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 Deliver
UNICEF Supply Division operates a major humanitarian supply hub supporting the procurement, storage and distribution of essential supplies to children and families worldwide. The Copenhagen warehouse uses automated material handling equipment (MHE), warehouse management systems (WMS), warehouse control systems (WCS), conveyors, automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), packaging equipment and associated control infrastructure. Reliable interaction between warehouse systems and physical equipment is essential to safe and uninterrupted warehouse operations.To strengthen in-house WMS and controls capability, support business continuity and retain operational knowledge, the Technical Associate (Warehouse Management Systems and Controls) provides daily systems support, fault diagnosis, maintenance coordination and continuous improvement in the automated warehouse environment.
How can you make a difference?
The Technical Associate (Warehouse Management Systems and Controls) provides first-line functional and technical support for warehouse management, warehouse control and related automation systems to help ensure reliable material flow and a high level of equipment availability. The incumbent analyses and resolves system and controls issues, coordinates escalation and recovery, supports testing and documentation, and contributes to knowledge transfer and readiness for Campus 4. The position reports to the Senior Technical Associate, WIMC, and collaborates with Warehouse Operations, technical colleagues, Engineering and Quality functions, and external maintenance and automation service providers. Contributes to maintaining compliance with applicable international and regulatory standards in supply chain operations, especially for regulated products such medicines. Adherence to mandatory training requirements and internal procedures to maintain product safety and quality throughout the supply chain.
Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:
1. WMS, WCS and controls support
• Provide first-line functional and technical support for WMS, WCS, visualization and associated controls used in warehouse operations.
• Monitor system status, queues, interfaces, alarms and material-flow exceptions and take appropriate corrective or escalation action.
• Analyse incidents affecting order execution, inventory movements, equipment communication and automated material flow.
• Use available diagnostic tools and system information to identify whether faults originate in WMS, WCS, controls, interfaces, equipment or operational processes.
• Coordinate controlled system recovery and confirm that affected functions operate correctly before return to normal service.
2. Incident response and problem management
• Respond promptly to system, controls and automation incidents according to operational priority and safety requirements.
• Perform structured fault analysis, document findings and support root-cause investigation of recurring incidents.
• Escalate complex or safety critical issues to the appropriate UNICEF focal point or specialist service provider and provide the information needed for effective resolution.
• Follow incidents through to closure, including testing, operational verification, documentation and communication to relevant stakeholders.
• Identify trends and propose sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
3. Testing, changes and system improvement
• Support evaluation, testing and implementation of WMS, WCS, controls and automation changes in accordance with applicable change-control and quality requirements.
• Prepare or contribute to test scenarios, test protocols, results and defect follow-up.
• Coordinate with Warehouse Operations, IT, Engineering, Quality and external providers to ensure changes are operationally suitable and appropriately documented.
• Support integration and operational-readiness activities relevant to Campus 4, including material-flow and automation solutions.
• Contribute practical improvements to system availability, usability, maintainability and operational efficiency.
4. Documentation, data and knowledge management
• Maintain accurate incident records, system logs, service reports, configuration information, work instructions and related technical documentation.
• Ensure system issues, workarounds, outstanding defects and follow-up actions are clearly recorded and traceable.
• Maintain and improve troubleshooting guides, handover information and system support procedures.
• Share knowledge with the Technical Assistant, warehouse colleagues and other technical resources through structured handovers and on-the-job guidance.
5. Vendor and stakeholder coordination
• Work closely with Warehouse Operations, the Technical Assistant, IT, Engineering, Quality functions and external service providers.
• Coordinate and follow up external interventions involving WMS, WCS, controls, interfaces or automation systems.
• Assist in verifying that contracted work has been completed, tested, documented and accepted by the relevant UNICEF function.
• Communicate technical issues and operational impact clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
6. Technical Assistant duties and operational support
• Undertake Technical Assistant duties when required to maintain operational continuity and balanced coverage.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:
JD - Technical Associate (Warehouse Management Systems and Controls)_GS6.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: Completion of secondary education supplemented by a recognized vocational or technical qualification in automation technology, industrial IT, electrical engineering, electronics, mechatronics, industrial maintenance, logistics systems or another relevant technical discipline. Additional training or certification in WMS/WCS, PLC/HMI systems, industrial networks, database querying, electrical safety or automation is an asset.
- Work Experience: At least 6 years of relevant hands-on experience supporting WMS, WCS, controls, automation or integrated warehouse systems in automated logistics, manufacturing or a comparable technical environment.
- Demonstrated experience diagnosing incidents across software, interfaces, controls and material handling equipment and coordinating recovery and escalation.
- Documented practical experience from an automated warehouse, logistics or industrial site of comparable complexity.
- Hands-on experience with preventive maintenance, fault diagnosis or repair of automated or electro-mechanical equipment sufficient to support Technical Assistant duties is required.
- Skills: Functional and technical support of warehouse management and warehouse control systems in an automated logistics environment.
- Structured troubleshooting across WMS, WCS, interfaces, PLC/HMI controls and material handling equipment.
- Interpretation of system logs, alarms, queues, messages, visualizations and equipment diagnostics.
- Incident, problem and root-cause analysis, including escalation and follow-through to verified resolution.
- Test preparation and execution, defect follow-up, change support and technical documentation.
- Understanding of automated material flow, conveyors, ASRS and related electro-mechanical equipment.
- First-line mechanical, electrical and equipment-control support sufficient to undertake Technical Assistant duties within assigned competence.
- Safe working practices, clear communication and knowledge transfer.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Danish language knowledge is desirable.
Desirables:
- Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
- Experience with warehouse material flow, conveyor systems, ASRS, PLC/HMI interaction, visualization tools and equipment diagnostics is desirable.
- Experience preparing or executing system tests, documenting results and following up defects or changes is desirable.
- Experience working with external system integrators, automation providers or maintenance contractors is an asset.
- Experience in pharmaceutical, humanitarian, logistics, manufacturing, airport or distribution-centre operations is an advantage.
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
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
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 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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable. Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks. 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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.
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 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.
Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.
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.