Digital Impact Officer (Software Applications & Solutions), NOB, Pacific Multi Country Office, Suva, Fiji, Post #135988 [Temporary Appointment, 364 days]

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 a future

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work here: UNICEF Pacific Islands.

UNICEF Pacific’s health and nutrition programme strengthens climate-resilient primary health care (PHC) systems, improves immunization and essential health services, and advances multisectoral efforts to prevent malnutrition and promote healthy diets for children, adolescents, and women across Pacific Island countries. As part of its work to enhance health-system resilience, UNICEF also serves as the Regional Implementation Support Partner for the Pacific Healthy Islands Transformation (PHIT) Project.

The PHIT Project is a regional, multi-country initiative supporting Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, and Tuvalu to strengthen their health systems through enhanced health-workforce capacity, expanded access to digital health innovations, and improved service delivery enabled by regional collaboration. The project is financed by multiple development partners, including the World Bank. Participating Pacific Island countries face common structural challenges, including geographic dispersion, limited access to specialist services, health-workforce shortages and supervision gaps, fragmented referral pathways, and uneven digital infrastructure, governance, and policy readiness. These constraints are further compounded by the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and increasing climate-related and disaster risks.

Within the PHIT Project, UNICEF is responsible for facilitating the development and delivery of regional public goods that strengthen PHC, digital health systems, and workforce capacity across participating countries. This includes support for the development of regional Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and accreditation frameworks; deployment of digital learning platforms; establishment of regional health-workforce registries; development of a Regional Telehealth Network (RTN); rollout of AI-enabled diagnostic and treatment tools with appropriate risk-mitigation and governance frameworks; standardization of overseas medical referral (OMR) guidelines; and support to Centres of Excellence focused on PHC innovation.

How can you make a difference? 

Key responsibilities include leading the assessment of digital needs, developing and managing product roadmaps, defining technical specifications, overseeing procurement and integration of software applications, and guiding change management initiatives. The Officer will ensure that all digital activities adhere to established data sharing and hosting frameworks, promoting collaboration and sustainable digital transformation to enhance primary health care delivery for children, adolescents, and women throughout the Pacific region.

Summary Of Key Functions/Accountabilities

1. Programme Implementation Coordination

• Assist in co-leading a Regional (multi-country) Technical Working Group (RTWG), a collaborative forum composed of technical stakeholders and representatives from multiple countries to coordinate and guide the PHIT implementation ensuring consistency, knowledge sharing and alignment with overarching objectives of the project, Oversee and manage country roadmaps, implementation plans, and dependencies; track milestones and risks.
• Engage with and strengthen Ministry of Health governance and coordination mechanisms for digital health, and support technical review and approval processes as needed.
• Coordinate with Ministries of Health, Government Digital Transformation & ICT Offices, World Bank, and Vendors to resolve blockers and steer delivery as per the agreed schedule.
• Support country digital health readiness assessments and maturity modelling using global frameworks (such as the Global Digital Health Monitor), including updating data on an annual basis. Where there are identified gaps that present risks to PHIT, develop strategies to address.
• Maintain stakeholder map, communication plan, and feedback loops (users, clinicians, ICT).
• Collaborate with the chosen vendor to ensure the landscape analysis is thorough and complete.

1. Solution Architecture, Design & Specification

• Develop Terms of Reference (ToR) to engage reputable and well-established vendors/organizations for Solution Architecture, Design and Specification development
• Support and coordinate Solution Architecture and Design development
• Support the coordination of requirements gathering, analysis, functional (user journeys, reporting, dashboard, etc.) and non-functional requirements (hosting, security, performance, etc.), interoperability (Application Programming Interface (API), Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR), etc.) and data governance.
• Co-facilitate Requirements Validation sessions and workshops to drive finalization of architecture, design and specifications.
• Alignment of solution approach with Government strategy and capabilities to support (technically and financially) post handover.
• Coordinate standards adoption, public key infrastructure, integration and inter-operability across different systems and different countries

1. Adoption, Training & Change Management

• Work with countries and solution providers in identifying change champions for each solution, ensuring that these key individuals are engaged early to facilitate knowledge transfer and foster local ownership.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to establish clear roles and responsibilities for champions, integrating their input into co-design workshops and training plans.
• Maintain ongoing communication with change champions to monitor progress, address emerging challenges, and support the dissemination of best practices throughout the adoption and rollout process.
• Co-design and co-facilitate change management workshops with solution providers, co-develop capacity building and training sessions, finalize training curricula and enablement toolkits, and coordinate country training schedules and champions networks.
• Support communications and change impact assessments, monitor adoption, and address resistance
• Ensure Change Champions, Master Trainers, End Users, ICT Administrators, and Support Teams are fully equipped and trained by the solution providers.

1. Implementation and Rollout

• Ensure Quality Assurance Testing (QAT) for every solution is provided in a timely manner with 100% pass rate.
• Drive User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to achieve 100% pass rate for all scenarios, touchpoints, integrations.
• Ensure environment readiness (hosting infrastructure, facility infrastructure & connectivity, security parameters and compliance checks.
• Ensure data mapping, cleansing, migration and reconciliation/verification steps are successfully done and accepted.
• Ensure backups and disaster recovery is in place and tested.
• Work with countries and solution providers to define rollout approach to minimize risk and maximize adoption
• Drive periodic User Experience Testing (UET), including establishing mechanisms to provide routine feedback to Government Partners and solution providers for solution improvements. Ensure all documentation, source files, and instruments are properly prepared by solution providers and delivered to the country.
• Coordinate with solution providers and countries to manage go-live readiness and post-launch stabilization including hypercare period with strengthened support

1. Post Implementation Support & Maintenance

• Work with countries and solution providers to monitor and track performance on the usage, uptime and incidents/bugs and system/infrastructure related issues
• Support countries to implement end-user tools to capture issues, track incidents and escalate to relevant teams including solution providers to promptly apply fixes
• Gather feedbacks and future enhancement and/or critical fixes requiring immediate action

1. Governance, Standards & Compliance

• Coordinate with stakeholders in developing Programme/Project Charter, ensuring strong RASCI matrix, realistic implementation timelines, etc. is in place for delivery of different digital solutions
• Ensure solutions align with data sharing agreements, security guardrails, and architecture standards.
• Coordinate privacy impact assessments, consent models, and role-based access.

1. Documentation, Knowledge Management & Reporting

• Maintain a regional (across multiple countries) project management and tracking as well as repository of artefacts and documentations platform that is secure and updated in a timely manner
• Ensure all regional and country specific  technical and non-technical documents—such as release notes, configuration manuals, SOPs, and job aids—are kept up to date and stored in a central repository. Maintain lessons learned logs for reuse across countries.
• Contribute to the preparation and sharing of monthly project status reports to all key stakeholders

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education:

An undergraduate University degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) is required in Digital Transformation, Business Analysis, ICT Management, Computer Science, Information Systems, Innovation, Digital Development, International Development or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience: 

• A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in Digital Technology in a large international organization or corporation is required
• Experience identifying, designing and supporting implementation of public sector digital solutions for large-scale projects at national or enterprise-wide levels, including open-source digital public goods
• Experience with health sector digital public goods, including WHO recommended standards and guidelines, including for health information exchanges, interoperability (including FHIR), and public key infrastructure, is desired.
• Experience coordinating the work of external vendors and software developers and experience supporting business analysis, budgets, contracts, project management and procurement is desired
• Experience with ICT, mobile and web-based technologies, particularly designing or deploying tools appropriate to the region
• Strong facilitation, documentation, and change management skills.
• Exposure to UNICEF, UN or other INGO programmatic areas, including in health sector will be an added advantage

Skills:

• Ability to drive impactful outcomes by implementing and managing digital solutions
• Solid understanding of digital project planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, using data-driven insights to inform decision-making.
• Project/Program management, analytical thinking, and problem-solving, particularly in the context of deploying and optimizing software applications for large-scale.
• Strong leadership, communication, and partnership-building skills to coordinate cross-functional teams, external vendors, and stakeholders in the successful delivery of digital impact initiatives.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

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

The 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 

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, 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.

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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

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 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.

This position is only applicable to Fiji nationals only. 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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.