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 a Future

UNICEF Mexico is strengthening its territorial presence in the Western region through a multifunctional office based in Guadalajara, covering Jalisco, Michoacán and Guanajuato under the One Office approach. The region combines significant programme priorities, particularly around violence affecting children and adolescents, with strategic opportunities for advocacy, visibility, partnerships and private sector engagement. As the duty station for several temporary positions move from Morelia to Guadalajara, the Field Support Specialist will support the consolidation of UNICEF’s presence in the Western region and contribute to coordinated engagement with state authorities, municipalities, civil society, academia, media, influencers, culture and sports actors, business networks and other key stakeholders. 

For more information related to the work of our office in Mexico, please visit our website: UNICEF Mexico, our commitments for a six‑year term for children: A good six-year term for children: Un buen sexenio para la niñez or read our Annual Report 2024 - UNICEF México. 

How can you make a difference?

While the Chief Field Office (NO-3) in Guadalajara will be accountable for leading and managing the total programme commitment of the field office, this temporary Field Support Specialist (NO-3) role will assume selected coordination, representation and integration functions during the transition period, within delegated authority and under the guidance of the Representative. The incumbent will help ensure continuity of UNICEF’s engagement in the Western region, support integrated territorial planning, facilitate coordination across Programmes, Communications, Private Fundraising and Partnerships, Operations and Security, and contribute to documenting evidence, risks, opportunities and promising practices to inform national policy dialogue and programme adaptation.

Under the guidance of the Representative (D-1), and, in close coordination with the Deputy Representative (P-5) and the Deputy Representative Operations (P-5), the Field Support Specialist (NO-3) is accountable for supporting UNICEF Mexico’s programme presence and territorial coordination in the Western region, based in Guadalajara and covering Jalisco, Michoacán and Guanajuato. During the transition period and until the Chief Field Office (NO-3) post in Guadalajara is recruited, the incumbent will assume selected field-office coordination, representation and integration functions similar to those expected from the Chief Field Office, within delegated authority and without changing the temporary nature of this assignment. 

The Field Support Specialist will represent UNICEF in selected meetings and events in the Western region, support strategic engagement with state and municipal authorities, and act as a territorial integrator for the One Office approach, ensuring coherent collaboration among programme sections and field-based personnel, as well as with Communications, Private Fundraising and Partnerships, Operations and Security. The position will also maintain strong engagement in Michoacán, while supporting the consolidation of UNICEF’s presence in Guadalajara and contributing to the broader Western regional agenda. 

This is a national position of temporary nature, therefore, only candidates with Mexican citizenship may be considered. The expected end date of the contract is February 2027. 

Key functions and responsibilities:

1. Support UNICEF’s presence and territorial coordination in the Western region
2. Support integrated programme planning, monitoring and knowledge management  
3. Support partnerships, advocacy, visibility and resource-mobilization opportunities in the Western region 
4. Support the transition to a Guadalajara-based office presence while maintaining continuity in Michoacán

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Terms of reference here:  ToR_Field Support Specialist, (NO-3), Guadalajara, Mexico.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A completed advanced university degree (Master`s degree or equivalent), preferably, in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, international relations, public administration, government, and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field. 
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of professional work experience supporting field office coordination, territorial planning or integrated programme delivery across multiple functions is required.
  Experience supervising teams is required.
• Skills: Strategic thinking as well as political and contextual sensitivity are required.  
  Strong coordination and integration skills, experience in subnational advocacy is required.
• Language Requirements: Proficiency in both English and Spanish is required.

Desirables:

• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder partnerships, advocacy, communications, resource mobilization or visibility initiatives at subnational level is an asset.
• 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

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.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children's data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to 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. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from indigenous groups 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.