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, hope . . .
UNICEF has a 70-year history of innovating for children. We believe that new approaches, partnerships, and technologies that support realizing children’s rights are critical to improving their lives.
The Office of Innovation is a creative, interactive, and agile team in UNICEF. We sit at a unique intersection, where an organization that works on huge global issues meets the startup thinking, the technology, and the partners that turn this energy into scalable solutions.
UNICEF's Office of Innovation creates opportunities for the world's children by focusing on where new markets can meet their vital needs.
How can you make a difference?
PURPOSE FOR THE JOB:
Based in Helsinki, the incumbent will:
(1) support the Innovative Financing pipeline management, providing expertise to identify and highlight opportunities for the IF Hub to engage with investment actors.
(2) align the development of partnerships with the IF Hub’s child-lens investing framework (CLIF), a global field-building investing initiative to integrate children in investment decision-making.
(3) lead on technical assistance coordination with partners.
(4) coordinate knowledge management and internal communications from the IF Hub with UNICEF’s global teams on Innovative Finance.
(5) support the Hub, as needed for its fundraising efforts.
The incumbent reports to Investment Manager, Innovative Financing of the IF Hub in Helsinki. He/she will work closely with other divisions on innovation and innovative finance, including internal divisions such as OED, PPD, PFP, PG, DFAM, Legal and SD, as well as external actors.
Coordinate the communication channels across the multiple Innovative Financing teams in the organization, as well as a direct rapport with the Innovative Finance team based in the Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) division in Geneva.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
COMPETENCIES AND LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY
Core Values
Care Respect Integrity Trust Accountability SustainabilityCore Competencies
Communication (1) Working with people (1) Drive for results (1)Functional Competencies
Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1) Works Collaboratively with others (1) Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1) Innovates and Embraces Change (1) Thinks and Acts Strategically (1) Drive to achieve impactful results (1) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)Other skills:
Good verbal communication skills. Good interpersonal skills. Excellent knowledge in power point presentation. working across teams and engaging with internal and external stakeholdersEducation:
An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required, Finance, International Relations, Business Administration, Social Science or Humanities or another relevant technical field.
Experience:
A minimum of 5 + years of progressively responsible professional work experience in an international organization, with primary experience in sustainable finance or 7 years of experience in lieu of an advanced degree. Understanding and relevant experience of direct impact investing, venture capital or private equity is highly desirable. Deal structuring and due diligence process experience is strongly preferred. Familiarity with existing standards/frameworks adopted by financial institutions (i.e. ESG criteria) highly desirable. Experience in diplomatic outreach, relationship-building and maintaining, including senior-level and multi-dimensional networking would be considered a strong asset.Language Requirements:
Written and verbal fluency in English is required. Other UN languages are an asset.
For more details, please see attached Job Discerption Programme Specialist (Investment).pdf
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.
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.
Remarks:
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 are also 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 cancelled.
All selected candidates will 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.
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.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
In case of any questions, contact: swe-ooi-recruitments@unicef.org
This vacancy is archived.