Chief Social & Behavior Change

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development, fostering a culture of belonging and growth. UNICEF employs a large workforce dedicated to its mission, providing an attractive compensation and benefits package to its staff.

Job Overview:
The Chief Social & Behavior Change position at UNICEF involves reporting to the Deputy Representative and is responsible for developing a systematic, planned, and evidence-based strategy for Social and Behavioral Change (SBC) as part of program development, planning, and implementation. The role emphasizes the use of social and behavioral science to promote measurable behavioral and social change, contributing to the improvement of children's rights, survival, and well-being in Cameroon. The incumbent will generate and utilize research and data to inform SBC programs, design and implement SBC activities, advocate for SBC, mobilize resources, and promote continuous learning and capacity building for UNICEF staff and partners. This position is crucial for achieving sustainable results in both development and humanitarian contexts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of SBC programs and outcomes in both development and emergency contexts.
• Design, plan, and implement SBC activities that are backed by social and behavioral evidence and strong engagement mechanisms.
• Support the operationalization of SBC by advocating for it, mobilizing resources, coordinating across stakeholders, and building partnerships.
• Promote continuous learning and scaling up of SBC through capacity building for UNICEF staff and partners.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to provide technical support and capacity building.
• Stay current with new developments in the SBC field and apply them to program cycles.
• Manage complex priorities and processes in office work-plans effectively.

Required Qualifications:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social and behavioral sciences, including sociology, anthropology, communication studies, psychology, or related fields.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels in developing, implementing, evaluating, and managing social and behavioral change strategies.
• Demonstrated expertise in applying social and behavior change science, theories, research, and analysis to all stages of program cycles.
• Proven ability to work with internal and external stakeholders at multiple levels, providing technical support and capacity building.
• Skills in complex priorities execution, capacity building, partnership management, and resource mobilization.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field such as social and behavioral sciences, sociology, anthropology, communication studies, or psychology. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of social behavior and implementing effective change strategies.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience at both national and international levels. This experience should include developing, implementing, evaluating, and managing social and behavioral change strategies and content. Familiarity with the execution of complex priorities and processes in office work-plans is also required, along with the ability to stay current with new developments in the SBC field.

Languages:
Fluency in English and French is required for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is considered desirable. This linguistic proficiency is crucial for effective communication and collaboration in a diverse working environment.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and involves working in a dynamic and challenging environment. UNICEF promotes a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and abuse. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, or background. The organization offers a wide range of benefits, including paid parental leave and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF, and all staff may be called upon to support humanitarian responses.