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, a brighter future

The Hyderabad Field Office covers Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka and provides strategic leadership for UNICEF's engagement with state governments and key stakeholders across the Area of Responsibility.

In line with UNICEF India's evolving differentiated programme approach, the Hyderabad Field Office plays a strategic role in advancing upstream engagement and strengthening UNICEF's position as a convener and catalyst for results for children.

The office fosters innovation, generates evidence and supports the development of sustainable, scalable approaches aligned with state development and governance priorities. Building on the strong public-sector capacity and vibrant private-sector, philanthropic and innovation ecosystems across the region, the office also plays a key role in strategic partnership development, advocacy and resource mobilization to accelerate results for children.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Chief Field Operations, the Chief Field Office (CFO) is accountable for representing, managing and leading the total programme commitment of a field office within a country programme. The CFO represents UNICEF in their Area of Responsibility (AoR), leads and oversees the various program sectors and operational service teams ensuring the delivery of quality results in accordance with UNICEF’s programme of cooperation, country programme management plan and overall vision set forward by the Representative. The incumbent is also expected to provide strategic leadership in partnership development, resource mobilization, policy advocacy and innovation, while positioning UNICEF as a trusted thought leader and partner of choice.

Key functions and accountabilities:

1. Effective management of UNICEF presence, staff and assets

2. Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration

3. Knowledge Management for Programmes

4. Programme Development and Management

5. Optimum Use of Program Funds

6. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations

7. Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach

8. National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability

9. Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the National, Community and Family Levels

10. Partnership and Resource Mobilization

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

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, international relations, public administration, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.
Work Experience: A minimum of eight (8) years of professional work experience in programme management, planning, monitoring and evaluation, project administration or another relevant area is required. Demonstrated experience in advancing upstream programming, policy dialogue and systems strengthening through strategic engagement with senior government officials, development partners, academia, private sector and civil society stakeholders that advance children's rights and development outcomes is required. Experience leading and managing teams, with the ability to nurture talent, foster collaboration and innovation, and build high-performing teams capable of delivering results in increasingly upstream and partnership-focused programming environments is required.
Skills: Strong strategic leadership, programme management, stakeholder engagement, partnership development, advocacy, negotiation and resource mobilization skills, with demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams, foster collaboration and innovation, and deliver results for children.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
Experience in identifying, cultivating and leveraging strategic partnerships and in resource mobilization in support of children's rights and development outcomes is considered a strong asset.
Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as 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
(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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable. Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these 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, 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.

As part of UNICEF’s commitment to building an ever more diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive work environment, we particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in our workforce, including candidates from geographically underrepresented regions within the ICO IP workforce, particularly East Asia and the Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and West and Central Africa; persons with disabilities; and people of diverse gender identities and expressions.

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.

Chief Field Office (P-4), FT, #82112, Hyderabad, India - APRO