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, Health

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among other things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves. 

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives -- being in good health, immunized, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food.
• Every child learns.
• Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. 

To learn more about UNICEF work in Pakistan, please visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan and videos on YouTube and Vimeo

Job organizational context:

As one of the longest-serving members of the international community in Afghanistan, UNICEF has a unique role to promote peace and stability for the country’s children. We continue to support the country's transition from decades of war and natural disasters so that children, adolescents, and women can access the services they need and fulfil their right to survival, development, protection, and participation.

In line with our mandate, we apply a gender lens to all of our work and support the Afghanistan National Development Strategy. 

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose for the job:

Under the supervision and guidance of the supervisor, the Administrative Associate GS 6 will be responsible for executing a broad variety of procedural and specialized administrative tasks within the Admin Unit for the outpost in Islamabad, UNICEF Country Office in Pakistan (PCO). This requires in-depth knowledge of UNICEF administrative procedures, processes, and policies.

The Administrative Associate GS-6 will be accountable for both specialized and procedural communications, operational and administrative support services.

Summary of key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Administrative support:

• Follow-up with PCO on the extension of MOU for ACO outpost office in Islamabad.
• Follow-up with PCO to submit the invoice for payment for the extended MOU between ACO and PCO once extended MOU will sign.
• Providing support to receive Laptop of ACO staff who separated or resigned from ACO and make arrangement to send them back to ACO Kabul to asset focal person.

2. Travel and protocol support: 

• Processing Note verbal, Proforma and Arrival Notification for Pakistan visa for all ACO staff who need Pakistan visa on meetings / missions, R&R connecting flights and medical evacuation etc.
• Received UNLPs from HQ (New York) for ACO staff and dispatched them to ACO Kabul through UNHAS flights and by hand with any traveler traveling from Islamabad to Kabul.

3. Communications & Workflow:

• Facilitates the communications and workflow of the organizational unit to enhance the efficiency and timeliness of operations and outputs.
• Communicates routine and some non-routine information pertaining to the work of the team.
• Establishes and maintains the office filing and reference systems, both traditional and digital (admin shared Point); and ensures the inter/intra-net websites are up to date and accurate.

4. Calendar/Meetings/Correspondence Management:

• Maintains the Admin Section office calendar and arranges meetings.
• Takes minutes of Admin meetings, ensuring accuracy, attention to detail and coherence. 

5. Invoice Processing:

• Processing the payments for all admin office related contracts (collecting invoices and filing documents for approval and thereafter submitting to the Afghanistan Country Office Business Support Center for processing and onward submission to the UNICEF Global shared services center).
• Uploads electronic files and verifies results to destination system.
• Responds to client transaction status and other inquiries.

6. Supplies/Equipment:

• Supports management of administrative supplies, office equipment, and updating inventory of items (Maintaining the operations store, receiving assets, stacking them, and releasing them as per the requirements and coordinates the asset movement with the inventory assistant and the user).
• Monitors and supervises adequate and appropriate use of supplies. Ensures that services and maintenance of premises are in accordance with organizational standards.

7. Facilities Management:

• Looking after day-to-day maintenance and repairs related to the office.

8. Assets Management:

• Assisting on the disposal of junk items, assets, and attractive items.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD - Administrative Associate, GS-6, Temporary Appointment

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the field of work.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 6 years of relevant administrative or clerical work experience is required.
• A bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a relevant field may replace three years of related work experience. A master’s degree may replace an additional two years.

Skills:

• Training and experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other UNICEF software such as SharePoint; knowledge of integrated management information systems required.
• In-depth knowledge of UNICEF organizational structure, administrative policies, and procedures.
• Organizational, planning, and prioritizing skills and abilities.
• Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with visitors.
• High sense of confidentiality, initiative, and good judgment.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to work in a team environment to achieve common goals and to provide guidance to more junior support staff.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Arabic, Chinese, English, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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 is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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

[CO/ HQ specific: 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.