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 Champion

How can you make a difference?

You will report to the Representative who will provide you with overall guidance and oversight related to key duties and responsibilities described below.

For duties mentioned in B and C, you will also benefit from a matrix management exercised by the Deputy Representative-Operations.You will provide dedicated senior-level project management, strategic coordination, and surge capacity to ensure organizational readiness for the relocation to Diamniadio.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

PBR Process & UNHMU Workforce Implementation
Relocation Operations & Logistics Coordination
Change Management, Staff Engagement & Support
Key outcomes and Deliverables

Phase / Focus Area	Key Deliverables	Expected Timeline
PBR & Workforce Readiness	Finalized UNHMU PBR package (affordability analysis, JDs, organizational charts). Fully executed recruitment plan delivering complete UNHMU staffing.	Mid-September End-November 2026
Relocation & Facilities Management	Master Relocation & Handover Workplan (including risk register and seating plans). Decommissioning plan for current premises executed ahead of lease expiry. Business continuity protocols finalized and operationalized.	Ongoing through Dec 2026
Change Management & Staff Support	Validated Change Management Task Force (CMTF) Workplan. Functioning Staff Inquiry System with established SLA response times. Execution of Staff Support Plan (SSP) workshops and support interventions.	Ongoing

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File TOR_Project Manager, P-5, #138117.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Project Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Operations Management, Change Management, or a related field.
Work Experience: Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in project management, large-scale organizational change management, facility relocation, or complex operational transformations within international organizations. Proven track record of managing multi-stakeholder projects, complex workforce transitions, or UN common premises initiatives.
Skills:
- Strong knowledge of organizational design, workforce planning and Programme Budget Review (PBR) processes in complex project and organizational transformation environments.
- Proven expertise in leading large-scale organizational change initiatives, complex transformation programmes, and enterprise-wide project management.
- Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage senior leadership, UN agencies, government counterparts to build consensus and manage expectations.
- Strong ability to develop and implement communication and stakeholder engagement strategies for complex organizational transformation programmes.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English and French is required.

Desirables:

1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
2. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
3. Familiarity with UN/UNICEF operational policies, PBR mechanisms, HR practices, and administrative procedures is highly desirable.

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

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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

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 suitablemale 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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member's original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

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.

Project Manager, P-5, #138117, TA (6 months), Dakar, Senegal - WCAR