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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, opportunities

Since 1950, UNICEF has supported the most important transformation for children and adolescents in Brazil. UNICEF Brazil with its main office in Brasília and nine field offices works in close partnership with national and sub-national governments, corporate partners, youth, and civil society organizations.

For information on the work of our organization in Brazil, please visit our website: UNICEF Brazil.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the Representative, you will be responsible for the execution of client services, and also for regularly supporting senior management in policy direction and design. You will develop original and innovative means to help advance the profession and also tackle highly complex HR matters that do not follow established patterns. It involves planning, organizing and supervising a team of 5 HR staff as well as for managing broad and complex projects.

This includes:

i. Management of the Human Resources Unit -   Monitor the HR Unit work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards. Establish clear individual performance objectives, goals and timelines; and provide timely guidance to enable the team to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently. Additionally, support the Chief of Section in establishing the annual work plan, setting priorities/targets and performance measurements.

ii. Technical HR leadership - provide guidance in HR specialty areas, ensuring staff compliance with principles, policies, regulations, and sound judgment. It also includes developing, implementing, and monitoring new HR policies and practices to meet organizational needs, formulating positions on HR policies, and determining the application of rules to sensitive cases with broader implications for HR systems and UNICEF.

iii. Business partnering - support clients on all aspects of their employment life cycle, advising on attracting, retaining, and motivating high-caliber staff, and providing accurate and timely HR process and policy advice. It also includes proactively resolving HR issues with equitable and transparent solutions, and promoting organizational goals for gender equity and cultural diversity.

iv. Strategic Human Resources  - liaise with HQ Divisions, regional, and country offices to support corporate HR strategy formulation and implementation, providing feedback on HR systems and policies, and recommending improvements. It includes researching and implementing best HR practices, contributing to global policy development, and sharing innovations. Additionally, it involves forecasting future HR requirements, identifying emerging trends, and designing optimal organizational structures and staffing levels in consultation with senior management.

v. Implementation of assigned Human Resources services - support various HR occupations, such as recruitment, job classification, career development, performance management, data analytics, and learning & development, to help supervisors implement efficient client services that attract, retain, and motivate high-caliber staff. It also includes analyzing and synthesizing issues, interpreting formal guidelines, and recommending solutions or further actions when handling routine or non-routine casework.

vi. Learning and Capacity Development - collaborate with business owners to design and deliver learning plans that enhance staff knowledge and skills, mapping competencies for staff to support talent pipeline development, and recommending cost-effective learning products to strengthen staff capacity. Participate in capacity-building initiatives, providing orientation briefings to new staff, and offering day-to-day performance and talent management guidance to line management.

vii. HR Data Analytics - interpret and analyze HR data to inform strategic decision-making on HR processes and strategies, develop data collection systems to optimize data quality, and coordinate with country offices and partners to assist in HR information management.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An Advanced University Degree (master’s) in human resource management, business management, international relations, psychology or another related field is required.
• Work Experience: Eight years of professional experience in human resource management in an international organization and/or large corporation is required.

• Skills:

• Proven experience managing a team.
• Ability to implement clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies, identify priority activities and assignments, adjust priorities as required.
• Experience and ability to help design and implement targeted and innovative human resources strategies to address clients’ people-related needs.
• Ability to help design and implement innovative HR programs within a fast paced, evolving, and wide organizational setting.
• Strong technical knowledge of the principles and concepts of human resources management.
• Capacity to adapt policies, approaches and models to meet emerging needs.
• Ability to identify and analyze systemic issues, formulate opinions and make conclusions and recommendations to resolve same.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a diverse organization tailoring language, tone, style and format to match audience.
• Ability to empathize with client managers, supervisors and staff while advocating for consistent and equitable applications of promulgated HR regulations and rules.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English. Proficient in Spanish and/or Portuguese. As the post will require a commitment to achieve fluency in Portuguese (if not already acquired).
• Desirables:

• Previous experience in Human Resources unit within the UN system.
• 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…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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 suitable afro-descendants, indigenous, and other minorities 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.

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.