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Chief Field Office – UNICEF Vacancy in Ethiopia (Awasa)

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
2 hours ago
Full-time
On-site
Awasa, Sidama Region, Ethiopia
Management Jobs in Ethiopia, NGO Jobs in Ethiopia, UN Jobs in Ethiopia

Organization: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Job Title: Chief Field Office
Job Identification Number: 596804
Job Number: 00115034
Grade: NO-4
Job Location: Awasa, Ethiopia
Employment Type: Fixed-Term Appointment
Functional Area: Programme Management
Date Posted: November 4, 2026
Application Deadline: November 14, 2026

About UNICEF

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to protect children's rights, save children's lives, and help children reach their full potential from early childhood through adolescence.

UNICEF works with governments, communities, and partners to promote children's rights, improve access to essential services, and support the well-being of children, particularly the most disadvantaged.

Job Summary

UNICEF Ethiopia is seeking an experienced and qualified professional to serve as Chief Field Office (CFO) in Awasa.

Under the guidance of the Chief of Field Operations, the Chief Field Office is responsible for leading and managing the overall programme activities of a UNICEF field office within the country programme.

The position provides strategic and operational leadership across programme sectors and support teams, ensuring effective programme implementation and the delivery of quality results in line with UNICEF's country programme priorities.

The successful candidate will also represent UNICEF within the assigned area of responsibility, strengthen partnerships with government and other stakeholders, and promote the rights and well-being of children.

Key Responsibilities

1. Field Office Leadership and Management

  • Represent UNICEF in the region and participate in relevant meetings and events to advance the organization's agenda for children.
  • Lead and manage field office staff, ensuring effective performance, accountability, and delivery of results.
  • Oversee the effective management of UNICEF's field office presence, personnel, and assets.

2. Programme Knowledge Management

  • Ensure effective collection, analysis, and use of programme data.
  • Maintain accurate and comprehensive programme reporting.
  • Contribute to knowledge-sharing systems, lessons learned, and organizational databases.

3. Programme Development and Management

  • Identify critical intervention areas and monitor social, political, and economic developments affecting programme implementation.
  • Develop and revise programme work plans and recommendations.
  • Guide programme teams in planning, implementation, monitoring, and achievement of programme objectives.
  • Identify staffing requirements and ongoing professional development needs.

4. Programme Fund Management

  • Oversee programme budgets, resource allocation, disbursement, and financial monitoring.
  • Ensure proper utilization, coordination, and liquidation of programme funds.
  • Promote programme efficiency through effective planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

5. Programme Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Lead and participate in programme evaluations to improve implementation and delivery quality.
  • Coordinate annual sector review meetings with government counterparts.
  • Ensure timely preparation of annual programme status reports.

6. Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management

  • Integrate a child-rights-based approach into programme planning, design, implementation, and evaluation.
  • Apply results-based management principles to improve programme effectiveness.
  • Promote coordination and alignment across programme planning and implementation processes.

7. Capacity Building and Sustainability

  • Provide technical guidance to government authorities and service providers.
  • Support training and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen programme sustainability.
  • Develop strategic partnerships that reinforce the institutional capacity of national and local partners.

8. Advocacy and Promotion of Children's Rights

  • Conduct policy analysis from children's and women's rights perspectives.
  • Advocate for children's rights at government, community, and family levels.
  • Promote UNICEF's objectives through strategic communication and advocacy.

9. Partnership and Coordination

  • Establish and maintain effective partnerships with government institutions, UN agencies, NGOs, and other development partners.
  • Facilitate information sharing and coordination on programme implementation and progress.
  • Collaborate with UNICEF country office, regional, and headquarters teams.
  • Provide leadership in technical advice, negotiation, advocacy, and programme coordination with government and other partners.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

Education

  • Master's degree or equivalent advanced university degree in Public Administration, Social Science, Sociology, International Business Relations, Public Relations/Communication, Social Services, or another relevant field.

Work Experience

  • At least eight years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas:
    • Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
    • Administration
    • Emergency Response
    • Programme Management
    • Humanitarian Emergency Programmes
    • Field Operations
    • Project Administration

Required Skills and Competencies

  • Demonstrated experience managing projects with significant budgets, including financial oversight, planning, resource allocation, and compliance with organizational and donor requirements.
  • Strong experience designing, implementing, and managing development and humanitarian programmes.
  • Ability to adapt programme activities to rapidly changing operational contexts.
  • Excellent coordination and partnership-building skills involving government institutions, UN agencies, NGOs, donors, and other stakeholders.
  • Strong representation, communication, and advocacy skills.
  • Proven leadership experience in managing, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
  • Strong strategic thinking, decision-making, and ability to manage competing priorities under pressure.

Language Requirements

  • Fluency in English is required.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

  • Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language, particularly Amharic, is an advantage.
  • Previous experience working with a UN agency or organization is an asset.
  • Experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings, and humanitarian contexts, is desirable.

UNICEF Core Values and Competencies

Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate UNICEF's core values:

  • Care
  • Respect
  • Integrity
  • Trust
  • Accountability
  • Sustainability

The required competencies for this position include:

  1. Builds and maintains partnerships.
  2. Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness.
  3. Drives 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.

Important Information

  • UNICEF encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, or disability status.
  • Eligible and suitable female candidates and persons with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.
  • Selected candidates will undergo reference checks, safeguarding assessments, and background verification, including verification of academic qualifications and employment history.
  • UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, fraud, corruption, and other forms of serious misconduct.
  • Government employees selected for UNICEF employment are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up the assignment.
  • UNICEF does not charge applicants any recruitment or processing fees at any stage of the hiring process.
  • UNICEF personnel may be required to support humanitarian responses in different operational contexts.
  • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants should submit their applications online through the official UNICEF recruitment portal using the application link below.

Official Application Link:
https://secure.dc7.pageuppeople.com/apply/671/gateway/default.aspx?c=apply&lJobID=596804&lJobSourceTypeID=796&sLanguage=en-us

Applicants are encouraged to review the complete job description before applying.

Complete Job Description:
Download Chief Field Office Level 4 Job Description (PDF)

Application Deadline: November 14, 2026

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