Deputy Representative, P-5, Tripoli

Purpose

Under the broad supervision of the Representative, the incumbent will be accountable for overall leadership and managerial guidance on policy direction and programme initiatives. The incumbent will be accountable for programme coordination, and management of all phases of programme formulation, planning, design, implementation, with specific reference to the upper middle income level of Libya and the upstream policy and knowledge management focus of UNICEF cooperation. The incumbent will provide leadership and strategic direction in the planning, formulation and implementation of the Country Programme and its activities in line with national development priorities in a post conflict setting, and the UN Development Assistance Framework within an UN integrated structure framework. The incumbent will ensure that a gender equality perspective is mainstreamed in all aspects of substantive work across the country programme. The incumbent will be accountable for administration of the total programme commitment of a large-size country office within a politically complex and high risk environment, with a broad range of knowledge management, and pro-equity policy and programme initiatives, consistent with the organization’s goals, strategy, and priorities.

Key expected results

1.Effective leadership and managerial guidance and coordination are provided to ensure the achievement of programme goals through an environment in which programme staff, both women and men, can function at the highest standard of efficiency and competency within a UN integrated structure environment. Implementation of the Country Programme and its activities promoted in line with immediate post conflict national development priorities, and the UN Development Assistance Framework and as a contribution to national policy, systems and budgets.

Within a high-risk, integrated mission environment, ensures the achievement of policy, programme and project goals in line with a national post conflict/recovery environment, by providing overall leadership and managerial guidance to senior level programme teams on knowledge management and policy direction, work plans and control mechanisms and by monitoring compliance and performance standards, in accordance with Country Programme Recommendation and Country Programme Management Plan, focussed on achievement of UNICEF's Priorities.

Designs and implements advocacy strategies to promote greater public awareness of UN-supported programme goals on equity for all children and to enlist support of national and local mass media, legislators and other national and community-level public figures.

Provides expert technical and policy advice to the Representative on knowledge management, policy and programme strategies, planning and courses of action, including knowledge leadership on children and women, social protection and social budgeting for children; provide authoritative interpretation of guidelines and organizational policy, contributing to the development of new guidelines through the programme cycle.

Collaboration with Regional Advisers and HQ divisions for overall coordination. Collaborates with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavours and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability.

2.Country programme management fully supported by effective knowledge management and systems.

Ensures that area/country programmes are supported by knowledge management through data collection and analysis (especially MICS), complete and accurate reporting as well as participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of "lessons learned" and other corporate-level databases; participates in information exchange through donor and media visits as well as in the development of training and orientation material.

3.Situation Analysis is prepared/updated, critical programme interventions, measures or adjustments are identified, major gaps in knowledge on children and women are addressed through MICS and other national surveys and censuses, programme work plans and recommendations are prepared and incorporated, and the application of gender mainstreaming is integral to all work processes.

Supervises and coordinates the preparation/updating of the Situation Analysis for programme development. Support knowledge creation and management at national level, with special attention to MICS, DevInfo and national M&E systems and policies. Enhances the identification/review of critical interventions and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring and evaluation system; providing accurate, updated analysis of country level socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects through an up to date equity-focused SitAn. Coordinates or prepares programme work plans and changes as required. Responsible for preparation of program recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation, and new approaches, methods and practices. Ensures that the application of gender mainstreaming is integral to all work processes.

4.Rights-based and Results-based management approach is fully incorporated into all phases of policy development and programmes/projects (strategy, planning and implementation).

Ensures quality Rights-based programmes, through the formulation of programme goals and objectives and the development of strategies and implementation frameworks. Brings coherence, synergy and added value to programming (planning and design processes etc) using results-based management approaches that focus on the most vulnerable children, with emphasis on measurable results, gender equality and strategies for systematically mainstreaming gender.

Equity is kept as a strategic priority in all programme phases and fully translated in measurable and evaluable results (including in achieving child focus of national social protection initiatives).

Prepares and submits viable recommendations on programme implementation, alternative approaches, and optimal utilization of resources that contribute effectively to the fulfilment of the rights of children and women. Recommendations new initiatives and management issues to ensure achievement of stated objectives.

5.Programme efficiency and delivery are improved through effective programme planning, monitoring and evaluation within a high-risk, integrated mission environment.

Oversees and establishes programme work plans and monitor progress and compliance. Approves and monitors the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Takes appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds, and the identification of cost efficient initiatives to scale up Ensures programme efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation. Oversee timely development of management response for all programme, project and policy evaluations.

6.UNICEF programme evaluations effectively conducted in compliance with the established UN quality standards, with special attention to UNICEF’s global evaluation quality standards and management response requirements, and the results are disseminated in a timely fashion to stakeholders in order to establish follow up actions and improve programme performance.

Carries out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation and coordinates the major programme evaluation exercises in consultation with the Representative, the Operations Officer, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist and others to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery. Oversee the development and implementation of management response for all evaluations, in accordance with relevant executive directives. Participates in annual sector review meetings with government counterparts. Ensures the timely preparation of annual program status reports.

7.Commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners effectively gained and promoted.

Ensures the building or reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners, taking a strategic approach to the identification of these partners and partnerships.

8.Rights perspective and advocacy at the national, community and family levels incorporated into policy analysis and knowledge systems for establishing and elevating UNICEF’s credibility in national and international programme and policy debates.

Incorporates a children and women's rights perspective into knowledge systems, policy analysis and advocacy at the community and family levels for elevating credibility in national and international policy debates. Promotes the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and policy dialogue.

9.Effective advocacy, communication and networking achieved through partnership and collaboration to leverage resources and political will for children.

Promotes and ensures the inclusion of children and the obligations of various actors to meet their rights in international debates, in UNDAFs, in cross-sectoral national policies in legal reforms, in budgetary decisions, in poverty reduction strategies, in sector-wide approaches and individual programmes and projects. Collaborates with Communication and Programme Communication Officers on strategies for information and social mobilization.

Promotes 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 (especially MICS and DevInfo), exchange information on programme/project status and implementation and movement/distribution of supplies. Ensures the linkage to the Regional Programme Knowledge Network to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme data.

10.Acts on behalf of the Representative of the Country office during his/her absence.

Represents UNICEF in meetings with high level and senior government officials as well as multi-lateral, bi-lateral agencies and NGO's to conduct programme advocacy and negotiations, identify strategic alliances and influence policy development to facilitate achievement of programme goals and objectives. Participates in international/national meetings and workshops.

Qualification

Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines*.

Ten years of relevant work experience in International development in a Developing country is required. Work experience in Upper Middle Income or High Income Countries is an asset.

Background/familiarity with Emergency and post conflict contexts is a key asset. Exposure / knowledge to integrated mission frameworks and working environment is a key asset.

Fluency in English and another UN language (IP). Fluency in Arabic would be a key asset for this position.

*A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Competencies

Has highest-level communication skills, including engaging and informative formal public speaking.

Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time and on-budget.

Creates and encourages a climate of team-working and collaboration in a multi-cultural environment.

Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.

Identifies urgent and potentially risky decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates organization-wide activities.

Sets, develops and revises organizational strategy and develops clear visions of the organization’s future potential.

Has high-level leadership and supervisory skills; provides others with a clear direction; motivates and empowers others; recruits staff of a high caliber; provides staff with development opportunities and coaching.

Negotiates effectively with people inside and outside the organization by adopting a range of approaches.

Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups. Actively nurtures good relationships with people across all organizational levels and boundaries, and with government leaders and stakeholders.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation. If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.

Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies, quoting E-VN-2011-001842. Applications must be received by 8 November 2011.

Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.

In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.