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 care

How can you make a difference? 

The GSSC is currently undergoing significant transition and organizational adjustment across several service areas. Within Payroll and Offboarding section, the section is managing sustained operational pressure linked to high transaction volumes, integration of workstreams, and the need to stabilize delivery while shaping a longer-term structure. Recent management discussions have highlighted the need to complete the full integration of Payroll and Offboarding in a deliberate and structured way, including clarification of roles, workflows, span of control and staffing needs at management level.

Business Innovation and Support section (BIS) is also at a transition point and requires a review of its structure, roles, work organization and distribution, accountabilities, and interfaces with other functions, including Business Process Modernization section (BPM), to ensure alignment with current and future business needs.

Both Payroll and Offboarding and BIS have vacant P5 section chief posts. While colleagues are stepping up as OICs, there is a need for temporary support to guide thinking and facilitate discussions around organizational design; support implementation planning; and coach managers and teams through change in a way that sustains service continuity and promotes a constructive, psychologically safe working environment.

In addition, GSSC would like to conduct a review of G7 roles in view of transition to GBS. As several of these link into the work of BIS, the consultancy may also lead on initiating the review in collaboration with the People & Culture HRBP team, see more details in annex 1.

The purpose of this consultancy is therefore to provide organizational design and transition support to Payroll and Offboarding and BIS over a three-month period, with a focus on practical recommendations, implementation.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Download File ToR Senior Adviser Consultancy.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Advanced (Master's) university degree in human resources, organizational development, business administration, public administration, management, or another relevant field.

Work Experience:

At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in human resources, organizational design, organizational development, business transformation, or change management, including experience at senior advisory or leadership level.
Strong experience supporting organizational restructuring, role and team design, transition planning, and implementation in complex institutional settings.
Demonstrated experience in people management advisory support, leadership coaching, and facilitating change in sensitive or high-pressure environments.
Strong understanding of HR service delivery models, workforce planning, and organizational effectiveness.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills: Excellent analytical, drafting, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Desirables: Good knowledge of UNICEF and/or UN organizational context, policies, and ways of working is highly desirable.

Understanding of the GSSC operating model, service environment, and current transformation context is a strong 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 (only acceptable in the format of the linked template): Financial Proposal xxx4245.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.

Senior Adviser, Organizational Design and Section Transition Support Consultancy, P&L, GSSC, 3 months, Budapest, Hungary (Office-based)