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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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Champion

How can you make a difference?

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.

Recognizing the threat to children’s rights posed by climate change and environmental degradation, UNICEF is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its global operations by 45% by 2030 in-line with the UN Climate Action Plan and the UN Strategy for Sustainability Management in the UN System 2020-2030, through reducing greenhouse gas emissions from facilities, air travel, vehicle fleets and through reductions in water consumption, paper use, single-use plastic, and waste.

Sustainability has been formally endorsed as a core organizational value, reaffirming UNICEF’s commitment to operating in an environmentally responsible, inclusive, and accessible manner. It reflects our shared belief in the importance of environmental responsibility in the way we work to support a sustainable future for every child.

In alignment with our commitment, UNICEF launched its Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP) 2023 - 2030, striving to mainstream sustainability via SCAP Objective 3: reduce emissions and environmental footprint within UNICEF, support its global network of partners to do the same, and advocate for the fulfilment of ambitious international sustainability and climate change agreements

Job organizational context

Under the supervision of the Administrative Manager, Eco-Efficiency, in DFAM’s Field Strategy and Support Unit, the Administrative Specialist (Environmental) will support the integration of sustainability across UNICEF operations by contributing to policies, guiding UNICEF offices on environmental reporting, and greenhouse gas (GHG) data, and driving performance improvements. S/he will also support SCAP implementation, sustainability initiatives, target setting, and capacity building, while contributing to the broader organizational agenda of sustainability.

Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:

1. Provide support to ensure that sustainability objectives, principles, metrics, and indicators are integrated into the office management plans across global offices.
2. Support the shaping and development of organizational policies and guidance related to sustainability, and the SCAP implementation.
3. Provide guidance to all UNICEF offices on the environmental inventory process, and data review of GHG emissions and resource consumption from facilities and operations (electricity, air travel, vehicle fuel use, water and waste) to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with reporting standards.
4. Enhance environmental performance using reporting outcomes to identify areas for improvements in GHG emissions, waste, water and wastewater as well as sustainability management, and environmental governance in line with global best practices.
5. Support the ongoing Sustainability Assessment and Science-Based Targets development and operationalization of targets.
6. Organize and deliver trainings, presentations and workshops that focus on promoting UNICEF’s sustainability objectives and guide offices on their critical role to mainstream the UNICEF environmental sustainability agenda.
7. Support ongoing sustainability initiatives, smart energy monitoring, green building certifications, and eco-efficiency projects implementation across UNICEF facilities.
8. Promote knowledge sharing and innovation, through effective capacity building for internal and external stakeholders.
9. Actively participate in internal and external meetings, contributing insights to discussions pertaining to UNICEF’s environmental sustainability agenda.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Administrative Specialist (Environmental)_P3

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Sustainability and any other related fields.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience at both national and/or international level with specific experience in environmental impact assessment, sustainability policy/ social safeguards, and projects implementation to reduce emissions is required.
• Skills: 

Demonstrated experience implementing sustainability initiatives, innovation, risk assessment, data analysis and making recommendations to inform policies, improve sustainability and compliance.

Demonstrated technical knowledge of environmental issues and sustainability strategies including decarbonization, net-zero and renewable energy.

• Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Proficiency in sustainability/environmental reporting tools, and database management is an asset. 
• Active participation in professional organizations leading sustainability initiatives is an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

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

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 promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates 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.
The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member's original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

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.