Planning & Governance Officer, P2, Sanitation Water for All (SWA), New York, USA, Position #117770

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, clean water…

How can you make a difference?

• Supports the development of the SWA secretariat annual workplan and budget. Works closely with each SWA team to gather programmatic and financial inputs and ensures that the processes and deadlines are well followed
• Supports the smooth running of the SWA Secretariat by playing a role in effective planning, coordination and implementation of the activities, including through mid-year and end of year reviews of the annual workplan
• Undertakes project management duties, including in relation to high level meetings, to ensure the proper implementation of the SWA secretariat workplan and strategy
• Holds a transversal role within the secretariat to assess the needs of each team and to streamline activities across all teams.
• Help manages the secretariat project management database to track tasks and deadlines for each team. Ensures that individual team deadlines are met through effective communication, coordination and follow up.
• Collects and analyses data and proposes appropriate action plans
• Support knowledge management strategy within the secretariat

Governance:

• Provides substantive and practical support to the Steering Committee, working groups, sub-committees as well as related planning activities, meetings and events
• Manages elections process for the Steering Committee
• Coordinates new partners application process and due diligence verification in collaboration with relevant focal points
• Identifies and implements modalities for improved communication and information sharing in SWA governance bodies

• Support in drafting talking points and speeches for events where SWA leadership is participating
• Research and prepare key messages on financing for WASH
• Research and prepare key messages on integrity and WASH

• Facilitates collaboration with internal and external counterparts including team members, governance bodies and partners
• Supports the SWA leadership in coordinating processes and activities as needed
• Works on special projects such as databases and CRM platforms
• Liaises with a variety of stakeholders and team members across various time zones and geographical locations

The key results have an impact on the extent to which SWA is able to work with countries and other global partners to make a contribution to the achievement of the water, sanitation and hygiene for all, always and everywhere. In particular, the key results have an impact on the functioning on the Secretariat. Good quality support to the leadership of SWA, combined with efficient management of work plans and budgets will underpin the success of all other efforts undertaken by the SWA partners, leadership and Secretariat.

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

• University degree in international relations, political science, economics, public policy, social sciences or related field
• At least two years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the UN or other international or national development organization, national government or the private sector.
• Experience should include working in an ever-changing decentralized environment, coordinating processes, planning events and/ or managing projects.
• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in Spanish and French highly desirable. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA). The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

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.

Remarks:

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

Your appointment is limited to SWA, a UNICEF hosted fund. While UN staff regulations and rules, as well as UNICEF policies and procedures, apply to you during your appointment, certain provisions therein may apply to you differently due to the limited scope of your appointment. In particular, you will not be subject to rotation exercise as per the Executive Directive on Staff mobility and rotation (CF/EXD/2015-002) or any revision thereof. In addition, during your appointment in SWA, you will not be considered eligible for conversion to a Continuing Appointment as per UNICEF Administrative Instruction on Continuing Appointment (CF/AI/2017-002) or any revision thereof. In the event that your post is abolished, the priority granted and other support provided to staff on abolished posts in staff selection processes will only be extended to posts within ECW and not to other posts in UNICEF.

For UNICEF candidates applying: To return to a UNICEF appointment outside SWA, you will need to be selected in a competitive recruitment exercise. Upon selection for a UNICEF post outside of UNICEF hosted funds, the period you have served with the UNICEF hosted fund will count towards the calculation of the tour of duty in your duty station and eligibility for a continuing appointment.  

For External Candidates applying:  To secure a UNICEF appointment outside SWA, you will need to be selected in a competitive recruitment exercise. Upon selection for a UNICEF post outside of UNICEF hosted funds, the period you have served with the UNICEF hosted fund will count towards the calculation of the tour of duty in your duty station and eligibility for a continuing appointment.