People and Culture Manager, P-4, Fixed Term Position, Maputo, Republic of Mozambique, #00088093

For every child, the right to Care

UNICEF has worked in Mozambique since 1975, in support of the Government and alongside partners and communities. The country office is in Maputo, with four field offices in Pemba (Cabo Delgado), Nampula (Nampula), Quelimane (Zambézia) and Beira (Sofala). Children and young people make up the majority of the population. Their prospects are shaped by poverty, recurrent climate shocks – cyclones, floods and drought – and violence and conflict in the north. The new Country Programme 2027–2030, with a budget of close to US$300 million, centres on three priorities across the life course: the first 1,000 days, quality primary education at scale and adolescence, with a particular focus on girls. Its defining shift is catalytic. Rather than delivering services in parallel, UNICEF helps strengthen national systems – the workforce, data, supply chains and public financing – so that results reach every child and last. The office connects humanitarian response with long-term development and is broadening its partnerships, including with the private sector and new sources of finance, as global aid tightens

How can you make a difference?

Under the general supervision of the Representative, the People and Culture Manager, is accountable for leading integrated people and culture services that enhance organizational effectiveness and strengthen the capacity of clients to deliver on their business goals and objectives. The incumbent anticipates emerging workforce and organizational needs and develops strategic, people-centered, and innovative solutions that align people management, culture, and organizational transformation priorities with business objectives.

The People and Culture function oversees all People and Culture (P&C) related activities and staff across Mozambique Country Office and Zone Offices, ensuring alignment with the People and Culture strategy, the Country Programme Management Plan, and organizational priorities.

Specifically:

• Manages the unit by setting priorities, monitoring progress, and guiding staff performance to meet established objectives and timelines.
• Provides technical HR/P&C leadership, develops and implements policies, and ensures compliance with HR principles, policies, and regulations.
• Acts as a strategic advisor to senior management on workforce planning and organizational effectiveness, offering evidence-based people solutions.
• Coordinates recruitment, talent management, learning and capacity development, and HR analytics to attract, retain, and motivate high-caliber staff.
• Leads change management initiatives, fosters a respectful, inclusive workplace culture, and strengthens emergency workforce readiness.
• Drives organizational transformation, staff engagement, wellbeing, and leadership effectiveness, promoting diversity and inclusion in line with UNICEF’s values.
• Implements innovative HR strategies and best practices to ensure the workforce is equipped for both current and future organizational needs.
• Leverages HR data and analytics to inform strategic decision-making, optimize organizational effectiveness, and identify talent risks and workforce trends.

Minimum requirements

Desirables

• Knowledge of a Portuguese, Spanish or Italian is highly desirable, knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) or a local language is an asset.
• Experience in Data analytics, Innovation, Coaching, Strategy, Staff Engagement, Transformation, Emergency is desired.
• Relevant and proven experience in managing HR operations at country level, particularly in development, nexus and humanitarian contexts.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable. Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from non high income countries are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

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

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.