Re-advertisement: Deputy Representative, P-4, Fixed Term Position, Pretoria, South Africa, #00136178 (Open for all UNICEF personnel)

This is a re-advertisement, candidates who have already applied do not need to re-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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

Under the Multi-Country Office for Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, and Eswatini (MCO BLNE), the Deputy Representative reports to the Representative and coordinates programmatic implementation across all countries to ensure coherence, quality, and impact of UNICEF’s programmes and operations, with the Operations function serving as a strategic business partner within the Senior Management Team to ensure the optimal use of UNICEF’s assets in line with sound management practices, office priorities, and goals to deliver results for children.

The Deputy Representative serves as the principal adviser on the overall management of the MCO BLNE, development of MCO BLNE policies and strategies; and under delegated authority, coordinating and managing all phases of the Programmes and Operations, from formulation to delivery of results in accordance with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework, ethics, and integrity. The function supports the MCO Representative on managing the Office and monitoring operations and programmes as needed while providing advice on best and innovative management practices to enhance office performance. The Deputy Representative will work closely with the respective Heads of Office in the MCO BLNE to adapt strategies to local contexts in Areas of Responsibility. The Deputy Representative will support the Representative in leading and leveraging partnerships with both public and private sectors for the achievement of results and fulfilment of the rights of children. As a Strategic Business Partner and Deputy for the MCO Representative, the incumbent will be responsible to lead for results, drive change, provide risk informed, solution-focused analysis, advice and services and contribute to programme and management decisions for delivering results for children in all operational contexts.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
1. Multi-Country Office Programme planning and development
2. Support to the Representative on managing the Multi-Country Office
3. Monitoring and quality control of Programmes
4. Representation, alliance building and UN System coordination
5. Private Sector Engagement and Partnerships
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
7. Strategic Business Partner for Operations

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD-Deputy Representative_P4.pdf

Minimum requirements:

1. Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, international relations, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, business administration, or another relevant technical field.
   A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. This is applicable to internal (FT, Continuing and Permanent) staff only.
2. Work Experience: A minimum of eight years of professional development experience that combines technical and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level, some of which served in developing countries is required.
   Extensive knowledge and experience in leading in UNICEF country programme design and providing strategic guidance and support in the implementation of the country programme and monitoring of the programme results is a requirement.
   Proven ability in resource mobilization and management and good records in building strong donor relations is a requirement.
   Proven ability to establish partnerships with government partners, regional organizations, donors and other UN agencies is a requirement.
   Experience in Results Based Management is a requirement.
   
3. Skills: programme management, partnership building, capacity building, innovation, strategic operations, knowledge management
4. Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Experience working as Deputy Representative in other UNICEF Country Offices is an asset.
• Relevant professional experience in any UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Experience in supporting successful client-oriented work units is an asset.
• Previous hands-on experience in strategic operations is a strong asset.
• Dynamic leadership with proven ability to build trust and drive for results over a diverse and geographically spread teams is desired.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates 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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

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.

Advertised: 07 May 2026 South Africa Standard Time
Applications close: 14 May 2026 South Africa Standard Time

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