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For every child, a childwood
The UNICEF Chile Country Office operates in the context of a High-Income Country (HIC) environment, where UNICEF’s role has strategically evolved towards advocacy, technical assistance, and policy influence, rather than direct programme implementation. In alignment with UNICEF’s Future Focus Initiative (FFI) and Business Model Initiative (BMI), the Chile office prioritizes a streamlined and strategic approach to addressing structural inequalities affecting children, focusing particularly on child protection, education, and social policy. The Programme Manager will play a pivotal role in guiding programme strategies, ensuring effective integration across sectors, optimizing resource utilization, and maintaining a high-level partnership with governmental, civil society, and private sector actors to advance child rights and equity.
Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Representative, the Programme Manager is responsible for managing the overall strategic direction, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of UNICEF programmes in Chile. This role requires close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment with the country programme objectives, UNICEF’s global strategies, and national development priorities, promoting a results-based and rights-based approach to achieving measurable outcomes for children, especially the most disadvantaged.
How can you make a difference?
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
1. Effective knowledge management and systems developed and utilized to strengthen area/country programme management.
2. Situation Analysis prepared/updated, critical programme intervention points/measures identified, and programme work plans/recommendations/reports prepared.
3. Programme funds optimally used.
4. Programme monitoring and evaluations effectively conducted to improve programme performance, and programme status report timely prepared. Gender/sex disaggregated data and inputs relevant to country programme provided as integral part of programming.
5. Rights-based and results-based programming approach fully incorporated into all phases of programme and projects processes.
6. Commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners effectively gained and established.
7. Rights perspective and advocacy at the national, community, and family levels incorporated in policy analysis for establishing and elevating UNICEF’s credibility in national and international policy debates.
8. Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme development/management/coordination, information sharing, and networking.
1. Knowledge Management for Programmes
• Ensure programmes are strengthened through effective knowledge management via systematic data collection, analysis, accurate reporting, and participation in UNICEF’s global knowledge networks.
• Participate in information exchanges through donor/media interactions and contribute to the development of training and orientation materials.
2. Programme Development and Management
• Contribute to comprehensive Situation Analyses and programme recommendations. Ensure transparent monitoring and analysis of country socio-economic and political trends.
• Support the development and updating of programme work plans, recommending innovative methods and practices.
3. Optimum Use of Programme Funds
• Assist in developing and monitoring programme work plans, managing the allocation and disbursement of funds effectively and transparently.
• Take proactive actions to ensure optimal fund utilization, promoting efficiency through rigorous planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
4. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations
• Undertake regular field visits to monitor programme implementation, assess performance, and identify necessary corrective actions.
• Participate in programme evaluations and annual sector reviews, ensuring timely preparation of comprehensive programme status reports.
5. Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach
• Ensure child rights-based programme quality through rigorous planning, design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Recommend optimal resource utilization and alternative approaches for enhanced outcomes aligned with child and women's rights.
6. National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability
• Provide technical guidance to government partners for effective training and capacity-building initiatives.
• Strategically identify and build institutional capacities of national and local partners to ensure sustainable programme outcomes.
7. Rights Perspective and Advocacy at National, Community, and Family Levels
• Conduct policy analyses from a rights perspective and advocate effectively at multiple levels to establish UNICEF’s credibility.
• Promote UNICEF’s organizational goals through targeted advocacy and policy dialogue.
8. Partnership, Coordination, and Collaboration
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships and collaborative networks for enhanced data sharing, programme coordination, and advocacy.
• Coordinate with Operations for internal control and resource management, collaborating closely with Regional Advisers and HQ Officers to ensure programme alignment.
Impact of Results
The strategic and efficient management of programmes under the Programme Manager will significantly enhance UNICEF’s ability to influence policy frameworks, achieve advocacy goals, and leverage partnerships for children's rights and well-being in Chile. Successful execution of this role will result in strengthened credibility and leadership of UNICEF in national and international policy discussions, optimized use of programme resources, and effective capacity building of national partners. Furthermore, measurable progress will be evident in child protection, education, and social policy initiatives, contributing to reducing disparities and promoting equitable development across the country.
- Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required:Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, SocialPolicy, Social Development, Community Development, or another relevant technical field.
- Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in programme planning, management, and implementation within social development, child protection, education, or related fields is required.
Required experience:
Expertise in rights-based and results-based programming, programme monitoring andevaluation, and resource optimization.
Experience in strategic policy advocacy, partnership management, and stakeholder engagementwith government entities, civil society, and the private sector.
Familiarity and previous engagement with programme contexts in high-income or upper-middle-income countries, as well as an understanding of the socio-political dynamics influencing policy decisions.
Desirable experience:
Experience in emergency contexts or preparedness strategies.
Previous professional experience with UNICEF or other UN agencies is highly desirable, ensuring familiarity with organizational policies, procedures, and frameworks.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowlegde of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French or Russian) is an assett.
Desirables:
- 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
The 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:
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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 diversity profiles 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.
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