UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a future

UNICEF Ghana works in partnership with the Government of Ghana, United Nations agencies, civil society, development partners and the private sector to advance children’s rights, in line with national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ghana is a lower‑middle‑income country with persistent inequities affecting children, particularly in geographically disadvantaged regions, urban informal settlements, and communities vulnerable to climate and health shocks. UNICEF Ghana’s programme prioritizes systems strengthening, equity‑focused service delivery, domestic financing, and partnerships, with increasing emphasis on value for money, accountability, digital transformation, and emergency preparedness.

To learn more about our country programme visit UNICEF in Ghana

How can you make a difference?

As a Strategic Business Partner, the Deputy Representative, Operations leads and oversees the Operations function to enable the effective, efficient and accountable delivery of UNICEF Ghana’s Country Programme.

The incumbent provides strategic leadership, policy advice and operational oversight, contributes to senior management decision‑making, supports the management of the Country Office, and acts as Officer‑in‑Charge as delegated.

The role ensures that operations systems, people, resources and partnerships are aligned to deliver results for children through risk‑informed, value‑for‑money and fit‑for‑purpose operational solutions.

The incumbent serves as a trusted advisor on risk, compliance, business continuity, and resource optimization, while driving digital transformation, operational excellence, and collaboration to deliver results for children.

Strategic Operations will accomplish this by:

Leading by example and supporting the Head of Office on managing the office
Acting as Officer in Charge in the absence of the Head of Office
Managing services in the functional areas of operations support: budget, financial management and reporting, facilities management, administration, supply and logistics management, information and communications technology, and safety and security and convening the other functions to arrive at a unified vision;
Acting as member of the Country and Senior Management Teams, representing the organizational risk, governance systems and policies perspective in management discussions, and promoting results based management.
Drive a risk culture, ensuring effective fiduciary risk management with particular focus on country-office financial performance, fraud exposure, procurement, asset management and the effectiveness of management actions to address identified weaknesses.
Understanding business needs for the Country Programme, to anticipate challenges, propose viable/creative solutions aimed at value for money.
Providing key contribution to CPD, CPMP, AMP and support to Results Based Management and implementation using Value for Money criteria.
Leveraging technology for results and programme accountabilities, making effective adoption of tools and promoting the fundamentals of ICT management, information security and controls;
Supporting the country office during external and internal audit reviews and responding to audit observations and monitoring implementation of recommendations.
Guiding Supply and Logistics strategies and interventions to meet programmatic needs while ensuring Value for Money (VfM), including procurement of fit for purpose products and services, and providing advisory support to governments, national systems and partners on supply chain management;
Leveraging governance, systems, and tools to provide regular feedback on risks and achievements of operations functions in the country;
Leading on facility management with a specific focus on inclusive accessibility, eco sustainability and common premises;
Overseeing business transactions processed by GSSC from a perspective of Efficiency, Performance, Risk Management and Fraud prevention
Supporting the management of PSFR operations and promoting efficiency across systems and processes, where applicable
Contribute to effective management of donor funds
Lead cross-functional teams.

The Deputy Representative, Operations will be entrusted with the following five pillars, the core focus of all operations functions: Valuing People, Valuing Money, Valuing Risk Management, Valuing Systems and Structures, Valuing Partners.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Job Description.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:
An Advanced University Degree (equivalent to a Master’s or higher) in one of the following areas is required: Business management; Financial management; Accounting; Public Finance; and related operations function (Supply Chain, Human Resources, Information Technology, International Business, Project management, etc.) or a full professional accounting designation (CA, ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CPFA, Expert Comptable) from an internationally recognized institute/body of accountancy with valid membership in good standing is required.

Work Experience:
A minimum of 8 years of professional experience, at the national and international level, is required, specifically in implementing strategic organizational initiatives in one or more operations management area including budget; financial management and reporting; facilities management; administration; supply and logistics management; information and communication technology; human resources.

Strong stakeholder management and partnership-building skills, with proven track record to engage and influence government, UN, donor, and external partners to achieve results.

Demonstrated senior management experience, including leading multi-disciplinary teams.

Experience in developing country contexts, preferably West & Central Africa.

Experience managing UN common services and business operations at a senior level, with strong knowledge of ERP systems, IPSAS, Results-Based Management, and organizational efficiency frameworks.

Prior experience in the development sector or UN system/ international NGOs would be an asset.

For country offices with a significant private sector fundraising operation, prior experience working with or in the private sector, and supporting private sector fundraising, is desirable

Additional experience in one or more of the following areas, would be desired:
- Audit and investigations
- Safety and security
- Grant Management
- Enterprise Risk Management
Experience in a UN system agency, large private or public company, or experience working in a developing country and/or humanitarian/ emergency context is an asset.

Experience in Results Based Management is a requirement.

Experience in supporting successful client-oriented work units is an asset.

Previous hands on experience in strategic operations is a strong asset.

Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications is required.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required; working knowledge of French or a Ghanaian language is an asset.

Desirables:

Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

The 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

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel.Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Deputy Representative Operations, (P-4) Fixed Term – Accra, Ghana # 5974