• Duration: Permanent

• Salary: Circa £48,000 per annum

• Job Level: 3

• Hours: 35 hours per week. Other flexible arrangements will be considered.

• Disclosure Level: Basic. This role involves no direct work with children

• Reports to: Senior Programme Specialist

• Location: Working from home and at 1 Westfield Avenue, London E20 1 HZ

At the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), we pull together to achieve the best possible results for children in danger around the world.  We believe in an inclusive workplace and in the power of fulfilled colleagues who share the same values and goals, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children. 

Our work is guided by the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which recognise the universality of children’s rights.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The International Programmes Engagement (IPE) Team sits within the Partnerships and Programmes Intelligence function and is UNICEF UK’s hub of technical expertise on UNICEF’s global programmes and priorities. The IPE Team is the central source of programmatic intelligence, knowledge, interpretation, and strategic guidance, ensuring outcomes for children are at the centre of what we do at UNICEF UK.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role reports to a Senior Programme Specialist and works in a team of 7 Programme Specialists and 3 Senior Specialists, and the Head of the IPE team. Innovation is cross-cutting area of work and as such this role will work closely with Programme Specialists to ensure that innovation is represented accurately across UNICEF’s core areas of work. Within UNICEF UK, Innovation encompasses:

• Innovation in global UNICEF programmes and programme operations (working with the global UNICEF Office of Innovation, regional and country colleagues to bring insight which contributes to UNICEF UK objectives of influence, impact, and income).

• Innovations in supporter/donor engagement (including employee engagement and virtual donor engagement).

What we will expect you to achieve:

• Act as the UNICEF UK organisational lead and focal point for UNICEF’s global work on innovation across all thematic areas, - providing technical expertise, specialist guidance and advice in development programming and humanitarian response.

• Shape the planning and delivery of cross-organisational campaigns and initiatives, ensuring alignment to UNICEF global programme priorities, funding gaps and programmatic approaches.

• Skilfully manage multiple internal, external, public, and private stakeholder relationships within UNICEF UK and across the wider global organisation, sharing programmatic priorities and insights to leverage influence, income and impact for children.

• Represent UNICEF UK externally as an expert on innovation and child rights, using technical knowledge, experience and skills to build high impact financial and non-financial partnerships with donors, supporters and other key stakeholders.  

• Provide Insight and intelligence across UNICEF Thematic areas and bring this to the sector specialists as well as Partnership and Advocacy teams.

• Demonstrate and model a commitment to our shared values, behaviours and inclusive practices (known as Our Shared Commitment) in all aspects of your work.

BEHAVIOURS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

This section contains the essential behaviours, experience, knowledge and skills needed in order to be effective and successful in this role. All criteria in this section are essential.

Effective behaviours

Supporter driven and mission aligned

• Is committed to children and their rights and motivated to work towards creating a better world for every child.

Communicating and influencing

• Ability to convey complex ideas in a compelling manner (both written and oral), showing insight and awareness of the person they are seeking to influence.

• Displays professionalism and confidence in communications, with the ability to gain respect and influence outcomes. Ability to shape messages adapted to different audiences.

Efficiency and effectiveness

• Ability to balance multiple and conflicting priorities and use good judgement so that problems are spotted in advance and solutions identified quickly.  Works proactively and creatively. 

Results Focused

• Constantly searches for quicker and better ways to do things, persisting in pursuing goals despite obstacles driving self and other to achieve challenging results.

Collaboration

• Consults others and shares expertise, know-how and ideas with colleagues for best results.

• Values diversity, respecting and drawing on colleagues’ different perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge.

Relevant experience

• Influencing and negotiating within large organisations either in the public, private or charity sectors with a large supporter base and multiple decision-making centres.

• Building relationships with donors and/or other key audiences (media, parliamentarians, civil society organisations, etc.) enthusing them, gaining their commitment to the work of an organisation, and influencing key decisions.

• Proven experience in working within the field of innovation, specifically in a professional capacity.

• UN country programme experience or experience of working in an international cooperation agency programme office on innovation related programming would be an asset.

Specific knowledge and skills

Engage confidently on UNICEF programmes within both fundraising and advocacy contexts.

• Possess in depth knowledge within the field of Innovation, and able to apply this to UNICEF programme areas

• Broad knowledge of current innovation trends as they relate to UNICEF programmes.

Proven experience in working within the field of innovation, specifically in a professional capacity.

Understands human-centred design, innovation processes and has worked with existing products and processes at different stages of maturity. Able to understand the Innovation landscape, in its numerous manifestations.