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, dedication

Nestled in the heart of the Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a hidden gem that offers a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and warm hospitality. The country's breathtaking landscapes range from the rolling hills and deep forests of central Bosnia to the stunning Dinaric Alps and pristine rivers like the emerald-green Neretva. The charming old town of Mostar, with its iconic Stari Most bridge, and the vibrant capital city of Sarajevo, known for its multicultural heritage and historic sites, provide a captivating mix of past and present. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, one can enjoy a relaxed lifestyle with access to unspoiled nature and a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and river rafting, making it a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. Sarajevo is easily accessible from several major international travel hubs, and offers a good choice of international schools, all of which making it a pleasant family duty station. 

Beyond its natural allure, Bosnia and Herzegovina is celebrated for its strong sense of community and rich cultural tapestry. Known for its hospitality, newcomers are welcomed with open arms to share stories over a cup of strong Bosnian coffee. The country’s diverse culinary scene, influenced by Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Mediterranean cuisines, offers a feast for the senses with dishes like cevapi, burek, and baklava. However, the country also faces significant political challenges that complicate efforts to strengthen its systems and support efforts related to the ongoing migrant crisis. Bosnia and Herzegovina's complex political structure, characterized by a decentralized government created following the Dayton Agreement, makes implementing nationwide reforms and system improvements difficult, as the different ethnic groups and political entities may have conflicting interests. Nonetheless, the resilience and determination of its people, along with the country's ongoing efforts to join the European Union, provide hope for overcoming these challenges and continuing to build a brighter future for its children.

How can you make a difference? 

Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Office is looking for someone who is excited by challenges and who wants to achieve meaningful and tangible results for children. The Deputy Representative is a pivotal role within the Senior Management Team, ensuring the optimal use of UNICEF resources in line with strategic management practices and office goals. This role involves not only supporting the Head of Office in managing programs but also offering innovative management advice to boost office performance. As a key figure, you will lead a dedicated team of approximately 34 staff members, driving change and providing risk-informed, solution-oriented analysis and innovation. Your leadership will be crucial in navigating the complexities of the current and upcoming Country Programme Documents (CPD) for 2026-2030.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. CO programme planning and development
2. Support to the Representative on managing the CO
3. Monitoring and quality control of programmes
4. Alliance building and UN System coordination
5. Private Sector Engagement and Partnerships
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

You will: 

• Lead by example and support the Head of Office on managing the office by providing advice on best and innovative programming and management practices to enhance programming and operations.
• Lead on Country Office programme planning and development, including providing key contributions to CPD, CPMP, AMP and while working with the Regional Office regarding any needs for technical support
• Ensure high quality delivery of programmes by monitoring and evaluating to identify weaknesses, bottlenecks and potential problems and to provide solutions
• Participate in alliance-building and UN-System Coordination through active engagement with the UNCT to strengthen UN system interagency coherence, collaboration, and cooperation in programming
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with government institutions, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia to advocate UNICEF goals to advance child’s right to survival, development and good being, mobilize resources, seek cooperation and establish alliances
• Lead on engagement with the business and public sectors to build partnerships supporting the achievement of programmatic results
• Support best practices and ensure a lessons-learned approach within the Country Office that promotes ongoing learning and development, a growth-mindset, and gives the skills needed for the CO to adapt to change and create opportunities for innovation

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  GJP - Deputy Representative Level 4.doc

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education:
  • An Advanced University Degree (Master’s and above) in one of the following areas is required: social sciences, international relations, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.
• Work Experience:
  • A minimum of eight years of professional development experience that combines technical and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level, some of which served in a developing country is required. Relevant professional experience in any UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
  • Prior experience in a humanitarian/emergency context, within the UN system or with international NGOs would be an asset.
• Language Requirements: 
  • Fluency in English is required

Skills:

• Previous hands-on experience in strategic and managerial leadership is required
• Solid experience in managing complex programmatic activities that combine both humanitarian and development components in lower to middle-income contexts
• Excellent planning and analytical skills that can identify new opportunities and build on UNICEF’s value proposition in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Well-developed ability to think ‘outside the box’ and support innovation for the office
• Ability to manage a large team that is client focused and able to deliver to diverse stakeholder groups
• Excellent leadership skills that maximize the strengths of the team towards achievement of results
• Experience in supporting culture change, psychological safety, and a positive work environment
• Prior experience in the Balkans or in a post-conflict setting is an asset

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
• Language: Knowledge of Russian is desirable.  Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Country Typology:

• Country Income Level: Bosnia and Herzegovina is a Lower-Middle Income country.
• Duty Station: Sarajevo is a “B”, family, and non-emergency duty station.
• Office Size: 34 staff
• Annual Budget 2024: US$ 9,490,211
• Schooling: Six international schools, many offering the IB programme
• Good for 1st time Deputy Representative: Yes.

Brief country context:

Post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina is a middle-income country that continues to grapple with deep-seated ethnic tensions and political fragmentation stemming from the 1992-1995 Bosnian War. These issues are compounded by the impact of the migrant crisis, as the country has become a transit route for thousands of migrants seeking to reach Western Europe. The influx has strained the already fragile social and economic systems, leading to challenges in providing adequate housing, healthcare, and support services for migrants. Additionally, the crisis has heightened political tensions and challenged governance and coordination among the country's various entities. Despite these difficulties, Bosnia and Herzegovina's ongoing efforts to stabilize and integrate into the European Union offer a path towards addressing these complex issues and fostering a more cohesive and resilient society.

The country has adopted ambitious development plans which focus on legislative, economic, and social reforms aimed at developing human capital and economic prosperity, particularly related improved public sector performance and governance, specifically in health, education, and human rights. Given the operational complexity and high-level engagement with the Government, the Deputy Representative Programms will play a critical role in ensuring smooth support to the Office. 16 UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes comprise the UN Country Team in BiH, chaired by the United Nations Resident Coordinator.

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.

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 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.

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.