Chief of Health, P-5, New Delhi, India

Purpose of the Position

• Provide expert advice and assistance to the UNICEF-India Country Office (ICO) senior managers and GOI counterparts on relevant measures for determining UNICEF programming priorities in the programme area and identifying areas of convergent programming with other development sectors. This includes providing assistance in the formulation of long-term policies and strategies of UNICEF-ICO – both programme related and cross-sectoral – that are innovative and respond to the changing development context in India.


• Responsible for the overall development and cooperation of rights-based, reproductive and child health programme activities that are: (a) in support of maternal, newborn and child health, closely collaborating with other child survival related programmes; i.e., nutrition, water/sanitation, behavior change communication (BCC) and HIV/AIDS, and (b) reflectan analysis of national development policy, Govt. of India (GOI) schemes and programmes.


• Overall accountability for a programme budget of at least $120m over a country programme cycle.

Key Expected Results

• Advise on new or innovative approaches and/or adaptations of existing methods to improve programme national and local capacity in programming, which includes: identifying institutions for involvement in research, development and evaluation of UNICEF-assisted programmes. Guide the development of human resource development strategy related to UNICEF health priority programming areas and that targets Government and non-government partners, along with UNICEF staff. This includes identifying training needs, organizing relevant workshops, training and other capacity-building activities.


• Responsible for oversight of the design and development of UNICEF-assisted programmes and interventions that contribute to the Govt. of India initiatives and development plans. Liaise with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and serve as UNICEF focal point for programming in the areas of: child survival, growth and development, safe motherhood and reproductive health, immunization, and health sub-centre revitalization, knowledge management and other emerging, priority issues and concerns.


• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with central and state governments (in collaboration with State Offices), UN and bilateral agencies as well civil society organizations to advocate UNICEF#s concerns in programme area and ensure that inputs by these organizations and agencies coordinate with UNICEF support. Serve as key focal point and liaise with WHO and UNFPA. Represent UNICEF at meetings/seminars/workshops on health.


• For ICO, review and analyses requests for UNICEF health assistance; identify problems and priority needs; leverage policy and funds to support UNICEF assistance in addressing priority needs/problems; and formulate programme development proposals in coordination and consultation with Govt., UNICEF professional colleagues and other relevant UNICEF partners.


• Provide leadership and overall supervision of the Health Section in Delhi staff, including professionals, support staff and consultants. Set normative standards for UNICEF health programming and provide technical support guidance to state office colleagues and expert advice to Chief of Field Offices with respect to health-related programmes. Lead the national priority team for RCH cross programme, cross sectorally and linked directly to State priority teams.


• Coordinate and oversee the implementation and monitoring of UNICEF-assisted programming to include: analyses of health-related policies and programmes, situation analyses of programme status, preparation of programme documentation, regular and systematic reviews of financial commitments and funding status, development of monitoring systems for programme implementation as well its evaluation.


• Contribute to the overall planning, preparation and management of UNICEF country programme by: (a) supporting organization-wide advocacy in common efforts for policy/strategy development and coordinated action; and (b) promoting public awareness of UNICEF and its health programmes, in particular, through studies, technical surveys, evaluations, public information/media and work at the community-level institutions and other duties, as needed and determined by the Country Representative and Principal Officers, Regional and Executive Directors.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• Advanced University degree, preferably in public health and/or community medicine


• Specialized training in health programme management in a developing country and experience in policy development and field programming is required.


• A minimum of ten years of relevant development work at national and international levels in fields related to UNICEF interests, with current expert knowledge of latest developments and issues in the areas of health, nutrition, safe motherhood/MCH and child development activities


• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a second UN language (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) and/or the local language of the duty station is considered an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

• Has highest-level communication skills, including engaging and informative formal public speaking.


• Creates and encourages a climate of team-working and collaboration in a multi-cultural environment.


• Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time and on-budget.


• Has high-level leadership and supervisory skills; provides others with a clear direction; motivates and empowers others;
  recruits staff of a high caliber; provides staff with development opportunities and coaching.


• Sets, develops and revises organizational strategy and develops clear visions of the organization#s future potential.


• Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.


• Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups. Actively nurtures good relationships with people across all organizational levels and boundaries, and with government leaders and stakeholders.


• Identifies urgent and potentially risky decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates organization-wide activities.


• Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.