Loading job details...
Child Protection Manager (NO-4) FT, Pretoria, South Africa
Job ID:TL;DR Summary FREE
Generating summary...
{{ summary.tldr }}
Key Requirements
- {{ r }}
Key Skills
{{ s }}
Deal Breakers
- {{ d }}
{{ summary.experience_level }}
{{ summary.salary_hints }}
Job Description
## Child Protection Manager (NO-4) FT, Pretoria, South Africa
- Organization:UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund
- Office:UNICEF Pretoria
Child Protection Manager (NO-4), FT, #137962, Pretoria - South Africa, ESAR
Position type:Fixed Term Appointment
Location:South Africa
Division/Equivalent:Nairobi Regn'l(ESARO)
School/Unit:South Africa
Department/Office:Pretoria, South Africa
Categories:Child Protection
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job - it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child,the right to Protection
The UNICEF country programme 2026-2030 supports the Government's efforts to ensure that, by 2030, the most vulnerable children, adolescents and young people in South Africa will live in a safer and more equitable environment, get a fair chance in life and realize their rights to survive, thrive and reach their full capacity.
The theory of change states that children and adolescents will progressively realize their rights if they can more fully utilize social assistance and basic social services supported by: (i) Government implementation of legislation with greater accountability, more strategic use of evidence, better interdepartmental coordination and more effective public finance management; (ii) a “whole-of-society” approach to leveraging investments in children, mobilizing support from the public and private sectors, as well as civil society; (iii) parents, caregivers and front-line service providers that deliver integrated programmes to reduce harmful practices and promote optimal behaviours for children's and adolescent's development and well-being; and (iv) empowerment to participate in decisions that affect their lives and communities.
The country programme has four programme outcomes aligned with the national priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2026-2030. These outcomes focus on investing in children; child survival and adolescent well-being; education; and child protection.
The programme will maximize opportunities to advance child rights, presented by the global stature of South Africa, rooted in the legacy of Nelson Mandela and its leadership in development and human rights.
How can you make a difference?
As the Child Protection and Rights Manager, you will report to the Deputy Representative for general guidance and direction. You will be responsible for managing and supervising all stages of child protection programmes and projects, from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable contributions to national and international efforts to create a protective environment for children against all harm and to protect their rights to survival, development and well-being, as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), international treaties/frameworks and UN intergovernmental bodies.
You will also be responsible for establishing the plans of action and overseeing work progress to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable programme/project results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF's Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
- Managerial leadership
- Programme development and planning
- Programme management, monitoring and quality control of results
- Advisory services and technical support
- Advocacy, networking and partnership building
- Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: NO-4 Child Protection Manager.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...
Minimum requirements:
- Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.
- Work Experience: A minimum of eight years of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection and child rights related areas, at the international level, is required. Strong technical expertise national child rights instruments, policy analysis, programme development, and system strengthening.
- Skills: strong expertise in child protection, child rights and safeguarding, strategic programme management, policy analysis, system strengthening, monitoring and evaluation, partnership building, advocacy, and emergency preparedness.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
- Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
- Relevant experience in programme development in child protection related areas in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
- Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
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
UNICEF competencies required for this post are...
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
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 encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
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 and discrimination based on gender
Additional Information
👀 people viewed this job
🔥 Applications surging — 3x more views than average
Ready for this role?
Tailor your resume to this job before you apply. Applications with a matched resume get noticed.
Customize Your Resume for This Role Sign up free · 25 credits to start
UN agencies often ask for a P11 form.
Generate yours from your resume
Views
Posted
Applicants
AI Tools
Prepare your application with AI. Each tool uses credits from your balance.
Prepare with AI
Sign up free to get a tailored resume, cover letter, and interview prep for this role.
Sign Up Free — 75 CreditsNo credit card required
📊 Estimated Applicant Pool