior.
• Support UNICEF’s engagement and negotiations with key manufacturers and suppliers – ultimately to positively influence markets of key supplies and services for children.
• Responsible for the planning, development and execution of procurement of a selected portfolio of products and services under MSFC’s direct purview.
• In coordination with colleagues in Supply Division, engage with UNICEF’s market shaping partners; e.g. with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gavi Secretariat, the Global Fund, CHAI, PATH, Product Development Partnerships, WHO, PAHO, UNIDO, and others.

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

Required:

• An Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree) in Business, Economics, Financing, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law or other related discipline.
• A minimum of five (5) years professional work experience at the international level in market research, market shaping, economics, public or private sector procurement, business management, business development, or other relevant field.
• Proven experience in the following areas in the private or public sector is required:
  • Market dynamics relating to health, nutrition, water, sanitation, education and/or products used in resource-poor settings.
  • Large-scale commercial activities in developing and industrialized countries.
  • Global procurement/sourcing strategies, contract negotiations, supplier management, combined with broader economic knowledge.
  • Building, managing relationships and external partnerships.
• Fluency in English.

Desired:

• Prior relevant work experience in the UN system, other international development organization or national government.
• Proficiency in another UN official language is an asset.

 

Market Research Specialist (Market Information & Communication)

Temporary Appointment (364 days)

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Chief, Markets and Supplier Financing and in close collaboration with the Communication Manager (Market Influencing), Markets and Supplier Financing Centre, the incumbent will be expected to support the collection, collation and dissemination of key supply and market information with a focus on COVID-19 vaccines/COVAX and other critical supplies under the ACT-A, including, diagnostics and therapeutics. The incumbent will be expected to interpret market research and intelligence to discern and advise on how market information and communication can positively influence market dynamics and supplier behavior. The incumbent will also be accountable for the regular production of written publications and digital content for both internal and public distribution describing key product and market trends and developments, procurement and supply activities primarily related to the COVAX Facility, as well as other key supply and market influencing efforts by UNICEF and partners related to ACT-A. To this end, the incumbent is required to work with colleagues from across Supply Division, UNICEF and ACT-A partners, as well as with external contractors and service providers.

Key Functions:

• Support UNICEF’s role as procurement coordinator for the COVAX Facility through research, analysis, communication, and information transparency.
• Support targeted market information and communication efforts and the development of pertinent written and dynamic/web-based content with a focus on ACT-A products by translating complex supply and market trends and dynamics into easy to understand and clear messages and visuals.
• Ensure market communication and information transparency offerings are widely disseminated, maintained up to date and expanded/augmented as relevant.

Key Duties & Tasks:

• Monitor supply trends, supplier development, key product pipelines. Track key market and supply statistics and dynamics including as an input to market information and communication offerings on COVAX/ACT-A.
• Compose information reports for internal and external use summarizing recent activity of UNICEF and COVAX/ACT-A partners in strategic product areas. Reporting will include global market developments, key UNICEF and partner positioning, summary of strategic procurement and supply outcomes.
• Support the coordination of relevant market information and communication projects outsourced to external service providers.
• Anticipated engagement with the following UNICEF partners: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GAVI, GFATM, UNITAID, FIND, WHO, the World Bank and others.

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

Required:

• Advanced University degree, preferably in Public Health, Business / Marketing, Finance, Economics, Communication, Journalism or another relevant technical field.
• Minimum of 5 years professional work experience in market research and analysis, market-related communication, public health or another relevant area.
• Proven experience in data analytics and/or business intelligence, including in collecting, surveying, analyzing and reporting complex data.
• Proven experience in report writing, presentation and dissemination of composite information for a broad audience.
• Technical knowledge in Market Research, Commerce and Business, Key Health & Nutrition Products
• Excellent English writing, editing, and proofreading skills – strong communication skills (written and oral) in English are essential.

Desired:

• Familiarity with market dynamics, pricing and/or commercial issues relating to public health products is advantageous.
• Experience with common business intelligence, web analytics, statistical analysis and/or data visualization software is an asset.
• Experience in engaging with the UN system or global development partners on issues related to market research, market shaping, or information communication is desirable.
• Proficiency in another UN official language is an asset.

 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Core competencies skills

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

The functional competencies required for these posts are…

• Analyzing (2)
• Applying Technical Expertise (2)
• Learning and Researching (2)
• Entrepreneurial Thinking (2)
• Adapting and Responding to Change (2)
• Coping with Pressure and Setbacks (2)
• Planning and organizing (2)

View our competency framework at:

https://www.unicef.org/careers/media/1041/file/UNICEF%27s_Competency_Framework.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.

 

Remarks:

• These vacancy announcements are open to all internal and external candidates.
• For UNICEF Fixed-Term staff, the 1-year time in post must be observed in order to apply for another position.
• 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/
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.