Chief; Professional Practices), P Office of Internal Audit & Investigation, NYHQ

Chief (Professional Practices), P-5, Fixed Term, #, Office of Internal Audit & Investigation, NYHQ

Job no: 595792
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Duty Station: New York
Level: P-5
Location: United States
Categories: Audit and Investigation, Financial Management

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 Calling

How can you make a difference?

The Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) is a key component of UNICEF’s independent internal oversight system, providing assurance and advisory services to strengthen governance, risk management, and control processes. OIAI reports functionally to the Executive Board and administratively to the Executive Director. Within OIAI, the Internal Audit Section delivers risk-based assurance and advisory services across UNICEF’s global operations. In this context, the Professional Practices function plays a critical leadership role in ensuring that the Internal Audit function is strategically aligned, high-performing, risk-informed, and continuously evolving in response to organizational priorities, emerging risks, stakeholder expectations, and the Global Internal Audit Standards.

The Chief (Professional Practices) leads this function and serves as the central authority for audit quality, methodology, professional standards, risk-based planning, and performance insights across the Internal Audit Section, driving continuous improvement, innovation, and the long-term effectiveness and credibility of internal audit activities.

Under the supervision of the Deputy Director, Internal Audit, Chief (Professional Practices) is responsible for leading and governing the quality, strategic alignment, performance, and continuous transformation of the Internal Audit function. The position provides leadership over the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP), audit methodology and standards, risk-based planning frameworks, audit universe management, assurance mapping, audit performance measurement, and the modernization of audit practices through data, technology, and innovation.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

• Lead the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP) (25%)- Provide strategic leadership and full ownership of the Internal Audit Section’s Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP), ensuring it covers all aspects of the audit activity and aligns with the Global Internal Audit Standards. Establish and enforce quality frameworks, methodologies, and performance criteria across all audit engagements.
• Lead audit strategy, risk-based planning, and assurance mapping (25%)- Lead the development and continuous enhancement of the audit universe, risk-based planning frameworks, and strategic audit priorities, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s evolving risk profile, organizational transformation initiatives, and stakeholder expectations.
• Lead audit performance, analytics, and strategic insights (20%)- Establish and manage a comprehensive audit performance…