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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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a calling.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the guidance and supervision of the Emergency Manager, support country offices in the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the emergency preparedness and response interventions to ensure the survival and well-being of children and mothers, and the affected communities in an emergency situation.

Key end-results:

1. Emergency preparedness is effectively arranged together with establishment of regional and country contingency plans and early warning mechanisms, and the updating of the Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP).

2. Emergency preparedness and response plans addresses gender issues that may be expected to intensify during emergencies.

3. Emergency plans of action are developed, at the regional and country level, and compliance and coordination of all sectors with the plans are implemented.

4. Technical advice to country offices in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) on emergencies and programme management, related to implementation of emergency preparedness measures are effectively provided.

5. Ensured support to LACRO Emergency Unit in i) internal coordination processes, with all Programme and Operations sections of the Regional Office (Emergency Coordination Technical Group); ii) Monitoring and IM functions, including HPM, in close coordination with COs; iii) Knowledge building and sharing (KM) tasks related to emergency preparedness and response in the region; iv) Building partnership and resource mobilization.

6. Emergency preparedness and response, and a consistent flow of information of the humanitarian situation are effectively coordinated within the regional and country office.

7. Substantive improvements made in the emergency preparedness and response capability of UNICEF staff, at the regional and country level, and implementing partners through conduct of effective training activities.

8. In the event of an emergency in one of the LAC countries, country supported office to ensure that UNICEF's presence is promptly established, and the initial emergency operational tasks are effectively executed, including provision of support for information communication technology, telecommunications facility and all staff security related assistance in the country office.

9. Regional and country offices supported, to ensure that needs assessment is effectively conducted to determine priorities and an appropriate intervention by UNICEF based on the local emergency situation affecting children, their families and community.

10. Regional and country offices supported, to ensure that timely delivery of assistance and supplies is provided, urgent staffing requirements are identified, and the appropriate use of UNICEF resources is monitored for effective project delivery.

11. Regional and country offices supported, to ensure that emergency appeals (HAC) and project proposals are prepared, and concerted efforts are put forward to mobilize donor response and recovery/rehabilitation-related funding.

12. Regional and country offices supported, to ensure that longer-term requirements of the emergency operation/interventions are determined to build a regular operational and staffing structure.

13. Continuous, effective and strategic coordination, communication, consultation and liaison are maintained at the regional and country level, with Government, UN agencies, NGOs, donors and allies in support of the special needs of children and women affected by emergency situations within the framework of the cluster approach and based on the Core Commitment for Children.

14. Management of the regional office is kept informed of humanitarian developments in relevant policies, situation developments, potential threats and opportunities/issues in the country.

15. Regional and country offices supported, to ensure that emergency preparedness and response strategies are mainstreamed in the country office's workplans. Sectoral input is provided for all related documents for the office’s Emergency Preparedness and Response, as well as for the Situation Analysis and the Country Programme Document. 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Emergency Specialist GJD

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, international law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines. Preferably a combination of management, administration, and relevant technical fields.
• Work Experience: Five years of progressively professional work experience at the national, regional and international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and administration.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Spanish is required.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 
• Specialized training/experience in emergency response management highly desirable.
• Experience and knowledge of the LAC region’s context is highly desirable.
• Experience in emergency response to migration crises, is highly desirable.
• Experience in humanitarian access-related work in complex environments, is highly desirable.
• Experience in supporting 'shock responsive systems strengthening’ is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (French or Portuguese) is 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 is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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.

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.

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.