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.

How can you make a difference? 

The Service Contracting Centre (SCC) is part of UNICEF Supply Division (main location Copenhagen, Denmark). Established in 2017 to bring efficiencies and improve compliance by leading the procurement of services for diverse category of services across 18 NY Headquarters (NYHQ) Divisions/Offices including Hosted Funds & becoming source of expert knowledge and resources in the various categories of services.

The Service Contracting Centre (SCC) operates in an environment of increasing operational complexity, evolving stakeholder expectations, organizational transition, and growing coordination requirements linked to complex and highly coordinated service contracting activities across UNICEF.

Over recent years, SCC has experienced sustained workload growth, increasing service complexity, expanding cross functional coordination requirements, and increasing operational demands linked to global contracting initiatives and organizational transformation efforts. The Center managed a significant procurement workload last year, receiving approximately 1,800 procurement transaction requests, including the creation and amendment of contracts, purchase orders (POs), and long-term agreements (LTAs).

Scope of Work: The purpose of this consultancy is to assess end-to-end service contracting workflows and operating approaches managed by SCC; identify operational bottlenecks, process inefficiencies, duplication, coordination gaps, workload pressure points, and other challenges affecting service delivery; recommend practical and implementable workflow optimization and harmonization measures; facilitate stakeholder consultations, workshops, and operational alignment discussions with SCC management, unit leads, and key stakeholders; develop a practical implementation roadmap outlining priority actions, sequencing considerations, and areas requiring management endorsement or further review; and support the implementation of the recommended business transformation measures.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Review and Assessment:

review all SCC workflows, operating approaches, coordination mechanisms, and service delivery modalities, including workflow mapping exercises where relevant;
assess process bottlenecks, workflow inefficiencies, duplication, coordination challenges, and workload pressure points;
review all SCC service categories and operating modalities to identify opportunities for harmonization, prioritization, and operational optimization;
assess relevant systems, workflows, and procedures to identify areas requiring process adjustments,operational improvements, or management review; and support alignment with ongoing operational efficiency initiatives where relevant.

Business Transformation and Advisory Support:

facilitate targeted stakeholder consultations and operational workshops;
support operational harmonization and stakeholder alignment discussions;
provide practical recommendations linked to implementation considerations and sequencing;
support implementation planning discussions linked to proposed operational improvements; and provide advisory support during implementation and operational alignment discussions during the assignment period.
support SCC management in tracking implementation progress, monitoring agreed actions, and identifying risks and mitigation measures associated with change initiatives

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0003691 ToR.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:
- Advanced university degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Economics, Contracts / Commercial law, or a related field
Work Experience:
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in leading Business transformation activities
- International work experience, experience with public and private sector, expertise in international development and humanitarian response are strong assets
- Experience from analytical work and negotiations
Language requirement: Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required
Skills:
- Ability to work independently as well as with a team in an international, multicultural, and interdisciplinary environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization
- Ability to communicate sensitively to different audiences
- Ability to work within tight deadlines

Desirables:

Experience in Supply Chain, service contracting, service category management, and contract management is an asset
Experience in work environment of an international agency, UN, or international institutions is desirable; prior experience in UNICEF is an asset
Knowledge of UNICEF/UN systems; familiarity with UNICEF's work 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 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 reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
Cover letter
A separate financial proposal TMC0003691 Financial Proposal Template.docx

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Business Transformation Consultant, Supply Division, Service Contracting Centre (SCC), 5.5 months, Budapest, Hungary (Remote) # 594134