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

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF is committed to managing risk, social and environmental safeguarding (SES) and sustainability in support of child rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Pakistan, this commitment is reflected through an integrated risk management approach across the country programme and operations, enabling UNICEF Pakistan and its partners to anticipate, assess and mitigate risks, while strengthening social and environmental safeguarding, protecting resources, and supporting the delivery of essential services for children and communities in development, humanitarian and climate-related contexts. The United Nations Secretary-General, in the Strategy for Sustainability Management in the United Nations System 2020-2030 (United Nations Chief Executives Board, 2021), has called upon the entire UN System to “walk the talk” on environmental and social sustainability, and climate change. In response, UNICEF is committed to protecting and safeguarding every child, their communities, and their environment that may be adversely affected by its programmes. In line with the above, UNICEF Pakistan Country Office has adopted a harmonized approach to risk management that integrates social and environmental safeguarding (SES), including prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), with operational risk management, including PRM/HACT, within the overall enterprise risk management strategy.

Under the supervision and guidance of the Deputy Representative Operations, the Risk & Safeguarding Manager coordinates the office’s assessment and management of the risks profile as well as safeguarding standards pertaining to their scope of work – both from an operational and programmatic perspective – to help develop, implement, and monitor the country programme, ensuring effective and timely delivery that is consistent with UNICEF rules and regulations. The Risk & Safeguarding Manager works in close collaboration with a range of staff in the CO/RO/HQ, external partners and agency counterparts in support of programme design, delivery and monitoring. Incumbent provides regular feedback on the status of risk management and safeguarding at programme and project levels (and, when requested, at subproject level too), through monitoring assessments and related mitigation measures, and advises on improvements to keep activities on track.

Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
Social and Environmental Safeguarding (SES)
Programme Implementation Risk Management (PRM/HACT)
Management of operational risks and business continuity
Regularly review PCO’s Roles, Responsibilities and Authorities Framework
Capacity Building and Consultations of UNICEF staff and partners

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Classified Job Descriptions - Risk & Safeguarding Manager.pdf

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Minimum Requirements:

Education: A Masters or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Social or Management Sciences, Public Administration, Law, Business Administration, Risk Management, International Development and/or any other relevant technical field is required.
Work Experience: A minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience at national and international levels in the areas of Risk Management, Programme Management and Safeguarding, of which at least five years of progressive experience in UNICEF or a reputable international organization in developing countries is required.
Skills: Demonstrated knowledge of applying Risk Assessment, Analytical Thinking, Problem Solving, Team Leadership, Stakeholder Facilitation is required. Demonstrated maturity in judgment and management, team building skills, excellent analytical, writing skills and interpersonal skills; good facilitator skills, good knowledge and skills in using tools for policy presentations, planning and the networking of strategic information is required.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is considered an asset.
Experience in Humanitarian and Complex Settings Programming, Donor Management, Political Acumen, Risk Oversight, and Risk Domains such as SES, PSEA, Programme HACT, and operational risk management are highly desirable. Ability to provide Partnership Leadership and Strategic Advisory in politically sensitive issues is an asset.
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

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.

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 female candidates, persons with disabilities and suitable candidates from underrepresented groups 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.

Risk & Safeguarding Manager, P-4, Fixed Term Position, Islamabad, Pakistan, #00093606, 24 Months