UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, inspiration…
The Office of Innovation (OoI) works to catalyze UNICEF's and all its partners’ expertise and resources against key children-outcomes
bottlenecks, with a view to continuously ideate and scale the most effective solutions with transformational potential at scale against the child related SDGs.
The office is doing this by continuously exploring new ways of accelerating results for children, investing across a range of early stage
solutions, and harnessing internal and external expertise towards continuously iterating and finetuning the most promising solutions for
children through a systematic portfolio management approach, and leveraging all stakeholders’ innovation energy, knowhow and resources from intergovernmental, multilateral, private sector and non-governmental fora (think tank, academia).
How can you make a difference?
Under the leadership of the Senior Adviser Innovation, the Innovation Manager (Programme funding) will manage the Venture Fund’s
activities.
Overall, this position is responsible for:
Lead and execute the strategy for portfolio of early-stage pilots
Develop investment strategy based on external trends, UNICEF’s Innovation strategy and priorities to grow a portfolio of early-stage innovation (with focus on open source and frontier technology) Effective ongoing management of the pooled fund and its management team, including timely donor reporting, compliance with donor agreements, standard operating procedures and budget allocation Use frontier technology-based best practices to enhance infrastructure (technical, financial and other) to support development andGrow, monitor and support various portfolios across UNICEF COs and external companies focusing on the following results:
Oversee the selection and assessment process ensuring compliance with UNICEF policies and procedures Manage technical assistance strategy to pilots and facilitate creation of platforms for acceleration Create financing and acceleration models for exits for companies in emerging economies, including through network of investors and partnerships Based on success of a “franchised” country office system for Fund extension, explore further options for engaging with country offices and supporting their capacity development towards identifying and submitting innovations projects to the Fund. Explore future models of funding for early stage innovation for UNICEF focusing on the following results: In collaboration with DFAM, expand new sources of income (including cryptocurrencies) and innovative models to fund early-stage innovation at UNICEF and develop related mechanisms to receive and allocate resources Work with relevant organizational stakeholders to map out financial and accounting changes that might make an equity-based vehicle possible. Engage closely with Legal and others to ensure that liabilities and other risks are mitigated in any future venture- or equity- funds. Guide representation of Ventures’ results in internal and external engagement focusing on the following results: Improve understanding internal stakeholders to increase understanding of the potential of frontier technology, open source and early-stage innovation Provide content for external communication to build up financial and other support from external partners Represent UNICEF Ventures in external fora at keynote level to position UNICEF as a thought leader in frontier technologies, innovative financing and innovation for children Represent and manage UNICEF Ventures’ engagement in the DPG Alliance and other relevant global platforms Provide inputs for partnership development and management, focusing on the following results: In close collaboration with PFP, provide inputs and guidance on partnership priorities and needs and create collaborations with corporate partners Create partnerships and linkages with members of key networks and major investing partners Provide access to learnings, failures, and methodologies across the UN system. Provide inputs to strategic decisions, team and budget management and oversight of Ventures, focusing on the following results: Provide strategic guidance and prioritization across work areas Management of UNICEF Ventures’ team leads Budget management and tracking of expenditures and grants. including donor reporting and annual work planning Representation to internal and external stakeholders, as requested, to ensure consistent participation in priority processes and events Provide strategic inputs and guidance as requiredTo qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education: Advanced University Degree in business administration, finance, entrepreneurship, social policy or other related fields.
*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
Experience: A minimum of eight years of relevant professional work experience at national and international levels in programme management, capacity building and monitoring and evaluation.
Experience in managing both early-stage and established portfolios of projects, specifically in the open source technology space and any of UNICEF’s core priority programme areas (including grants/investments, technical assistance and partnership development) Experience in establishing, growing and managing global teams, including project teams for specific initiatives Experience in advising on and establishing innovative financing models, including crypto-based financial models Experience in establishing innovative operational practices and onboarding internal and external stakeholders Experience in representation and negotiations with prospective and current partners across sectors Experience working in developing countries and with UNICEF desired Experience working in a headquarters environment of a multi-national entity desirable Ability to synthesize technical information and translate it into accessible products and systems A strong understanding of UNICEF’s mission and vision as well as its programmes through direct or indirect work experience with UNICEF.Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (CRITA) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues
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
During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.
Remarks:
UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.
This vacancy is archived.