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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. 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, commitment...

Disasters, climate change, and environmental degradation present significant and escalating threats to the well-being of children globally, jeopardizing the progress achieved in child survival and development. Over a billion children are exposed to severe risks from climate and environmental hazards such as heatwaves, floods, and cyclones. Consequently, it is imperative for countries to establish climate-resilient, low-carbon social services encompassing water and sanitation, healthcare, education, nutrition, social protection, and child protection to tackle current threats and prepare for increasingly severe impacts.

In alignment with our commitment to protect children and young people worldwide, UNICEF is launching its Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP) 2023 - 2030.  The SCAP prioritizes urgent climate action through systematic change in partnership with public and private sectors to prioritize the needs of children and young people and build their resilience to the climate threats at hand.  The SCAP strives to mainstream sustainability and climate action both internally and externally, through protecting the lives, health and well-being of children and their communities; empowering children with developmental opportunities and skills; and reducing emissions and the environmental footprint within UNICEF.

The GS6 Programme Associate’s contribution goes beyond the HQ team and contributes to the successful delivery of the organization-wide SCAP. She/he will provide administrative and budget support to the entire CEED Team and provide executive support to the Director of CEED.

How can you make a difference?

Join Our Team as a Programme Associate in Climate Action!

Are you passionate about sustainability, climate action, and making a difference for children worldwide? As a Programme Associate on UNICEF's Climate, Energy, Environment, & Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED) Team, you will play a vital role in supporting key initiatives and ensuring the effective and timely delivery of programs aligned with UNICEF's mission.

Collaborating closely with the Director, Senior Advisor, CEED Technical Team Leads, and external partners, you will contribute to advancing UNICEF’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP) and its resources across regions and divisions. In this dynamic role, you’ll monitor milestones, provide regular progress updates, and offer recommendations to keep activities on track, helping to drive impactful change for communities around the globe.

If you’re a proactive professional eager to support critical workstreams and foster collaboration within a global team dedicated to climate and sustainability, this role is the perfect opportunity for you!. 

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

Budget Monitoring and Management Support

• Carry out transactions in VISION and Insight pertaining to grants and programme-related items for CEED including but not limited to registering grant allotments and monitoring grants and expenditures
• Regularly monitoring budgets and financial expenditures of the CEED team by employing applicable tools, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, keeping supervisor informed and advised on actions for decision and/or follow up.
• Working with the P1 Programme Officer and other support staff, prepare periodic or ad-hoc financial reports relating to CEED and donors to support the office in optimizing use of programme funds. This includes resources that are allocated across regions or other divisions for the organization-wide delivery of the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP).
• Works with grant managers to establish budget trackers in line with Grant/Project Outputs and regularly monitor balances / ensure costs are in line with the outputs and not going over budget, especially when a grant may be used by multiple team members for multiple workstreams.

Procurement & Contracts Management

• Regularly updates the CEED Team with advanced notice/ planning on corporate deadlines and processes (including periodic process changes) for contracts and procurement
• Maintains contract tracking and adequate earmarking of budget for ongoing or new contracts for the CEED Team
• Facilitates the processing of cost distributions for staff contracts, contracts for consultants and external partners that provide a service to the CEED team, working in close collaboration with the CSC, POH, HR and other relevant sections. This includes conducting a quality review of TORs, consolidating and storing supporting documents for contract requests, and making necessary logistical arrangements.
• Guides managers in the process of PCA/SSAs in line with the policies and guidance issued by FRG, supply division and DHR. 
• Maintains up-to-date vendor lists, partners, and consultant rosters. 

Support to office priority setting, planning and operations 

• Supports the smooth running of the daily operations of the entire CEED Team, which is globally dispersed across multiple timezones with respect to communications, meetings and work flow; identifies complex or sensitive subjects, and contacts, for special treatment as well as priority issues that need to be brought to the supervisor’s attention.
• Provides information and guidance to staff at all levels to ensure understanding of processes and deadlines.
• Support Team planning, including strategic reviews, travel plans and coordination, and administrative support requirements, calendar and meeting management
• Undertakes any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Executive Support & Correspondence Management for the CEED Director

• Maintains Director’s calendar and arranges meetings 
• Supports with organizing high-level meetings, including taking the lead for the  finalization of the meeting agenda, invitations, the production and distribution of documentation. Distribute meeting reports and information and ensure follows-up on required actions
• Organizes official travel for the Director
• Support Director’s office engagement activities, including the planning, coordination and execution of internal and external meetings and events. Support the preparation of agendas, presentations, briefing notes, and any other material required by the Director. 
• Follow-up on critical tasks requiring the Director’s action and/or approval, including correspondence with Offices of the ED/DED/Directors, and coordinating with staff members and other offices as required. Draft correspondence on a variety of matters on behalf of the Director. 
• Contribute to logistical arrangements for events involving senior management participation, working closely with the assistants of other Directors. 

The following minimum requirements:

• Completion of secondary education in public administration, finance, international relations, political science, or another relevant technical field is required.
• For this position, a bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a relevant field may replace three years of related work experience.
  * A master’s degree may replace additional two years is required.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 6 years of relevant administrative services, budget management, coordination or clerical work experience is required.
• Non-US candidates MUST be in possession of an existing US G4 visa or be a US permanent resident/citizen.
• Staff on stretch assignments holding G4 Visa in NYHQ are not eligible.

Desirables/Assets:

• Experience with UNICEF/UN is a strong asset.
• Training and experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other UNICEF software such as SAP/VISION, SharePoint; knowledge of integrated management information systems required.
• Knowledge of UNICEF administrative policies and procedures is an asset.
• Very strong organizational, planning and prioritizing skills and abilities.
• Well-developed sense of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to work proactively and independently under time pressure.
• Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with external partners.
• High sense of confidentiality, initiative and good judgment.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural background.

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:

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.