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For every child, the right to Health

How can you make a difference?

Are you a passionate expert in cold chain to support Supply Division procure the vaccines for the children? Please join us as one of the Technical specialist in the Infrastructure & Energy Centre, Cold Chain Unit.

The Technical Specialist (P-3) position is based in the Cold Chain Technical and Support Function of the Infrastructure and Energy Centre (IEC) and reports to the Technical Manager (P-4), who leads the sub-unit within the Centre.

As countries scale up vaccination programs, there is increasing emphasis on strengthening cold chain infrastructure to safeguard vaccine potency and to avoid costly losses due to temperature excursions or equipment failures. At the same time, new technologies are emerging that support the expansion and modernization of cold chain infrastructure in resource-limited settings, while simplifying processes and reducing investment risks.  

In addition, the Technical Specialist, in the best interest of the organization, will ensure continuity of critical technical specialist competencies within the unit.

Purpose for the job

Under the general guidance of the Technical Manager, the Technical Specialist (P-3):

• Ensures that the cold chain products procured through UNICEF comply with the latest standards and norms and are suitable and reliable for immunization programs.
• Provides technical advice and support for the supply, deployment and management of cold chain products for Procurement Services customers.
• Strengthens regional & country level capacities in planning, selecting, installing and maintaining cold chain products and supplies.
• Leads and represents UNICEF’s technical positions on cold chain technology and related initiatives with internal stakeholders and external partners.

This position contributes to UNICEF’s overall goal of supporting national immunization systems by ensuring that countries have access to reliable, high-performing, and appropriately selected cold chain technologies. By providing expert technical guidance, the role:

• Helps countries safeguard vaccine potency and prevent financial losses caused by cold chain failures.
• Supports effective and sustainable expansion of cold chain infrastructure, particularly in low-resource settings.
• Ensures UNICEF’s procurement and technical assistance are aligned with global norms, emerging technologies, and best practices.
• Enhances country readiness for the introduction of new vaccines and high-volume immunization activities.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Product Specification, Quality Assurance, and Market Intelligence 

Accountability: Ensure the quality, technical standards, and market intelligence of cold chain products to support procurement and program implementation.

Duties:

• Prepares, reviews and maintains product specifications for cold chain products. 
• Conducts technical adjudication of RFQ/ITB/RFPs on cold chain products. 
• Supports development of concept notes, technical bulletins, and market notes for the knowledge management portal to strengthen capacity in cold chain technology, its use and procurement planning. 

2. Technical Leadership and Representation on Cold Chain Technology

Accountability: Provide technical leadership and represent UNICEF on cold chain technology and related initiatives.

Duties:

• Takes the lead and represents UNICEF’s position on cold chain technology and projects assigned to the P3 Technical Specialist. 
• In partnership with internal and external partners, evaluates suppliers with respect to equipment and delivery performance.

3. Support to Procurement Services and Special Projects

Accountability: Provide technical expertise to support procurement processes and implementation of special cold chain projects.

Duties:

• Manages complex cold chain procurement projects in collaboration with contracting functions and UNICEF Country Offices.
• Supports Procurement Services by providing technical inputs for screening, tender preparation and evaluation of cold chain products and related services for project price quotations.

4. Capacity Strengthening and Knowledge Management

Accountability: Strengthen technical capacity and facilitate knowledge sharing related to cold chain technology and procurement.

Duties:

• Contributes to the development and dissemination of technical documents and facilitates knowledge sharing to strengthen country readiness, equipment selection, and sustainable cold chain expansion. 
• Contributes to strengthening country capacity in cold chain products through training and other modalities and supports priority training and capacity-building activities. 

5. Work Planning, Coordination, and Team Support

Accountability: Ensure effective planning, coordination, and performance management within the cold chain of technical functions.

Duties:

• Establishes work plans and priorities, monitors achievements and evaluates performance of support staff. 
• Performs any other duties or assignments as requested by the supervisor to support the effective functioning of the Cold Chain Technical and Support function sub-unit as well as the IEC. 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: TOR_Technical Specialist_134583.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Refrigeration Engineering, Medical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and/ or Mechatronic / Electromechanical Engineering is required.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of professional work experience including at least 3 at the international level in technical field of medical devices, particularly cold chain equipment, project management, health programming and/ or procurement. Technical knowledge of cold chain products such as Walk-in Cold/Freezer Rooms, Refrigerators/ Freezers, Refrigerated Vehicles, Cold Boxes, Vaccine Carriers and/ or Temperature Monitoring Systems, with associated experience with worldwide sources, suppliers and markets will be a requirement.
• Skills: Data Analysis, Planning and Monitoring, Technical Report Writing, Training Facilitation.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Project management, UN Experience, NGO Experience, Medical Devices, Health Technology
• 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

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, 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 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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).

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.