Associate Director (Applied Research Knowledge Management), D1, Florence
Associate Director (Applied Research Knowledge Management), D1, Florence
If you are a passionate and committed professional and want to make a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.
UNICEF, the world’s leading organization working for the rights of children, seeks an Associate Director (Applied Research Knowledge Management), D1 for its Office in Florence, Italy.
Purpose:
The MTSP 2006-2013 highlights research as a critical tool in fulfilling the knowledge mandate of UNICEF. In recognition of this situation, the Executive Board approved the creation, in 2009, of an Office of Research, with the mandate to provide leadership for the development of a UNICEF strategic research agenda and help to disseminate and apply research findings to partners and to the field . The Office will collaborate with all parts of the organization to strengthen the generation of new knowledge and its contribution to the global programme and policy advocacy agendas for children’s rights. The Office will undertake significant research, addressing key issues concerning children; strengthen research partnerships with leading academic institutions and development networks; increase breadth and quality of cutting-edge research carried out by UNICEF; and (e) support effective use of research findings in policy development, advocacy and programming.
This is a major transformational task, critical to the future effectiveness of UNICEF, which will take several years to implement.
This position will plan, guide, support and stimulate organizational change and mainstreaming of research across UNICEF, guide efforts to develop implementation research in support of UNICEF’s equity agenda and provide leadership on knowledge management related to research. The incumbent will be a key member of the senior research management team of the Office of Research. It requires a person who can:
Develop a plan for organizational change of research across UNICEF, including establishment of standards, guidelines, tools and mechanisms for research and its use.
Lead support to HQ and particularly the field part of UNICEF in mainstreaming improvement to relevance, quality, credibility and impact of research.
Lead and support extensive use of research knowledge management in improving relevance and credibility of research carried out by UNICEF, and in strengthening use of research in advocacy and policy on children. Design and carry through capacity building efforts in applied research inside UNICEF and with partners.
Develop and maintain effective partnerships between UNICEF and outside research entities, including North-South and South-South collaborations, so as to strengthen research on children, particularly that managed by the Regional and Country offices.
Develop guidelines for assessment of research quality and impact. Oversee implementation of these across UNICEF, support their use outside and develop and manage associated databases that are critical to global knowledge on children.
Promote and bring about culture change around research within UNICEF, as part of change management strategies
Guides and manages staff in section and provides technical guidance to senior research officers in the Regional Offices.
Qualification:
PhD level in social science or other relevant development field, with advanced multidisciplinary study in one or more specialized areas relevant to children.
Twelve to Thirteen years of progressively responsible experience in research and research management in relevant technical areas, at the national and international levels. Experience in leading the development and implementation of a policy related research agenda. Strong professional reputation and profile as demonstrated by a substantive publication record on issues related to the work of UNICEF and the global research agenda.
Fluency in English and at least one other UN working language
Remarks:
The incumbent will lay the foundation for organization-wide change of the research function across UNICEF through development of standards (including ethical standards), guidelines, tools and mechanisms for improving both quality of research and more effective use of research in UNICEF.
• In collaboration with senior research staff in HQ, Regional and Country offices, he/she will develop a periodically updated organization-wide plan of work for implementation of the above across UNICEF
• You will provide substantive support to above plan of work, with emphasis on improving quality, relevance and impact of research, and with the aim of mainstreaming research and its use throughout UNICEF
• You will monitor implementation of the plan of work, report on progress, review operational experiences and impact, particularly in field, and recommend changes where appropriate
• The incumbent will provide leadership on knowledge management related to research, in collaboration with relevant expertise in UNICEF and outside, particularly the Associate Director (Strategic Research).
• Develop guidelines on documentation of research projects including assessment of their quality and impact.
You will promote and support, in collaboration with OLDS and others, the building of an organization-wide capacity for UNICEF staff to better understand the value of research and how to use it effectively.
• Building on research partnerships, and in collaboration with staff of the Office of Research, you will promote the value of research on children outside UNICEF, through support to conferences, meetings, media and the internet, particularly in the field.
• In collaboration with the Knowledge Management unit and others with relevant expertise, both inside and outside UNICEF, you will design and implement innovative, user friendly systems to collect, analyze and report on this information.
• Develop close working relations with potential partners and networks that can strengthen research work in UNICEF, particularly in the field.
• You will promote and assist in strengthening South-based research entities so as to improve the quality, relevance and impact of UNICEF supported research.
• Assess effectiveness of partnerships in improving UNICEF supported research, particularly in the field, and recommend changes where appropriate.
• Promote organization-wide use of research knowledge base on children, so as to improve advocacy and impact of research on children.
• Develop and maintain appropriate tools and mechanisms to increase benefit of research knowledge base to UNICEF and to those outside, such as through meetings, workshops, short courses, case studies and computer software.
• In collaboration with users of the knowledge base and associated systems, assess strengths and weaknesses and recommend changes.
• Manage staff of Applied Research Knowledge Management Section, and provide guidance on technical matters to regional and country office research officers.
• Assist the Director of Research in overseeing and coordinating the functions of the Office of Research, as appropriate
*Subject to approval by the Executive Board
If you have got experience of working in a similar capacity and want to make an active and lasting contribution to build a better world for children, send a cover letter, a detailed curriculum vitae in English, AND a duly completed United Nations Personal History form, to recruit.ssr@unicef.org with subject line “Associate Director Research” by 1 July 2011.
UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly encouraged to apply.
If you are a passionate and committed professional and want to make a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.
UNICEF, the world’s leading organization working for the rights of children, seeks an Associate Director (Applied Research Knowledge Management), D1 for its Office in Florence, Italy.
Purpose:
The MTSP 2006-2013 highlights research as a critical tool in fulfilling the knowledge mandate of UNICEF. In recognition of this situation, the Executive Board approved the creation, in 2009, of an Office of Research, with the mandate to provide leadership for the development of a UNICEF strategic research agenda and help to disseminate and apply research findings to partners and to the field . The Office will collaborate with all parts of the organization to strengthen the generation of new knowledge and its contribution to the global programme and policy advocacy agendas for children’s rights. The Office will undertake significant research, addressing key issues concerning children; strengthen research partnerships with leading academic institutions and development networks; increase breadth and quality of cutting-edge research carried out by UNICEF; and (e) support effective use of research findings in policy development, advocacy and programming.
This is a major transformational task, critical to the future effectiveness of UNICEF, which will take several years to implement.
This position will plan, guide, support and stimulate organizational change and mainstreaming of research across UNICEF, guide efforts to develop implementation research in support of UNICEF’s equity agenda and provide leadership on knowledge management related to research. The incumbent will be a key member of the senior research management team of the Office of Research. It requires a person who can:
Develop a plan for organizational change of research across UNICEF, including establishment of standards, guidelines, tools and mechanisms for research and its use.
Lead support to HQ and particularly the field part of UNICEF in mainstreaming improvement to relevance, quality, credibility and impact of research.
Lead and support extensive use of research knowledge management in improving relevance and credibility of research carried out by UNICEF, and in strengthening use of research in advocacy and policy on children. Design and carry through capacity building efforts in applied research inside UNICEF and with partners.
Develop and maintain effective partnerships between UNICEF and outside research entities, including North-South and South-South collaborations, so as to strengthen research on children, particularly that managed by the Regional and Country offices.
Develop guidelines for assessment of research quality and impact. Oversee implementation of these across UNICEF, support their use outside and develop and manage associated databases that are critical to global knowledge on children.
Promote and bring about culture change around research within UNICEF, as part of change management strategies
Guides and manages staff in section and provides technical guidance to senior research officers in the Regional Offices.
Qualification:
PhD level in social science or other relevant development field, with advanced multidisciplinary study in one or more specialized areas relevant to children.
Twelve to Thirteen years of progressively responsible experience in research and research management in relevant technical areas, at the national and international levels. Experience in leading the development and implementation of a policy related research agenda. Strong professional reputation and profile as demonstrated by a substantive publication record on issues related to the work of UNICEF and the global research agenda.
Fluency in English and at least one other UN working language
Remarks:
The incumbent will lay the foundation for organization-wide change of the research function across UNICEF through development of standards (including ethical standards), guidelines, tools and mechanisms for improving both quality of research and more effective use of research in UNICEF.
• In collaboration with senior research staff in HQ, Regional and Country offices, he/she will develop a periodically updated organization-wide plan of work for implementation of the above across UNICEF
• You will provide substantive support to above plan of work, with emphasis on improving quality, relevance and impact of research, and with the aim of mainstreaming research and its use throughout UNICEF
• You will monitor implementation of the plan of work, report on progress, review operational experiences and impact, particularly in field, and recommend changes where appropriate
• The incumbent will provide leadership on knowledge management related to research, in collaboration with relevant expertise in UNICEF and outside, particularly the Associate Director (Strategic Research).
• Develop guidelines on documentation of research projects including assessment of their quality and impact.
You will promote and support, in collaboration with OLDS and others, the building of an organization-wide capacity for UNICEF staff to better understand the value of research and how to use it effectively.
• Building on research partnerships, and in collaboration with staff of the Office of Research, you will promote the value of research on children outside UNICEF, through support to conferences, meetings, media and the internet, particularly in the field.
• In collaboration with the Knowledge Management unit and others with relevant expertise, both inside and outside UNICEF, you will design and implement innovative, user friendly systems to collect, analyze and report on this information.
• Develop close working relations with potential partners and networks that can strengthen research work in UNICEF, particularly in the field.
• You will promote and assist in strengthening South-based research entities so as to improve the quality, relevance and impact of UNICEF supported research.
• Assess effectiveness of partnerships in improving UNICEF supported research, particularly in the field, and recommend changes where appropriate.
• Promote organization-wide use of research knowledge base on children, so as to improve advocacy and impact of research on children.
• Develop and maintain appropriate tools and mechanisms to increase benefit of research knowledge base to UNICEF and to those outside, such as through meetings, workshops, short courses, case studies and computer software.
• In collaboration with users of the knowledge base and associated systems, assess strengths and weaknesses and recommend changes.
• Manage staff of Applied Research Knowledge Management Section, and provide guidance on technical matters to regional and country office research officers.
• Assist the Director of Research in overseeing and coordinating the functions of the Office of Research, as appropriate
*Subject to approval by the Executive Board
If you have got experience of working in a similar capacity and want to make an active and lasting contribution to build a better world for children, send a cover letter, a detailed curriculum vitae in English, AND a duly completed United Nations Personal History form, to recruit.ssr@unicef.org with subject line “Associate Director Research” by 1 July 2011.
UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly encouraged to apply.
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