Consultancy: Operations Consultant – South Africa Req. # 582903

UNICEF; West New York (NJ); Remote; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An international organization is seeking an Operations Consultant to support the South Africa Early Childhood Care and Education Outcomes Fund. The role involves logistics coordination, reporting, and compliance with operational standards. Candidates should have at least 5 years of experience in programmatic roles, a university degree, and fluency in English. The position may require travel to South Africa.

Benefits

Attractive compensation package

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in programmatic roles.
• Experience in organizing travel logistics.
• Familiarity with local operational context of South Africa.

Responsibilities

• Support ECCE outcomes fund implementation.
• Coordinate logistics for program events.
• Conduct expense verification activities.

Skills

Logistics coordination

Report drafting

Fluency in English

Operations management

Education

University degree in relevant field

Job description

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 HOPE!

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Operations Consultant – South Africa

Section/Division/Duty Station: United Hosted Funds, Education Outcomes Fund

Duration: September 1, 2025 to August 30, 2028

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ/ Remote (Pretoria, South Africa)

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Support the implementation of the South Africa Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Outcomes Fund by advising EOF's South Africa team on a range of programmatic and operation tasks. This will include providing technical guidance on reporting, procurement, travel, and asset management.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will support EOF’s team in relation to its ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) outcomes fund in South Africa, which is expected to launch in November 2025 and continue implementing until December 2028.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

1. Deliverable 1

• 8 payment tracking memos and DBE coordination logs (estimated 2 pages each)
• 6 disbursement verification summaries (estimated 5 pages each)

Payment tracking:

• 2 sets by 30.08.2026
• 2 sets by 30.12.2026
• 2 sets by 30.12.2027
• 2 sets by 30.08.2028

Disbursement verification:

• 2 sets by 30.12.2026
• 2 sets by 30.12.2027
• 2 sets by 30.08.2028

Technical support for the preparation of EOF’s annual procurement and travel plans in collaboration with central operations and programme teams.

1. Deliverable 2

• 3 annual procurement plans (estimated 2 pages each)
• 3 annual travel plans (estimated 2 pages each)
• Mid-year update notes (1–2 pages each)

Procurement/travel plans by:

• 01.01.2026
• 01.01.2027
• 01.01.2028

Midyear updates by:

• 30.06.2026
• 30.06.2027
• 30.06.2028

Coordinate logistics for programme events and team travel including venue bookings, travel arrangements, and reimbursements.

1. Deliverable 3

• Logistics packs for 6 programme events and 12 travel instances (estimated 10 pages each)
• Six 1-page event summaries and travel reconciliation logs

Logistics packs:

• 2 by 30.12.2026
• 2 by 30.12.2027
• 2 by 30.07.2028

Event summaries:

• 2 by 30.12.2026
• 2 by 30.12.2027
• 2 by 30.07.2028

Technical advice and support for EOF South Africa’s safeguarding protocols, visit guidelines, and operational SOPs in collaboration with central ops.

1. Deliverable 4

• 6 protocol updates (safeguarding, visits, ops) – estimated 5 pages per update
• 2 protocol updates by 30.12.2025
• 2 by 30.08.2026
• 2 by 30.08.2027

Support expense verification activities and operational due diligence with EOF Operations team, ensuring compliance with UNICEF standards.

1. Deliverable 5

• Conduct 6 expense verification monitoring visits to each of EOF’s implementing partners in South Africa and produce a log of issues following each meeting (estimated 5 days per verification visit and a 5-10 page log produced, plus an improvement plan for each of the implementing partners)
• 2 verification logs and 1 checklist by 30.12.2026
• 2 verification logs and 1 checklist by 30.08.2027
• 2 verification logs and 1 checklist by 30.08.2028

Provide technical guidance for meetings with government and internal EOF meetings by attending meetings alongside EOF staff and tracking action items.

1. Deliverable 6

• 30 meeting packs (agenda, notes, action tracker)
• 10 packs by 30.12.2025
• 10 by 30.08.2026
• 10 by 30.08.2027

Technical guidance and support for programme governance meetings by contributing to logistics and assembling background documentation.

1. Deliverable 7

• 9 governance meeting logistics memos
• Background document packs (assembled, compiled)
• 3 by 30.06.2026
• 3 by 30.06.2027
• 3 by 30.06.2028

Prepare operational performance updates and summaries for EOF senior team and DBE, including risks, delays, and mitigation measures.

1. Deliverable 8

• 6 short operational update briefs (3–4 pages)
• 3 risk tracking summaries for EOF/DBE
• 2 by 30.12.2026
• 2 by 30.12.2027
• 2 by 30.06.2028

Provide technical guidance to EOF on asset and supply management for EOF team, including inventory tracking and procurement logs.

1. Deliverable 9

• Updates to asset and supply tracker (Excel)
• 3 inventory reports (1–2 pages) shared with EOF central ops
• Inventory reports
• 1 by 30.06.2026
• 1 by 30.06.2027
• 1 by 30.06.2028
• Asset and supply tracker updates:
• 4 by 30.06.2026
• 4 by 30.06.2027
• 4 by 30.06.2028

Support EOF communications by preparing content inputs and coordinating with the central comms team on programme visibility outputs.

1. Deliverable 10

• 6 comms inputs: 3 field-based stories (2 pages) and 3 content coordination memos (1 page) 2 content inputs by 30.12.2026
• 2 by 30.08.2027
• 2 by 30.08.2028

Travel: Domestic travel to the three targeted provinces (as required)

15 site visits within South Africa, estimated USD 1000 per visit.

Qualifications

(1) Education

A University degree in political science, economics, finance, business, education, international development, international public policy, or a related field, is required.

(2) Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• At least 5 years’ experience in relevant professional experience in programmatic, analyst-level jobs, programme operations, or operations roles. This is to include logistics and administrative tasks, as well as experience with basic financial tasks such as low-value procurement and processing invoices.
• Experience and practical skills in organizing travel logistics and managing office supplies.
• Experience coordinating meetings and maintaining effective communication with counterparts, including government officials.
• Experience drafting reports and presentations to various stakeholders.
• Familiarity with local operational context of South Africa.
• Fluency in English is required.

Desirable requirements

• Experience or an interest in international development, the global education sector, and international aid is desirable.
• Experience with innovative finance, particularly outcomes funds, is desirable.
• Fluency in Sepedi, IsiZulu or IsiXhosa is desirable.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
• the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
• travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
• Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
• Indicate your availability

Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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

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

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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 awide 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, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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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 all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, 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.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (if applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.

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, without assessment of other candidates.

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