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 health

Under the supervision of Health Specialist, the Health Officer (Maternal, Newborn and Child Health) will lead and coordinate initiatives to strengthen emergency obstetric and newborn care (EMONC), particularly neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) services in UNICEF-supported provinces; improve delivery of quality MNCH services in urban settings for young mothers, caregivers and the urban poor; and liaise with national partners to align MNCH service delivery with national standards and UNICEF priorities. This is a Temporary Appointment contract for 364 days.

How can you make a difference? 

1. Support to programme development and planning
- Contribute to strategic planning: Provide technical inputs to national and provincial MNCH strategies, ensuring EMONC and NICU strengthening, urban MNCH and equity for young mothers are reflected in programme priorities.
- Design programme proposals: Draft concept notes, project documents and budget lines for NICU/EMONC and urban MNCH initiatives, aligning proposals with national policies and UNICEF priorities.
- Needs and context analysis: Lead rapid assessments and situational analysis to identify gaps in NICU capacity, urban service coverage and barriers faced by young mothers and the urban poor.
- Risk and sustainability planning: Identify programme risks and propose mitigation measures; embed sustainability and government ownership in programme design.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
- Plan and manage activities: Develop workplans, timelines and resource requirements for EMONC, NICU and urban MNCH interventions; track implementation against milestones.
- Results monitoring: Establish and maintain indicators and monitoring frameworks for clinical quality, service coverage and equity; ensure timely data collection and use for adaptive management.
- Reporting and accountability: Prepare regular technical and financial progress reports for UNICEF management, donors and partners; ensure deliverables meet quality standards and contractual obligations.
- Performance management: Support supervision, performance reviews and corrective actions for programme staff and implementing partners to ensure delivery of agreed results.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
- Clinical and operational guidance: Provide hands‑on technical guidance on EMONC, neonatal intensive care, infection prevention and control, and respectful maternity care; adapt clinical protocols to local contexts.
- Capacity strengthening: Design and deliver training curricula, on‑the‑job mentoring and clinical coaching for NICU teams, midwives and frontline health workers.
- Quality improvement: Lead quality assurance activities including clinical audits, standard operating procedures, equipment maintenance plans and referral pathway strengthening.
- Logistics and procurement support: Advise on essential neonatal equipment, consumables and maintenance needs; coordinate with supply and operations teams to ensure timely availability.

4. Network and partnership building
- Develop and maintain monitoring frameworks and contribute to regular progress reports and donor deliverables.
- Document lessons learned and best practices; support dissemination through workshops and knowledge products.
- Contribute to evidence generation by supporting operational research or programme evaluations as required

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR TA NOB Health Officer MNCH TMS.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

- Medical doctor or hold a bachelor’s degree in public health, hospital management, epidemiology or related discipline. Having a master’s degree is an advantage.
- Minimum 2 years of progressively responsible experience in maternal, newborn and child health programming, health facility management or health system strengthening.
- Experience liaising with government health authorities, professional bodies and development partners.
- Prior experience in capacity building, clinical mentoring and quality improvement is essential
- Fluency in English and Bahasa Indonesia.

Skills and Competencies
- Proven ability to design and implement programme interventions and to translate clinical guidance into operational plans.
- Excellent coordination, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Strong analytical skills and experience with monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with health information systems.

Desirables:

- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts
- Demonstrated experience working on urban health interventions and with vulnerable populations.
- Strong technical knowledge of EMONC, neonatal intensive care and MNCH service delivery.

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…

(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, in line with applicable organizational measures. Candidates selected for appointment are required to formally confirm their willingness to comply with any current or future vaccination requirements mandated by UNICEF, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, may result in the cancellation of the selection or other administrative measures including separation from service.

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. 

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.

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.