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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Results

The incumbent is responsible for supporting the coordination, management and planning activities in a systematic and organized manner; managing an effective system for incoming information, including correspondence, decision memos and other institutional documents that together constitute an important part of the organization's archive; and lastly, drafting the work plans, annual reports, correspondence and other planning documents pertaining to the goals of the team.

How can you make a difference?

The key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks of this position are as follow : 

1) Support to office priority setting and decision making

• Ensure that high-level visitors are appropriately addressed, that they receive background information as  necessary, and that protocol is respected.
• Contribute to coordinating drafts of position papers and other documents relevant to the activities of the office.
• Accompany the supervisor to meetings and on missions in order to prepare notes on the discussions, ensure follow-up in matters raised, and support the supervisor with any relevant input.
• Ensure that the supervisor is prepared for meetings and missions by drafting talking points and by researching relevant information; and by establishing contacts (within and outside UNICEF) on the subject matters to be discussed.
• Confer with section/division Heads to secure timely and authoritative information relevant to matters requiring action, decisions or approval of the supervisor.
• Handle all protocol related matters duly by performing a primary liaison role with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), line ministries and other state institutions.
• Assist in managing the flow of information to the supervisor, in identifying priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the supervisor and in proposing actions; analyze supporting documentation and summarize most relevant points for the supervisor; contribute to ensuring that appropriate action is taken by responsible section/division heads on matters brought to the attention of the supervisor.
• Develop and maintain a monitoring system to store, retrieve and track critical correspondence, decisions, memoranda and other documents of the office.

2) Support to office planning and operations

• Research, collect and synthesize qualitative and quantitative information and data to support the establishment of comprehensive and evidence-based information for developing annual work-plans.
• Collect, draft and/or organize materials and related documentations for office strategies to ensure optimum impact, scale and sustainability of achievements/results.
• Assess and/or recommend appropriate information and materials for office initiatives verifying accuracy and quality for dissemination.

3) Support to events, meetings and conferences

• Prepares, distributes and maintains office event calendars ensuring key organisational and partner events, priorities and deadlines are reflected and updated as required.
• Contribute to preparations of logistics for events involving senior management participation. By participating in such meetings, follow up on the implementation of recommendations and actions by the relevant offices.
• Coordinate preparation of background documents and material for these meetings.

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

a) Education:

• A university degree is required in International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, or another relevant technical field.

b) Experience:

• A minimum of two years of relevant professional work experience in external relations, public affairs or international development cooperation, preferably within the UN, or in a government institution, NGO.

• Prior experience of working in coordination, planning, or in an executive office will be an asset.

c) 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, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

• 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)

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable people with disabilities 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.

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.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

This position is based in Kyiv and the incumbent will be expected be work on-site. However, depending on the security conditions and advisory, s/he will be required to relocate within Ukraine.