Temporary Appointment: Nutrition Officer, NO-2 Level, Ha Noi, Viet Nam (For Vietnamese Nationals)
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Job no: 586042
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Duty Station: Hanoi
Level: NO-2
Location: Viet Nam
Categories: Nutrition
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, an opportunity...
Please click the link for further information about UNICEF Viet Nam: https://www.unicef.org/vietnam/
How can you make a difference?
2026 marks the final year of the current five-year Country Programme Document (CPD) of UNICEF in Viet Nam as well as of MOH and UNICEF Programme of Cooperation. It also witnessed significant changes at global and country level which may have impacts on the realization of the rights of children in Viet Nam. Notably are the sharp decreases in international assistance and ODA support which include the withdrawal of the US government’s, the UN80 initiative on system-wide reform, the UNICEF’s Future Focus Initiative (FFI), the approval of UNICEF Strategic Plan (SP) 2026-2029, the development of the next CPD in the period of 2027-2031, and the Viet Nam’s government rapid reform with two-tier administration system and merging of line ministries and provinces. The Ministry of Health (MoH) is now responsible not only for healthcare but also for social welfare and child protection.
With thin the current CPD and Programme of Cooperation with MOH, the Child Survival, Development and Environment (CSDE) Programme of UNICEF has engaged and provided technical support to MOH, the National Institute of Nutrition, and selected provinces in addressing the issues of persistent inequities in maternal and child mortality and access to health, nutrition and WASH; reducing preventable deaths and stunting, strengthening services for early childhood development, and addressing new or emerging public health threats that children face in Viet Nam, including environment pollution and children’s health.
The Nutrition Officer (on temporary appointment) reports to the Chief of CSDE for supervision and guidance. The Nutrition Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the nutrition programmes/projects within the Country Programme, from development planning to delivery of results. In doing so, the incumbent implements a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks to facilitate programme development, implementation, programme progress monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of results.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
1. Support to programme development and planning
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation.
4. Networking and partnership building
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.
Please refer to the full Job Profile for more information:
Nutrition Officer NOB TA.pdf
This is a temporary appointment of 364 days' contract.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education requirement:
A university degree in one of the following fields is required: nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, nutritional epidemiology, or another health-related science field.
Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are strong assets.
Work Experience:
A minimum of two years of professional experience in a developing country in one or more of the following areas is required: nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, infant and child health/nutrition care.
Experience in integrated management of acute malnutrition, food fortification, school nutrition, nutrition in emergency response, micronutrient deficiencies control for women and children, sustaining and scaling up nutrition high impact interventions using government’s budget is considered an asset.
The following experiences are considered as the assets:
- Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization.
- High level of competence in working with people, especially partners in the Government, international development agencies and INGOs.
- Strong understanding of local government and community contexts in Viet Nam.
- Ability to create relevant and meaningful content across a variety of appropriate mediums.
- Ability to effectively and respectfully work with a team of different cultural and sectoral backgrounds.
- Facilitation skills and ability to manage diversity of views in different cultural contexts.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN 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 (1)
+ Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)
+ Drive to achieve results for impact (1)
+ Innovates and embraces change (1)
+ Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
+ Thinks and acts strategically (1)
+ Works collaboratively with others (1)
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
Life at UNICEF
Working at UNICEF is highly rewarding. With attractive remuneration package encompassing competitive pay and benefits, a culture that helps staff thrive and diverse opportunities for personal and professional development, we aim to help you maintain a fulfilling life both at and outside the office.
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. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff. Our contracts, wellbeing policies and initiatives ensure that you are well equipped to effectively deliver for children such as:
Tax exemption, family allowances, hardship benefits, 10 UN holidays and annual leave allowance, maternity, paternity, adoption leave, medical and dental insurance, pension etc.
Pension benefits: You will become a participant in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (https://www.unjspf.org).
Health insurance scheme: You and your eligible dependents will be covered by the UN Medical Insurance Plan (https://www.un.org/insurance/plans/medical-insurance-plan-mip).
Career support, staff wellbeing programme, breastfeeding policy, flexible work arrangements, family support, policies & initiatives, security, reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
Professional Development: The encouragement of professional development for all staff is one of UNICEF’s core values and we put this into practice through various services and initiatives. You will have different learning opportunities to strengthen your skills and competencies.
Be part of the United Nations: As an International organization that is part of the United Nations system, you will be considered an International Civil Servant and you will have career opportunities inside and outside the country.
Quality working conditions:
The workplace and working conditions are a huge asset for all UNICEF employees. Our staff are working in the Green One UN House - the first building in Viet Nam to be awarded gold LOTUS certification from the Viet Nam Green Building Council for efficient and environmentally sustainable use of resources and operations.
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. 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.
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.
https://vietnam.un.org/en/86207-announcement-time-hire-un-agencies-viet-nam-national-positions
Advertised: SE Asia Standard Time
Deadline: SE Asia Standard Time