Planning Manager (Forecasting), P4, Post # 102955
Monitoring, Strategic Data and Evidence Centre (MSDEC)
Supply Division, Copenhagen, Denmark

 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, supplies

We are searching for a talented and experienced leader for the UNICEF Supply Division’s Demand Planning and Forecasting Unit, an integral part of the Monitoring, Strategic Data and Evidence Centre. Strengthening our global demand planning and forecasting is a priority at UNICEF Supply Division and we are looking for a candidate who is professionally well-grounded, confident, and skilled at navigating and communicating across all organizational levels, cultures, and stakeholders.

The center’s work is cross-cutting in nature, providing support within Supply Division to all product category centers and our global warehouse hubs, but also to UNICEF Regional and Country Offices, collaborating closely with other UNICEF Divisions and external supply partners.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Centre Chief, you will be responsible for the implementation, strengthening and continuous optimisation of the demand planning and forecasting function and the key planning elements of the Supply Division, for maintaining and nurturing excellence in planning within the relevant product categories., and for leading the digitalization of the forecasting system and processes – all of which allows UNICEF to engage industry and generate trust, take informed decisions and support countries ensure access to supplies.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Provides effective leadership and supervision to staff and consultants to ensure the achievement of the targets set for demand planning and forecasting. Coordinates the generation of strategic product forecasts and their regular updates, including the communications between Supply Division and Country Offices, and ensures that information on the internal and external environment, from partners and on future trends, is incorporated into the forecast to give an accurate and regular estimate. In collaboration with procurement centers and the warehouse, ensures the selection of the most appropriate forecast methodology for their strategic products given their environment and subsequently maintains, reviews as needed, and documents the relevant processes and methodologies in use, whether statistical forecasts, forecasts based on materials requirements planning (MRP), mixed-source forecasts, or other. Leads the digitalization of Supply Division’s forecast system and the strengthening of the forecast and demand planning processes to enable a more robust tactical planning horizon and increased visibility for suppliers and countries. This entails working with consultants and a broad range of stakeholders on processes and solutions. Ensures support to UNICEF Country Office supply planning by providing guidance, tools, systems support and technical advice, including by developing and offering normative trainings on supply planning and demand forecasting. Leverages UNICEF experiences in demand/supply planning and forecasting in order to provide technical assistance to partner government stakeholders wishing to strengthen their supply forecasting. Ensures organizational learning on demand/supply planning and forecasting by developing and providing access to relevant knowledge, including by leveraging resources from partners and academia, and by maintaining and expanding an appropriate center of knowledge and expertise to guide, organize, process and communicate on demand forecasting for essential and strategic supplies. Advocates for and works towards gaining recognition across UNICEF and its stakeholders as a go-to resource in demand planning and forecasting. Provides any other assistance as required by the supervisor.

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

Education:

A completed Advanced Degree (Master’s Degree) is required, preferably in business, economics, supply chain, social sciences, statistics, engineering, information management, or other relevant field.

*A completed 1st University Degree (Bachelor’s degree) and 10 years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of completed Advanced Degree (Master’s Degree)

Work experience:

Minimum eight (8) years progressively responsible work experience relevant to supply chain, analytics and forecasting and/or supply/demand planning is required. Experience in leading the generation of demand plans and forecasts is required. Experience in directly supervising staff is required. Ability to analyze complex data is required. Ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments is required.

Language requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French is an 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.

The core competencies required for this post are: 1) Builds and Maintains Partnerships 2) Works Collaboratively with others 3) Thinks and Acts Strategically 4) Drive to achieve impactful results 5) Nurtures, Leads and Manages People 6) Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness 7) Innovates and Embraces Change 8) Manages ambiguity and complexity. 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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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 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.   

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.

Remarks:

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.

Priority will be given to all the eligible candidates participating in UNICEF’s 2022 Mobility Exercise and Staff on Abolished post.

This vacancy is archived.

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