Planning Specialist

Job Title: Planning Specialist

Organization: UNICEF

Job no: 564535
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Duty Station: Copenhagen
Level: P-3
Location: Denmark
Categories: Research, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

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

How can you make a difference?

We are searching for a talented and experienced manager for the UNICEF Supply Division’s Demand Planning and Forecasting Unit, an integral part of the Monitoring, Strategic Data and Evidence Centre. Strengthening our global demand planning and forecasting is a priority at UNICEF Supply Division and we are looking for a candidate who is professionally grounded to design and implement stronger demand planning processes, confident to obtain buy-in across organizational levels, and skilled at managing a team of culturally diverse planners and analysists.

Under the general guidance of the lead in the Demand Planning and Forecasting Unit, in the Monitoring, Strategic Data and Evidence Centre, you will be responsible for overseeing the generation of long-term forecasts and demand plans across a wide range of products and services, including product introductions, for maintaining and improving mid- and long-term forecast analysis, and for coordinating the digitalization of our demand planning system and the design and implementation of the processes linked to that, with the overall goal of facilitating procurement centers and warehouse support to countries ensure access to supplies.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Oversee the generation of the UNICEF strategic product forecasts and their regular updates, ensuring full participation and ownership by countries and partners, and review by Supply Division (SD) and the Programme Group
• Coordinate the digitalization of Supply Division’s forecast and demand planning system and the strengthening of the forecast and demand planning processes to enable a more robust tactical planning horizon and increased visibility for suppliers and countries. This entails working with consultants and a broad range of stakeholders on processes and solutions.
• Ensure that the SD cloud data warehouse and any other relevant databases related to procurement, deliveries and forecast are updated and adequately linked to monitor forecast materialization, manage data requests, both internal and external to of the organization relating to supply and demand planning.
• Actively participate in the implementation of and, oversee the demand planning process within UNICED SD with support from the manager
• Identify areas for analysis and opportunities in conjunction with partners and other divisions.
• Gather potential funding and forecasting needs and conduct written analysis in order to establish perspectives of future portfolio conditions.
• Support countries in root cause analysis related to forecasting and demand planning processes, and in identification of corrective actions.
• Support Country Programs, Program Division and Regional Offices in Demand Planning and Forecasting related tasks, through workshops, field visits and partnership meetings.
• Manage a team within the unit and establish work plans and priorities, monitor achievements and evaluate performance of staff

Any other duties or assignment as requested by the supervisor.

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

• Education:

Advanced University degree in statistics, business administration, international commerce, health economics, supply chain, planning development or other directly related technical field of study

A First University degree may be considered in lieu of an advanced university degree in conjunction with two additional years of relevant work experience.

 Experience:

Minimum five years of progressively responsible professional experience including at least three years at the international level in the field of Forecasting and demand planning.

Experience in implementing digitalization projects, preferably in forecasting and demand planning.

Experience in complex data analysis and management for policy and strategy development.

Experience in commercial activities with the public and private sector, preferably in developing and industrialized countries.

 Experience in managing staff.

 Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required and proficiency in French is desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values.

The core competencies required for this post are: Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1); Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2); Works Collaboratively with others (2); Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2); Innovates and Embraces Change (2); Thinks and Acts Strategically (2); Drives to achieve impactful results (2); Manages ambiguity and complexity (2).

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.   

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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

Priority will be given to all the eligible candidates participating in UNICEF’s Mobility Exercise and Staff on Abolished post.

Advertised: 28 July 2023 Romance Daylight Time
Deadline: 18 August 2023 Romance Daylight Time

Advertised: 28 Jul 2023 Romance Daylight Time
Deadline: 18 Aug 2023 Romance Daylight Time

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