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 fair chance 

UNICEF Offices engage in construction to address programmatic needs and to establish or expand its operations through tailored construction solutions to meet the needs of children, including education, nutrition, health and health emergencies, immunization, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. A link to an internet page that shows some projects done by UNICEF is available in the LINK.  UNICEF normative and support function on construction sits in Supply Division, through its Construction Unit. The objective of the Contracts Specialist (Construction) is to provide support to the unit managemange and to country offices engaged in construction activities. This position is imbedded in the Contracting Center in Supply Division, and reports to the Contracts Manager (Construction).

How can you make a difference? 

This position is responsible for the normative support that Supply Division provides globally on construction. Its purpose is to provide direction and guidance on planning, procurement, partnership and execution of construction projects. This post contributes to setting up the normative structure on construction, including processes, procedures and practises at CO and provide support on construction globally through establishing standards and training and guidance, focusing on sustainability, localization, emergency preparedness and response, and climate action and resilience. This includes wholistic considerations for expanded solar, digital and connectivity agendas supporting learning and health programmes for children and their communities.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD _ Contracts Specialist P3 (Construction).docx

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1 Develop and review SD’ regulatory framework and guidance on construction

• Develop, review and update construction regulations in line with UNICEF strategy and policy, strategic framework on programme construction, best practices, latest developments and a risk-based approach.
• Maintain the contractual framework for construction used to hired contractors, engineering firms and NGOs through institutional contracts.
• In collaboration with OATC, lead any improvement required to construction contracts in VISION.
• Maintain the partnership framework for construction used to engage Implementing Partners, such as NGOs. Collaborate with Legal Office the development of legal framework with Government entities and other UN agencies implementing construction through partnership.
• When required, develop and adapt guidelines and technical tools to reduce risks and efficiently deliver construction for children, focusing on environmental and social standards and safeguarding requirements.
• Oversee the review of offices’ plans for construction projects that require Local Procurement Authorization (LPA) from Supply Division and waivers to regulatory framework on construction.

2. Provide technical support on construction to offices globally and guide towards sustainable approaches

• Provide guidance and technical support to offices on the sustainability and resilience aspects related to construction, starting from planning, procurement, partnership and execution of construction works.
• Engage in conversation with offices to agree on a strategic framework to reduce risks in construction projects, including field missions to support and advise office management on overall construction strategy, plan large construction projects and inhouse construction teams, or solve specific challenging situations.
• Address queries on construction from offices on subjects such as planning, contracting, staffing, contract and project management, interpretation of regulations, and for addressing claims and litigations.

3. Support staffing and professional development on construction

• Develop and deliver trainings on construction to be delivered whether face-to-face or online with focus on environmental and social safeguarding, resilience and climate actions.
• Advise and support country offices recruitment processes, through roster, talent groups and lists of CVs, construction community profiles/TORs and selection processes.
• Maintain and promote the Construction Community channels and promote discussion exchange through quarterly networking sessions, sharing examples, best practices, technical and management discussions on construction.
• Promote knowledge management by exchange of knowledge, information, experience or lessons learned; promote knowledge sharing of new initiatives on sustainable construction and solarised projects.

4. Monitoring and communication of UNICEF’s construction activities

• Collaborate with other UNICEF Divisions the establishment or update of existing digital tools to effectively capture and report the scope and value of construction activities through indirect implementation, and indicators to measure accessibility and other results
• Establish a communication strategy for disseminating and rolling-out existing construction resources among UNICEF Divisions, ROs and COs who are engaged in construction.
• Maintain construction databases, compile and analyse data on construction, prepare biannual reports for key regions, and provide data on construction for Supply Division Annual Report and other communications.
• Collect, assess and advice on innovative sustainable construction approaches and methodologies, and share best practices and relevant technologies within the Construction Community.

5. Any other duties or assignments as requested by the supervisor

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education:

  Advanced University degree in in civil engineering, construction engineering, architecture or building construction.

  A first-level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and 7 years of relevant professional experiences may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

  Relevant post-graduate courses that complement the main degree are a strong asset.

• Work Experience:

  Minimum five years of professional work experience including at least three years of professional experience at international level, with a focus on project and contract management, oversight, supervision and monitoring, and stakeholder management of construction projects.

  Experience in the following technical fields is a strong asset:
  • Sustainable construction, resilience and climate actions
  • Building construction industry for low and middle-income countries;
  • Construction in urban and rural settings;
  • Participatory planning and implementation on construction;
  • Public procurement of services or works;
  • Planning and delivery of capacity building activities;
  • Providing institutional support.

• Langauge: 
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

• Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 

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 

[8) Nurtures, leads and manages people 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels..

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable underrepresented groupsare 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.

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.