LONG-TERM AGREEMENT: Senior Human Resources Consultant (Executive Screening and Assessment), Division of People and Culture (DPC), NYHQ/Home based

Background

For over 70 years, UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children, working in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation and AIDS. UNICEF is funded by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF’s focus areas, with an emphasis on equity for the most marginalized children, are Child Survival and Development, Basic Education and Gender Equality, HIV/AIDS and Children, Child Protection and Policy Advocacy and Partnerships. In view of the above context, it is important to attract, recruit and retain the right profile of senior leaders.

UNICEF Division of People & Culture (DPC) has embarked on a reform agenda to measurably improve UNICEF's ability to deliver results for children and young people. One of the primary goals of the reform is to achieve more effective leadership talent acquisition to ensure a flexible, highly skilled, competent and motivated workforce to deliver on organizational objectives. Assistant Representatives and Deputy Representatives play a critical role in inspiring, steering and motivating the workforce to achieve strategic results. Therefore, high importance is attached to the selection of the right senior staff in the right place at the right time.

Purpose of Assignment

UNICEF is strengthening its executive screening and assessment capacity to support recruitment activities for Assistant Representatives, Deputy Representative Programme and Deputy Representative Operations roles.

UNICEF is also preparing to launch the first Generic Vacancy Announcement (GVA) for the Deputy Representative Operations, P-4 and P-5 Talent Groups. A significant number of applicants are expected to undergo the screening and assessment process. In parallel, the same screening and assessment services will be utilized on a rolling basis to support regular Deputy Representative (Programme and Operations) recruitment processes.

Programme area and Objectives

The initial desk-review of applicants (long-listing) is performed by DPC. To ensure the suitability of long listed and shortlisted candidates against core values, competencies and specific eligibility criteria, DPC would like to engage several consultants who will be called upon as the need arises to provide in-depth screening and assessment services that can be flexibly deployed.

This consultancy assignment is home-based, starting in Summer/Fall 2026.

Major tasks to be accomplished

Depending on the role, recruitment context, and business needs, a combination of the following assessment methodologies may be used. Not all assessment types will be applied in every recruitment process.

How can you make a difference?

The consultants will work with DPC Senior Leadership Support Team recruiters to accomplish the following tasks:

• In an iterative process, and with DPC’s input, use the UNICEF vacancy announcement(s), Job Description(s), leadership competencies, and established evaluation criteria to develop a robust bank of assessment methodologies;
• Pilot the newly developed assessment methodologies to ensure statistical validity and reliability;
• Create a shared calendar to keep DPC updated on scheduled interviews, assessments and feedback calls;
• Conduct interviews and provide interview reports in a timely manner;
• Provide oral feedback (max duration 30 min) to unsuccessful candidates.

Expected Deliverables

The consultants are expected to work individually or as a team to deliver the below outputs:

• Discuss and agree with the Senior Leadership Support team on the assessment methodologies to be used.
• In collaboration with the Senior Leadership team and subject matter experts, design content of assessment methodologies.
• Provide a comprehensive assessment plan and scoring matrix.
• Structured interviews (and other assessments methodologies, if any) conducted within the agreed timeline;
• Analysis and assessment report finalized within 48 hours after the interview;
• Online scoring spreadsheet kept up to date;
• 30-minute feedback sessions provided to unsuccessful candidates within the agreed timeline. Feedback is delivered in a constructive manner for the purpose of career progression and self-development.
• Periodic feedback, analyses and reports provided to DPC team.

Responsibilities of the Consultant

The consultant will use their own equipment; laptops, microphones, software and other accessories that may be required for this task.

• The consultant will not give the content/material or any part thereof, to any third party without the written permission of UNICEF. All components will be a property of UNICEF, and the consultant will not share the same with anyone else.
• The consultant will not put their own name or logo/emblem on the content / final product. The only organization branding will be UNICEF, if required.

Responsibilities of UNICEF

• UNICEF will provide all details pertaining to the activity and the requirements.
• UNICEF will orient the consultant on UNICEF’s branding guidelines.

UNICEF will describe the methods, practices, and approaches that guide the organization’s overall approach to projects of the type described in the Terms of Reference.

Estimated duration of LTA

The Long-Term Agreement will be for a maximum duration of 3 (three) years. The initial period would be for 2 (two) years with an option for extension for a subsequent 1 (one) year at the same rates, terms and conditions, subject to satisfactory performance evaluation and continuing need for the services. The services of the consultants selected under the LTA would also be made available to all UNICEF Offices.

Travel (optional)

No travel envisaged for this consultancy; however, consultant might be required to travel outside their duty station for specific events (e.g. if in-person training or documentation missions or meetings are required by UNICEF, government or partners) in which case payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging, etc. should be agreed upon, between the supervisor and the consultant prior to travel and will be reimbursed on actuals.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Organizational Psychology, Psychometrics, or a related field.
• Degrees in Human Resources Management or other social sciences may be considered if combined with demonstrated expertise in assessment design, psychometrics, or organizational psychology.

Experience

• 10+ years of relevant professional experience in assessment design and implementation, talent assessment.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, developing and administering various assessment types (e.g. SJTs, role play exercises, case exercises, etc.) is required.
• Experience producing assessment reports that focus on strength, weaknesses and improvement areas.
• Experience in executive-level assessment is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of psychometric principles, including:
• Experience in designing, piloting, and refining assessment tools using data and feedback.
• Ability to develop robust scoring frameworks and evaluation criteria.
• Familiarity with competency frameworks (UNICEF or similar international frameworks is an asset).
• Experience in designing, piloting, and refining assessment tools using data and feedback.
• Ability to develop robust scoring frameworks and evaluation criteria.

• Familiarity with competency frameworks (UNICEF or similar international frameworks is an asset).
• Experience working in or with multicultural, international, and geographically dispersed environments, with the ability to apply assessment approaches across diverse cultural contexts.
• Fluency in English language is required. Fluency in another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is a distinct advantage.

How To Apply

The application is to be submitted through the online portal and should contain three separate attachments:

• Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
• Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
• Please note, UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.
• Female candidates meeting the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds including persons living with disabilities to apply.
• Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

Annex I

TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA (WITH WEIGHTS FOR EACH CRITERIA)

The selection of consultants for the LTA will be based on technical evaluation and financial offers in the ratio of 80:20. The criteria for technical evaluation will be as follows:

Criteria | Marks

Min | Max

Relevant Education | 24 | 35

Relevant years of experience. | 24 | 35

The work sample of an assessment report produced | 7 | 10

TOTAL | 100

Financial Proposal

Please provide your financial proposal by completing the table below. Rates should include all costs related to preparation, administration, and reporting unless otherwise specified.

Service/Item | Rate (USD)/candidate | Notes (optional)

Assessment and evaluation - Competency‑Based Interview (CBI)

Assessment and evaluation - Situational Judgement Test (SJT)

Assessment and evaluation - Case Study

Assessment and evaluation - Tactical exercise

Assessment and evaluation - Other Assessment Tools (please specify)

Max 30 minutes feedback (per candidate)

Service/Item | Rate (USD)/design | Notes (optional)

Design of SJT (Deputy Representative Operations and Programme)

Design and recording of role play exercise (Deputy Representative Operations and Programme)

Design of case study (Deputy Representative Operations and Programme)

Design of CBI for (Deputy Representative Operations)

Design of other assessment (please specify)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

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.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks

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

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

• Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.