Job Opportunity: Innovation Project and Communication Consultant

Background:

In 2013, UNICEF procured $2.839 billion worth of supplies and services from all over the world on behalf of governments and other partners to address the needs of children.  Much of UNICEF Supply Division’s (SD) work focuses on working with suppliers and a range of partners to ensure the availability of life-saving products. SD’s work in product innovation enables the development of new products or the improvement of existing ones, hereby ensuring the availability of fit for purpose and value for money products that can benefit children around the world.

The office requires a person with thorough understand of technology based innovation combined with high level of ability to communicate things through words and graphics. Most of the communication required will be of technical character, meaning an understanding of innovation processes and of innovative technologies is needed. In addition, understanding of the area UNICEF operates is of significant advantage.

The consultant will manage communication activities of the Innovation Unit to internal and external audiences. In addition, the consultant will drive a number of product innovation projects through phases of scoping, field trialling and scaling up. All work will be done in close collaboration with different UNICEF offices as well as with external collaborators.

Purpose:

The purpose of this full-time consultancy is to support SD Innovation Unit in the area product innovation and communication.

Main Duties/ Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Supply Specialist (Innovation), the Innovation Project and Communication Consultant’s duties and responsibilities will be split into two areas: 

1. Product Innovation Projects:  The consultant will drive a range of Product Innovation Projects that improve UNICEF’s programmatic activities.
2. Communication: The consultant will manage communication projects and activities, including a substantial amount of writing, editing and lay-out work to share knowledge, lessons learned and best practices associated with product innovation to both internal and external audiences. The consultant will work in a team in order to complete communication projects. For a comprehensive description and delegation of tasks see Annex 1.

Key Deliverables:

Product innovation projects (40% time allocation)

• Management of product innovation projects (e.g. user instructions, packaging etc.) Travel may be required.
• Scope and drive work in close collaboration with technical experts.
• Plan, carry our and document methodology and lessons learned regarding various steps of the project
• Any other activities as requested by reporting officer.

Communication (60% time allocation)

• Web communications.
  1. Ensure coordination with UNICEF Innovation Unit (New York) web communications team.
  2. Manage all communication to Supply Community through UNICEF Supply intranet.
  3. Create and implement workflow for responding to external requests (emails) related to product innovation.
• Communications Strategy.
  1. Update and implement activities in line with the communication strategy.
  2. Create and implement annual planned communication activities for the SD Innovation Unit, including preparing a substantial amount of presentations and documents.
  3. Coordinate communication activities with SD’s Knowledge, Systems and Sharing Unit (KSSU).
• 1. Create quarterly report on communication activities
  2. Coordinate with KSSU and UNICEF Innovation Unit (New York) on reporting SD Innovation Unit achievements in Annual Reports.
• Proof reading and editorial.
  1. Proof reading and editing blogs, documents, reports and publications created by the SD Innovation Unit and project teams for final approval by SD Directors Office.
• Any other activities as requested by reporting officer.

Location: UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Application deadline: 21 December 2014, 23:59 CET

Read more and apply here.