Consultant (Remotely, 12 months): Agile Programme, Individual Giving (IG) Team, Division of Private Sector Partnerships (PFP)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, hope 

The Programme Consultant for the Agile ways of working program within the Individual Giving (IG) Team at Private Sector Partnerships (PFP), the consultant will be instrumental in ensuring that agile practices are delivering to business goals and OKRs, and will play a pivotal role in facilitating Agile methodologies and practices, enhancing our team’s performance and efficiency. The ideal candidate is a change agent who can inspire and support the teams on this transformational journey, creating a supportive environment that fosters continuous improvement and innovation.

How can you make a difference? 

Individual Giving is a forward-thinking team committed to innovation, efficiency, and impactful outcomes to deliver on income targets to support UNICEF’s work in the field. We are seeking an experienced Programme Consultant to lead on further strengthening agile ways of working in the team- a journey we started around 6 months ago. This role is a unique opportunity to shape the future of our team, ensuring that agility becomes a core aspect of our business results, culture, and operations.

 

Key Responsibilities:

1. Successful implementation of agile ways of working processes and outcomes:

• Work with management to align the agile processes and outcomes with OKRs and then support the cross-functional teams for its successful implementation at the teams’ level.

• Facilitate OKR setting, understanding and usage, ensuring it’s in line with direction of travel for IG.

• Develop, implement and communicate effectively a detailed project schedule and workplan, ensuring teams are aware of and understand its scope and objectives.

• Communicate program status, insights, and recommendations to stakeholders at all levels.

• Responsible for delivery, co-ordination, and measurement for all planning cycles with teams.

• Monitor program performance, identify risks, and encourage the development of mitigation strategies.

• Implement mechanisms for capturing and sharing best practices and lessons learned.

• Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of agile initiatives and based on that provide necessary recommendations for improvement and realignment as needed. 

2. Building capabilities and culture:

• Actively support key roles like Senior Sponsors, Product Owners and Scrum Masters, ensuring a consistent and effective approach to agile practices. 

• Support the teams with their requests and needs related to agile ways of working.

• Design and implement training programs to upskill employees at all levels in agile methodologies.

• Provide ongoing coaching and support to teams and individuals, promoting self-organization, sharing and empowerment.

• Drive a cultural shift towards agile principles, fostering a mindset of continuous improvement and adaptability. 

3. Tooling and Infrastructure:

• Ensure that Agile tools (Jira) and CRM project intake flows are continuously improved in order to support program delivery.

• Develop reports that help teams and leadership to get a comprehensive overview of overall efficiency and progress against goals.

• Ensure the team has access to necessary resources and training on Agile tools and best practices.

 

Work Assignments Overview:

• Develop a comprehensive programme document and process.
• Support teams in planning and delivering on OKRs.
• Support and facilitate the review and planning meetings.
• Support teams in planning and delivering on OKRs.
• Report back on progress so far to inform next round of planning.
• Support and facilitate review and on planning meetings.

Deliverables with tentative dates:

Delivery 1 by 30 June 2024:

– Comprehensive documentation of agile processes, practices, and guidelines completed and a knowledge-sharing platform to disseminate information and promote learning implemented – Meeting cadence created and relevant meetings for the year put into calendars.

– A set of relevant KPIs to measure the success of agile initiatives and epics put into place.

– Ongoing review of CRM intake forms and Jira boards to ensure projects are aligned with IG OKRs completed and report shared with Managers.

– Provided ongoing support to teams with CRM processes, Agile technical issues through regular check-ins.

– Facilitated Business Review meetings.

– Initiated actions to create a culture of growth and learning as per the plan developed earlier. 

 

Delivery 2 by 31 August 2024:

– Ongoing review of CRM intake forms and Jira boards to ensure projects are aligned with IG OKRs completed and report shared with Managers.

– Provided ongoing support to teams with CRM processes, Agile technical issues through regular check-ins.

– Facilitated Business Review meetings.

– Initiated actions to create a culture of growth and learning as per the plan developed earlier.

– Ongoing review of CRM intake forms and Jira boards to ensure projects are aligned with IG OKRs completed and report shared with Managers. 

 

Delivery 3 by 31 October 2024:

– Reviewed performance of the OKRs over the last 6 months and report shared with Mangers and teams.

– Supported teams with their 6-monthly planning meetings- clear team plans shared with IG Managers in the ‘playback meeting’ .

– Worked with managers to provide updated OKRs for the teams for the next 6 months- new OKRs shared with teams.

– Provided ongoing support to teams with CRM processes, Agile technical issues through regular check-ins.

– Facilitated Business Review meetings.

– Initiated actions to create a culture of growth and learning as per the plan developed earlier.

– Ongoing review of CRM intake forms and Jira boards to ensure projects are aligned with IG OKRs completed and report shared with Managers.

 

Delivery 4 by 31 December 2024:

– A plan developed and specific actions initiated to create a culture of growth.

– Facilitated 6-weekly Business Review meetings.

– A sustainability plan to ensure the long-term success and continuous evolution of agile practices developed and shared with Managers.

– Provided ongoing support to teams with CRM processes, Agile technical issues through regular check-ins.

– Facilitated Business Review meetings.

– Initiated actions to create a culture of growth and learning as per the plan developed earlier.

– Ongoing review of CRM intake forms and Jira boards to ensure projects are aligned with IG OKRs completed and report shared with Managers. 

 

Delivery 5 by 28 February 2025:

– Provided ongoing support to teams with CRM processes, Agile technical issues through regular check-ins.

– Facilitated Business Review meetings.

– Established mechanisms for collecting and analyzing employee feedback on agile practices. Implement strategies to enhance employee satisfaction and engagement throughout the transformation.

– Initiated actions to create a culture of growth and learning as per the plan developed earlier.

– Ongoing review of CRM intake forms and Jira boards to ensure projects are aligned with IG OKRs completed and report shared with Managers.

 

Delivery 6 by 30 April 2025:

– Reviewed performance of the OKRs over the last 6 months and report shared with Mangers and teams.

– Supported teams with their 6-monthly planning meetings- clear team plans shared with IG Managers in the ‘playback meeting’.

– Worked with managers to provide updated OKRs for the teams for the next 6 months.

– Initiated actions to create a culture of growth and learning as per the plan developed earlier.

– Ongoing review of CRM intake forms and Jira boards to ensure projects are aligned with IG OKRs completed and report shared with Managers. 

Travel:

There is a possibility of travel to Geneva during the assignment on a per need basis and this will be paid by UNICEF, and not included in the lump sum fees.

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

Education:

– An Advanced University Degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: Business Administration, E-Commerce, Marketing, Communications, Fundraising, or another relevant technical field. a first level university degree with an additional 2 years of relevant professional work experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

– Agile Certification – CSM and CPSO or equivalent is an asset.

Experience:

– Minimum of 5 years progressive experience in the following fields: Project/Program management in a global organization, delivering complex projects on time and on budget is required.

– Experience of rolling out Agile to business (non-technical) teams, in particular SCRUM and Kanban.

– Experience of OKR (Objectives Key Results), writing scoring and alignment with organizational Goals required.

– Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.

– Certification in agile methodologies (e.g., Certified Scrum Professional, SAFe Program Consultant) is a plus.

– Understanding of fundraising organizations, in particular Individual Giving is an asset.

– Salesforce Salescloud (or equivalent CRM) user knowledge desirable. 

Others:

– Jira administration skills is required.

– Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.

– Exceptional coordination and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization is an asset.

– Product Management skills related to defining, developing and rolling out an MVP is required.

– Ability to translate complex/technical concepts into layman’s terms is required.

– Training/workshop facilitation experience is required. 

– Value based prioritization skills are required.

Languages:

– Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is considered as an asset. 

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

Remarks:

Please indicate your all-inclusive (lump sum) fees in USD against the deliverables listed above. If there is a need for business travel, the travel costs will be covered by UNICEF separately. The office selects the individual based on best value for money.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.