Innovation Strategy and Country Engagement Adviser

This consultancy provides specialized advisory support on innovation governance and systems-change methodology to UNICEF country engagement under COMPASS and SPARK. The consultant will mentor country offices, contribute to methodology alignment, guidance products, and institutional learning processes, ensuring coherence across UNICEF's innovation portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Provide targeted advisory, mentoring, and quality assurance support aligned with the resource coverage model.
• Mentor UNICEF country offices participating in COMPASS Cohorts 4 and 5.
• Align systems and methodologies related to innovation governance.
• Ensure quality assurance of guidance and knowledge products.
• Contribute to institutional learning and COMPASS architecture development.
• Support linkages between SPARK and COMPASS initiatives.
• Provide strategic advisory support to Centers of Excellence and Global Programme Division.
• Contribute to OECD partnership and knowledge management.
• Deliver responsive technical assistance.
• Support governance knowledge and institutional integration.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in Governance, organizational development, public policy, innovation management, international development, or a related field. A first degree with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu.
• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience, including substantive work in governance model design or reform in international organizations.
• Demonstrated experience navigating senior stakeholder dynamics in complex, multi-divisional organizations.
• Experience developing institutional frameworks, guidance documents, or policy integration tools in a UN or comparable context.
• Familiarity with innovation portfolio management and UNICEF or UN governance structures is a strong asset.
• Excellent written communication in English; working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills; ability to translate complex governance and methodology work into clear, actionable documents.
• Experience providing quality assurance on large bodies of policy or programmatic guidance.
• Ability to manage multiple parallel workstreams with different stakeholder groups across HQ, regions, and country offices.
• Prior experience with UNICEF's innovation governance structures (GIB, ISC); knowledge of COMPASS, the 5D Innovation Framework, or OOI Systems & Services portfolio is desirable.

Skills

• Governance Model Design
• Organisational Development
• Public Policy
• Innovation Management
• International Development
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Institutional Frameworks
• Policy Integration
• Innovation Portfolio Architecture
• UNICEF Governance Structures
• Written Communication
• Analytical Skills
• Synthesis Skills
• Quality Assurance
• Multi-workstream Management
• Innovation Governance
• Systems-Change Methodology
• Methodology Alignment
• Guidance Document Drafting
• Institutional Learning

Languages

English