Job no: 559933
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Duty Station: Vientiane
Level: P-4
Location: Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Categories: Health, Health and Nutrition
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, opportunities
UNICEF has been working in Lao PDR continuously since 1973, one of the longest-serving international organizations in the country. We have been implementing one of UNICEF’s largest country programmes worldwide, working tirelessly to promote the rights of children and women and to bring basic services – education, health, nutrition, protection, water and sanitation – to those who are most in need.
In Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), UNICEF is promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child. Together with our partners, we are focusing and putting extra efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children throughout the country.
How can you make a difference?
Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative Programmes, you will be responsible for managing and supervising all stages of the WASH, Climate and Sustainable Environment programme from strategic planning and formulation to the delivery of the WASH and Climate and Environment outcome and output results. You will also be responsible for leading and managing the CO WASH, Climate and Sustainable Environment team. You will be accountable for ensuring that the WASH, Climate and Sustainable Environment outcome and output results are achieved according to plans, allocations, results based-management approaches and methodology, UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, standards of performance and accountability framework.
Your will provide the leadership needed to enable the Country Office to achieve the WASH, Climate and Sustainable Environment -related output results of the country programme in close collaboration with other sectors for the areas of Climate and Sustainable Environment. This, in turn, will contribute to the achievement of the outcome results of the Country Programme Document. When done effectively, the achievement of the outcome results will improve child survival, growth and development, reduce inequalities in the country and will assure that all the social services are climate resilient.
Your key functions/accountabilities will be:
- Managerial leadership
- Programme development and planning
- Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
- Advisory services and technical support
- Advocacy, networking and partnership building
- Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response
- Coordination with other sectors on the climate and environment agenda
- Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in engineering, public health, social sciences, behavior change communication or another relevant technical field. Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are an asset.
- A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience in WASH-related programme management for developing countries, recent experience on climate and environment programmes, along with at least three years of deployment in a developing country, are required.
- Proven ability to effectively lead a team to deliver results is required.
- Have experience in successfully and urgently translating high level priorities into action.
- Have a good communication style that is regarded relevant, appropriate and effective in Lao PDR, especially in working with the Government.
- The candidate should possess a combination of high-level education technical knowledge and experience, leadership skills and maturity to further strengthen the trust and respect that UNICEF has earned from the people of the country.
- Proven experience in mobilizing financial and non-financial resources for WASH related programmes.
- Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
- Work experience in climate and sustainable environment, data analysis and advocacy as an asset
- 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 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
UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others and (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.
During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.
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 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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.
Remarks:
UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to all the eligible candidates participating in 2022 Mobility Exercise and Staff on Abolished post, and internal applicants per the provisions of the applicable selection policy.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
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). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Advertised: 19 Mar 2023 SE Asia Standard Time
Deadline: 02 Apr 2023 SE Asia Standard Time
