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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.

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. This is why the focus on equity is so 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.

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

For every child, the right to Support

UNICEF has been working in Lao PDR continuously since 1973. As one of the longest-serving international organizations in the country, we implement one of UNICEF’s largest country programmes worldwide, working tirelessly to promote the rights of children and women and to bring basic services education, health, nutrition, protection, water and sanitation - to those who are most in need.

More than 70 dedicated staff members work to make positive and lasting changes for Lao PDR's most vulnerable children – and to ensure they remain a priority for the international community.

UNICEF works to promote and protect the rights of children and women in Lao PDR. More information on what we do in Lao PDR is available at https://www.unicef.org/laos/.

How can you make a difference?

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Vientiane, Lao PDR, requires an experienced and qualified Lao National to fill the post of Driver (Fix term appointment), at GS2 level to be based in UNICEF Country Office in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

The Purpose and Key functions/accountabilities include:

• The Driver provides reliable and safe driving services while ensuring compliance with local traffic rules and UNICEF protocols. 
• Drivers are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism, discretion, integrity, adaptability and protocol awareness.  They are also expected to support administrative tasks and engage in self-directed learning during non-driving periods.
• The Driver demonstrates a client-oriented approach, courtesy, tact, a high sense of responsibility, and the ability to work effectively with people of diverse national and cultural backgrounds.

Key functions/accountabilities:

1. Safe and Reliable Driving Services
2. Routine Vehicle Care, Maintenance and Readiness
3. Use of Digital Tools and Tracking Systems
4. Trip Documentation and Reporting
5. Communication and Emergency Readiness
6. Support Office Operations During Idle Periods

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Job Description_Driver (G2).pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A secondary education is required, along with a valid driver’s license and knowledge of local driving rules and regulations.
• Work Experience: Minimum two years of work experience as a driver in an international organization, embassy or UN system with a safe driving record is required.
• Skills: A driver’s license and Safe driving record is a must. Experience in vehicle maintenance is required. Processing of official documents and administration is needed. Knowledge of local roads and defensive driving is needed.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in Lao language is required. Intermediate English is required.

Desirables:

• Motorcycle driving is an asset.
• Experience in airport protocol and customs procedures is an asset.
• International organization experience is a benefit.
• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language

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

Core Competencies for Staff without Supervisory Responsibilities

(1) Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)

(2) Works Collaboratively with others (1)

(3) Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)

(4) Innovates and Embraces Change (1)

(5) Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)

(6) Drive to achieve impactful results (1)

(7) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of misconduct. 

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable. Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks. 

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.

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.

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.