Current vacancies

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, … an advocate….!

The Programme Group provides global programme leadership to achieve results for the most disadvantaged and excluded children everywhere, within the overall framework of the UNICEF Strategic Plan and the Core Commitments to Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs).  In line with UNICEF’s established accountabilities, the programme function is responsible to ensure all programmesalign with   standards, policies, strategies and guidance based on good practices. 

The division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) is accountable for managing the relationship and interface between UNICEF and the 33 National Committees. This includes the overall strategic partnership and collaborative relationship within the context of the Cooperation Agreement (CA) and UNICEF’s regulatory framework, managing and mitigating associated risks and preserving the reputation of the organization. It also includes acting as a convener of, providing oversight of, and offering integrated support to National Committees on their advocacy activities, while recognizing and without prejudice to PG’s accountabilities related to all programme activities, facilitating horizontal exchange, and supporting other teams and offices in their engagement with National Committees.

How can you make a difference?

Join our team as a Senior Programme Adviser, where you'll work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director of the Programme Group and in collaboration with the Deputy Director of National Committee Relations in PFP. In this role, you'll provide essential support and guidance to National Committees in high-income countries regarding UNICEF’s programmatic engagement.

You will lead a Technical Support Hub, helping National Committees design, implement, and monitor their programming in alignment with UNICEF's Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) and Cooperation Agreement. Your role will involve coordinating advice and support for programming, engaging with technical experts across various divisions, including EMOPS, OoI, and OoR.

You'll also offer overarching program guidance and collaborate closely with the PFP National Committee Relations Team, particularly the Child Rights Advocacy unit. If you're passionate about making a difference and have a strong background in program support, we encourage you to apply!

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

• Lead the learning agenda in relation to distilling good practice from across UNICEF and National Committees to enhance cross-country sharing and learning and contribute to further define UNICEFs programme and policy approaches   in high-income countries.
• Facilitate the establishment and implementation of light coordination mechanisms for engagement, agenda setting and decisions making (based on established accountabilities) related to issues relevant to programming in high-income countries. 
• Facilitate PG’s collaboration with PFP in relation to National Committees to ensure alignment with UNICEF global programme standards, policies, guidance, and best practice based on sound analysis, consultation, and interpretation of policy and guidance by relevant Directors and Global Leads in PG.
• Coordinate with key stakeholders within Programme Group and other HQ Divisions, to ensure that National committees receive general programme guidance, advice, and support in their programme-related activities.  Draw on the technical advice and support of programme focal points and technical experts when required, adding value, and ensuring coherence and synergy.
• With the support of PFP’s Advocacy Unit, facilitate information flow and the identification and sharing of good practice across thematic networks.
• In collaboration with PG HICs Focal Points, work with Programme Teams to ensure global guidance, technical notes and theories are relevant to high-income contexts and National Committees accountabilities (where appropriate and to the extent possible) and support the translation of the same into practice.
• Facilitate and coordinate PG’s engagement in the JSP process included related sel-assessment processes, including determining when and how programme technical leads are brought in, tracking and approving support requests and providing overall direction on programme-related matters, in close consultation with relevant programme technical experts.  Reviews documentation related to the JSP planning and decision-making processes, including providing inputs and clearance to outcome documents (Note for the Records).
• Work collaboratively  with PFP National Committee Relations Team in particular the Child Rights Advocacy unit, to identify opportunities and solutions, as much as possible and to ensure that all relevant UNICEF policies and objectives are reflected and integrated in the JSPs.
• Identify and mitigate programmatic risk in close collaboration with PFP National Committee Relations Team.  Anticipate and avert crises that could hurt the reputation and credibility of the organization and recommend workable solutions, as it relates to activities that contribute to programmes.
• Advise and make recommendations to PG’s Deputy Director and PFP’s Deputy Director (National Committee Relations) on strategic matters including multi-functional priorities, challenges, and reputational risks in relation to this portfolio.  
• In coordination with PFP’s National Committee Relations Team, undertake regular visits to NatCom countries to provide support, identifies capacity gaps and looks for innovative, evidenced based options to address them. Undertake visits to country and Regional Offices based on requests and in coordination with Regional Offices.
• Represent UNICEF in discussions and negotiations at senior levels with colleagues in NatComs, providing management advice on areas requiring UNICEF input. Contributes and in some cases leads various coordination mechanisms that relate to programming in high-income countries.

The following minimum requirements:

An advanced University degree in Social or Public Policy, Social Science, Strategic Planning, Political Science, International Relations, or another relevant field or other elated technical areas is required.

Work Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant program experience is necessary, along with a solid understanding of UNICEF's program policies, guidance, and best practices is required.
• Previous experience in creating program technical guidance or implementation requirements is also required.
• Experience in working in or with high-income countries is required.

Desirables/Assets:

• Experience in effectively managing complexity and ambiguity and managing multi-cultural relationships is highly desirable.
• Experience working with National Committees for UNICEF and/or in a UNICEF Country Office in HICs context is considered an asset.
• Strong analytical skills are required.
• Excellent presentation and writing skills are required.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language 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…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• 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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, 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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

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.