Chief Field Office, NO-C, Fixed Term, Manaus, Brazil # 100352

UNICEF is seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to join its team as Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Manaus. As Chief, you will lead the delivery of the UNICEF Country Programme across selected territories in the Amazon region, championing the rights of children and adolescents – particularly the most marginalized and vulnerable. You will oversee our programmes and special initiatives across the region under the Manaus Office jurisdiction, working with municipal and State governments and partners from civil society, private sector, media and other key actors. You will play a critical role in building strategic partnerships that drive impactful results for Brazilian girls and boys. In this key leadership position, you will ensure the effective use of both financial and human resources in Manaus, maintaining the highest standards of programme impact. You will be accountable for leading UNICEF advocacy, programme, and partnership engagement with State and Municipal governments, as well as with key programme stakeholders, to advance key results for the most vulnerable children and adolescents through quality social services and protection systems with an inter-cultural and equity-based inclusive approach. We are seeking a dynamic professional with a proven track record in advocacy and stakeholder engagement. If you are an accomplished leader with a deep commitment to children’s and adolescent’s rights and are skilled in building alliances with government entities, civil society, the private sector, and community-based organizations we encourage you to apply.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, an advocate

Since 1950, UNICEF has supported the most important transformation for children and adolescents in Brazil. UNICEF Brazil with its main office in Brasília and nine field offices UNICEF works in close partnership with national and sub-national governments, corporate partners, youth, and civil society organizations.

For information on the work of our organization in Brazil, please visit our website: UNICEF Brazil.

How can you make a difference?

As a Chief Field Office (CFO), and under the leadership  of the Deputy Representative, Programme and guidance of the Chief, Local Governanceyou will play a key role in managing and leading the delivery of the UNICEF Country Programme in Manaus and surrounding area within Amazonas.  Representing UNICEF in your Area of Responsibility (AoR), you will lead, and oversee the various program sectors and operational services, engaging with and mobilizing  State and municipal governments to deliver public policies and investments for children and adolescents.  Your work will be aligned with UNICEF’s programme of cooperation, country programme management plan and the vision set forward by our Representative.

Your key deliverables include:

1. You will ensure the effective management of UNICEF’s presence, staff, and assets in the region. Representing UNICEF at meetings and events, you will advance the agenda for children, while facilitating and implementing necessary measures to maintain the safety and security of our team and assets. You will lead and guide the Field Office team, managing staff performance to drive impactful results for children in the region.
2. Adopting a rights-based and results-based approach, you will develop goals, objectives, strategies, and frameworks that ensure the delivery of an effective and coherent programme for the advancement of children and adolescent rights. You will prepare recommendations on implementation, alternative approaches, and resource utilization to achieve objectives and uphold children’s and women’s rights.
3. In advocacy, you will conduct policy analysis from a child and women’s rights perspective, advocating at all levels to enhance UNICEF’s credibility in policy debates. You will actively promote UNICEF’s goals through advocacy and communication aligned with national guidelines and strategy.
4. For partnerships and coordination, you will foster collaboration with internal and external partners, including the UN, government, and national organizations, to improve data collection, programme coordination, and resource management. By liaising with the Country Office, UNICEF’s regional and HQ advisers, you will ensure effective coordination, technical support, and alignment on country-level goals.
5. You will ensure that programmes in your area are supported by knowledge management, overseeing data collection, analysis, and accurate reporting. Participation in the Programme Knowledge Network and corporate-level databases will be essential, as will engagement in information exchange during donor and media visits and contributing to the development of training and orientation materials.
6. In programme development and management, you’ll identify critical intervention points, maintain transparent monitoring systems, and assess socio-political-economic trends to inform programmes. You will prepare and adjust programme work plans, make recommendations for formal documentation, and ensure alignment with new approaches and practices. Establishing workplans, monitoring compliance, providing guidance, and identifying staffing needs will be key to meeting objectives. You will also evaluate programme feasibility in partnership with government and stakeholders.
7. You will manage programme funds by establishing work plans, monitoring allocation and disbursement, and taking steps to ensure funds are used efficiently. Your role includes ensuring programme delivery through transparent planning, monitoring, and evaluation. In close collaboration with the Programme and PFP teams, develop project proposals for resource mobilization that contribute to the delivery of Annual Work Plan results.
8. Programme monitoring and evaluation will involve field visits to assess implementation and initiate corrective actions as needed. You will participate in evaluation exercises and sector review meetings, working with counterparts to enhance programme efficiency and prepare timely annual status reports.
9. To build sustainability, you will support authorities and service providers in planning and organizing capacity-building programs, identifying strategic partners, and strengthening institutional capacities of local and national partners.

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

• Education - Advanced university degree (master’s) in any of the following: social sciences, international relations, public administration, government, and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.
• Experience:

1.  A minimum of five years (5) of professional work experience leading programme management, planning monitoring and evaluation, project administration or another relevant area is required.
2.  Proven leadership and management experience
3. A track record of partnering with partners in government, civil society, and community-based organizations.
4. Demonstrated experience with advocacy and social mobilization for the rights of vulnerable communities.

• Language - Fluency in Portuguese and English.
• Desirables:

1. Understanding of the role of social policy and public finance for the advancement of child rights would be considered an asset.
2. A proven understanding of the Amazon context would be an asset.
3. Experience in other UN Agencies is an asset.  
4. Familiarity/ background with emergency is considered as an asset.
5. Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, 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...

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Child Safeguarding

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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:

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable afro-descendants, indigenous, LGBTQIA+ and other minorities 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.