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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

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. Therefore, the focus on equity is 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.

UNICEF's supply and logistics headquarters - Supply Division - is located in Copenhagen, which is also home to the largest humanitarian warehouse in the world. About half of the 1000 colleagues are housed in Supply Division, Copenhagen with areas of expertise including logistics, procurement, warehouse management, product innovation, market insights, finance, pharma, nutrition, vaccines, cold chain and health technologies and engineering. Over 1000 colleagues work in the Supply Function across 97 countries and 173 offices and form the Supply Community.

With its partners, UNICEF reaches almost half of the world’s children every year with lifesaving vaccines. In over 100 countries, UNICEF work with governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and other United Nations (UN) agencies to engage communities, procure and distribute vaccines, keep supplies safe and effective, and help ensure affordable access for even the hardest-to-reach families. 

Procuring and distributing vaccines is only one facet of UNICEF Supply Division’s work. Ensuring that doses reach children and protect them from preventable diseases requires robust health systems. UNICEF actively invests in training community health workers and strengthening institutions. Besides, enhancing supply chains and data systems efforts collectively contribute to building resilient and efficient health systems worldwide.

Before launching immunization programmes, a fully functional Cold Chain system must be in place to ensure the proper receipt, storage, and delivery of vaccines. UNICEF Supply Division provides commercial and technical guidance to Country Offices and Procurement Service partners to support Cold Chain efforts, which aim to (1) deliver safe and potent vaccines to children and mothers, (2) reduce vaccine wastage and procurement costs for EPI programmes;(3) Minimize equipment downtime by ensuring adequate spare parts supply; (4) encourage countries to maintain comprehensive Cold Chain equipment inventories and (5) stay updated with new technologies and innovations in Cold Chain equipment.

All procurement of Cold Chain products is managed through UNICEF Supply Division. Eligible partners can use the Procurement Services mechanism to procure Cold Chain equipment effectively and efficiently.

How can you make a difference?

Under technical guidance of the Technical Specialist in the Cold Chain Unit, the incumbent establishes technical standards and guidelines for key programmatic cold chain commodities procured by UNICEF on behalf of UNICEF programmes and procurement services partners.

Under the supervision of a Technical Specialist, the following duties and responsibilities will be met:

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Tender Specification and Bid Evaluation Support: Assists in drafting and finalizing tender specifications and bid documents based on existing documents and guidelines and customer requirements.  Assists in consolidating bid offers for technical evaluations, conducts initial screenings, and follows up on clarifications, supports preparing bid summary results, and assists with drafting and reviewing of Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) and Purchase Orders (POs).
2. Data Analysis, Planning, and Database Management: Provides support for technical data analysis and planning activities, including assisting with needs assessments, site readiness reviews, and installation checklist evaluations. Maintains and updates technical databases, like the PQS, Material Master, and web catalogues, ensuring data accuracy and relevance to support procurement processes.
3. Website Content Management and Product Specification Updates: Maintains the content of the cold chain technical support website in collaboration with relevant technical experts and units, tracks and addresses clarification questions promptly ensures product specifications are up to date in the Material Master, and proposes the creation and amendment of materials related to cold chain commodities.
4. Product and Service Research, Optimization, and Documentation: Assists in researching and cataloging new products to meet the evolving needs of immunization programs, including electronic monitoring systems, localized procurement, installation, and maintenance services. Prepares and disseminates technical bulletins for publication.
5. Supplier Qualification Management: Supports the maintenance of technical profiles for qualified suppliers and assists in compiling lists of potential pre-qualified suppliers. Assists basic market research to gather information for tenders and provides administrative support to the Contracting team in facilitating purchasing actions.
6. Technical Screening of Requests: Assists in performing technical screenings of products and service requests using established templates and guidelines.
7. Complaint Management and Quality Assurance: Provides administrative and technical support for managing Cold Chain Complaints by coordinating with material owners, suppliers, and country offices/Ministries of Health. Utilizes the complaint management system to document and track complaint resolution processes. Assists in quality assurance activities conducted by the Cold Chain Unit (CCU), such as supporting administrative and technical tasks related to Post-Installation Inspections (PII), Pre-Delivery Inspections (PDI), and other initiatives aimed at improving the quality of products and services delivered to countries.
8. Other Duties: Performs additional tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

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

Required:

• Completion of secondary education
• *Technical diploma or vocational training in a relevant field, such as logistics, refrigeration, engineering or supply chain management.
• A minimum of six (6) years of relevant work experience in a commercial, industrial, or public-sector organization, with at least two (2) years of experience in cold chain logistics, equipment handling, or similar technical areas.
• Fluency in English
• Good customer service skills including the ability to communicate effectively, written and orally.

Ability to:

• Use all current job-related computer software, internet navigation and databases for market research.
• Keep abreast of technical developments, industrial practices, new markets, new programmes.
• Work independently, manage conflicting priorities and meet deadlines.
• Work in a team within a multi-cultural environment with respect for diversity.
• Develop and maintain effective work relationships with various offices, other UN agencies and NGO partners.
• Deliver quality work that is timely, complete and accurate with minimum supervision.

Note: *Completion of an advanced diploma or degree in a relevant field may be considered in lieu of two (2) years of the required experience, provided the candidate has at least four (4) years of relevant work experience.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of French.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://www.unicef.org/careers/getprepared#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 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.

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.

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

Visit us at www.unicef.org/supply/