Chief Social Policy, P-4, Fixed Term Position, Fiji (Pacific Islands) - MCP, Pacific Office, Suva, Fiji, #00064877

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.

For every child, the right to Dedication

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

The Pacific Multi-Country Office is the oldest and largest MCO in UNICEF. As such it is a model for the new MCOs being established. All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. UNICEF’s programme focuses on advancing children’s rights and wellbeing through integrated efforts in health, nutrition, education, child protection, climate resilience, and social policy—addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing small island developing states, including vulnerability to climate change, geographic isolation, and service delivery constraints.

Through the MCO approach, staff contribute to meaningful, system-level changes supporting governments and communities to strengthen essential services, improve equity for the most vulnerable children, and build resilience across generations. With nearly 40 per cent of the region’s population under 18, the impact of UNICEF’s work is both immediate and long-term, shaping healthier, safer, and more inclusive futures for children across the Pacific.

Explore the different areas of our work here: Work for UNICEF in the Pacific.mp4

Living in Suva, the vibrant capital of Fiji, offers a unique blend of professional opportunity and quality of life while still being in a development context. Set along a lush tropical coastline, Suva is a diverse and welcoming city known for its rich Pacific cultures, lively markets, and strong sense of community. Residents enjoy easy access to natural beauty—from rainforest hikes and exploring nearby islands—while benefiting from modern amenities, international schools, and a growing café and arts scene. The city’s role as a regional hub also means exposure to a dynamic mix of cultures and ideas from across the Pacific.

How can you make a difference?

The Chief Social Policy reports to the Deputy Representative Programme and is responsible for for leading, managing and supervising all stages of social policy programming and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. This includes programmes aimed at improving (a) public policies to reduce child poverty; (b) social protection coverage and impact on children; (c) the transparency, adequacy, equity and efficiency of child-focused public investments and financial management; and (d) governance, decentralization and accountability measures to increase public participation and the quality, equity and coverage of social services. This encompasses both direct programme work with government and civil society partners as well as linkages and support to teams working on education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and HIV.

Are you ready to make a difference?

• Managerial Leadership: Lead and develop a high-performing team by setting clear priorities, managing performance, providing guidance, and ensuring delivery of results against agreed objectives.

• Improving Data on Child Poverty and Vulnerability for Increased Policy and Programme Action: Lead the generation, analysis and strategic use of child poverty and socio-economic data to inform evidence-based policies, programme planning and decision-making that improve outcomes for children.

• Strengthening Social Protection Coverage and Impact for Children: Drive the development and strengthening of inclusive, evidence-based social protection systems and programmes that expand equitable coverage and improve outcomes for vulnerable children.

• Improving Use of Public Financial Resources for Children: Strengthen child-responsive public finance by promoting equitable budgeting, sustainable financing, expenditure analysis, and accountable financial management to increase investment in children.

• Strengthening Capacity of Local Governments to Plan, Budget, Consult on and Monitor Child-Focused Social Services: Build the capacity of national and local governments to effectively plan, finance, implement and monitor child-focused services through stronger governance, evidence use and community engagement.

• Strengthened Advocacy and Partnerships for Child-Sensitive Social Policy: Foster strategic partnerships and leverage evidence-based advocacy to strengthen commitment, collaboration and investment in child-sensitive social policies and children's rights.

• UNICEF Programme Management: Provide strategic leadership and oversight of social policy programmes by ensuring effective planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and risk management to achieve sustainable programme results.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD - Chief Social Policy, P-4, Fixed Term Position, Fiji (Pacific Islands) - MCP, Pacific Office, Suva, Fiji, #00064877.docx

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

Minimum requirements:

1. Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Economics, Economics (Soc.Sci), International Public Policy, Political Science, economics, public policy, social sciences, international relations, political science and any other related fields.
2. Work Experience: A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant work experience in public finance, social protection, social policy, programme management, governance, decentralization, policy advocacy, partnerships, data analysis, financial management, supply management, contracting, logistics, administration, or other related fields.
3. Skills: Proven experience working in diverse, low-capacity country contexts, including providing hands-on technical support on strengthening national social protection systems is required. Proven experience in donor relationships, resource mobilisation and complex grant management is required. Strategic leadership and people management skills (especially in low workforce settings) are essential. Technical expertise in Public Finance for children (PF4C). Background and/or familiarity with humanitarian programme response.
4. Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables:

1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
2. Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset, particularly in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and/or Asia Pacific[SH3.1]. Familiarity with public sector partnerships and bilateral donors such as Australia, Japan, Korea and others is an asset. Knowledge of household survey methodologies (MICS, DHS) and statistical systems and/or experience with poverty measurement methodologies is strongly desirable. Direct experience in working with children and young people for child rights monitoring, disability programming and ADAP is highly desirable. Advanced quantitative analytical skills (Stata, R, SPSS, Python, etc.).
3. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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 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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

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.

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 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.