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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 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 love and care

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

The Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office operates in a rapidly evolving environment where UNICEF is expected to provide clear strategic direction, mobilize influential partnerships, and shape dialogue on child rights across a diverse set of regional actors. The region is increasingly recognized for its potential to generate innovative approaches, pilot new ways of working, and contribute knowledge that informs global practice. At the same time, demands on regional leadership have grown as UNICEF engages more prominently with governments, financial institutions, regional bodies, civil society networks, and emerging private‑sector and philanthropic partners.

To remain effective in this context, the Regional Director must oversee complex coordination processes, ensure consistency in messaging and strategic engagement, and maintain strong connections across 24 country offices and HQ counterparts. This requires timely and well‑curated information, disciplined follow‑up on commitments, and a structured approach to preparing for high‑level engagements. The Executive Specialist plays a critical role in enabling this, ensuring that the Regional Director can focus on providing strategic leadership while the front office maintains coherence, quality, and continuity across all internal and external interactions.

By supporting the articulation of regional priorities, facilitating the development of a consistent narrative, and ensuring effective planning and follow‑through, the Executive Specialist contributes directly to UNICEF’s ability to strengthen its influence, improve visibility around children’s issues, and advance a shared vision for impact across the region.

The incumbent will report directly to the Regional Director and coordinate closely with the Senior Executive Associate.

How can you make a difference? 

The incumbent is responsible for supporting the Regional Director in implementing and following up on key strategic priorities; coordinating, managing and planning activities in a systematic and organized manner; and lastly, managing an effective system for incoming information, including correspondence and decision memos.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Follow-up on instructions presented by the Regional Director and provide overall support to his different work portfolios. Keep the Regional Director aware of developments in UNICEF’s major world-wide operations and of policy issues related directly to UNICEF or to humanitarian issues under the broader UN system.
• Contribute to coordinating drafts of position papers and other documents relevant to the activities of the office.
• Assist the Regional Director in the preparation of statements that represent UNICEF’s overall policies and which highlight specific areas of concern. Propose and draft substantive correspondence for the supervisor.
• Support the Regional Director in efforts to raise the profile of UNICEF and the agency’s concerns within the context of the broader United Nations system.
• Manage the flow of information to the Regional Director, identify priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the Regional Director and propose actions; analyze supporting documentation and summarize most relevant points for the Regional Director; ensure that appropriate action is taken by responsible section heads on matters brought to the attention of the Regional Director.
• Confer with section heads/ directors to secure timely and authoritative information relevant to matters requiring action, decisions or the approval of the Regional Director.
• Ensure that the Regional Director is prepared for meetings and missions by drafting talking points, by researching relevant information; and by establishing contacts (within and outside UNICEF) on the subject matters to be discussed.
• Accompany the Regional Director to meetings and on missions in order to prepare notes on the discussions, ensure follow-up in matters raised, and support the supervisor with any relevant input.
• Support the relation of the Regional Director with the RMT and ensure that he/she is fully supported in routine communication and meetings’ preparation.

Impact of Results

The Executive Specialist ensures that the Regional Director can focus on strategic leadership, high‑level engagement and oversight, while maintaining disciplined follow‑up and quality assurance across the Regional Office.

This role strengthens coherence, timeliness and accountability across LACRO’s work and ensures that decisions, engagements and strategic initiatives are prepared, executed and followed through effectively.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree is required in International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, or another relevant technical field.
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience in external relations, public affairs or international development cooperation, preferably within the UN, or in a government institution, NGO. Prior experience of working in coordination, planning, or in an executive office will be an asset.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.
• Skills: Skill in the identification of new opportunities or requirements to meet challenges and propose changes. Diplomatic communication and negotiation skills to establish and maintain trusted partnerships for achievement of objectives and to develop close and effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders. Ability to contribute to formulation of strategies and policies. Excellent drafting and editing skills. Excellent communication skills. High standards of tact, discretion, integrity, and confidentiality. Proven ability to work effectively and efficiently as a team, coping with pressure and setbacks, as well as responding and adapting to change. Strong analytical skills, drive for results, as well as planning and organizing skills. Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization. Ability to work proactively and with minimal supervision, following instructions, procedures and policies, and keeps to schedules delivering work on time. Excellent time management skills to deal with conflicting and urgent priorities.

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 

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 female and male 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.

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

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.