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, an advocate

Since 1950, UNICEF has supported the most important transformation for children and adolescents in Brazil. Through its main office in Brasília and nine field offices, UNICEF Brazil works in close partnership with national and sub-national governments, corporate partners, youth, and civil society organizations. For information of the work of our organization in Brazil, please visit our website: UNICEF Brazil  

How can you make a difference? 

UNICEF Brazil is seeking to leverage and mobilize resources for children through strategic partnerships in the public and private sector as well as through emerging opportunities of innovative financing for children including in the areas of climate change. Strategic partnerships with IDB, the World Bank, CAF and other IFIs is also sought in this regard.

Under the general guidance of the Representative, this role includes the following responsibilities:

1. Lead and manage strategic outreach: Be responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with key member states and other stakeholders. By identifying new opportunities for collaboration, you will position UNICEF as a key player in both the public and private sectors. This involves close coordination with the Programme Group, Communications, and PFP sections to ensure alignment with UNICEF’s partnership strategy and resource mobilization efforts in Brazil.
2. Guide team performance and work plans: Oversee the development of team members by setting clear performance objectives and ensuring timely guidance. This includes managing work plans to deliver results that are aligned with UNICEF’s strategy, on schedule, and within budget. Create a positive and productive environment that allows the team to perform at its best, ensuring that performance standards are met.
3. Environmental scanning and knowledge sharing: A critical part of the role will be to scan the external environment for risks and opportunities related to partnerships. Actively monitor trends and share relevant information with internal teams, ensuring that UNICEF remains agile and responsive to changes. This proactive approach will help identify areas for growth and mitigate potential risks to UNICEF’s ongoing initiatives.
4. Support for senior management engagement: Provide strategic and logistical support for senior leadership, particularly when engaging with partners, including member states and other UN agencies to ensure that UNICEF’s perspectives and priorities are considered in inter-agency platforms, strengthening our influence in key policy discussions. This involves preparing briefings and reports, as well as ensuring consistent follow-up on action points.
5. Expand UNICEF's network: Build and maintain deep relationships with governments, UN entities, financial institutions, foundations, and civil society organizations. By expanding UNICEF's network of interlocutors, help deepen the organization’s reach and effectiveness, leveraging these relationships to enhance our policy advocacy and partnership-building efforts.
6. Strategic communications and advocacy: Contribute to the development of communications and advocacy products designed to enhance UNICEF’s visibility and influence. By analyzing trends and providing recommendations, ensure that UNICEF’s outreach and engagement strategies are effective. This includes working closely with program teams to ensure that advocacy messages are informed by on-the-ground insights from UNICEF’s work.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education - An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, or another relevant technical field. 
• Experience – i) A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in external relations, public affairs, or international development cooperation, preferably within the UN, or in a government institution, is required.  ii) Experience working in other organizations (government, UN, and NGO) in a coordination capacity. iv) Proven ability to effectively lead a team to deliver results is required.
• Language - Fluency in English. Proficient in Spanish and/or Portuguese. As the post will require a commitment to achieve fluency in Portuguese in a short period (if not already acquired).

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 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

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 afro-descendants, indigenous, LGBTQIA+ and other minorities 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.

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

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.