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, hope 

Guinea is a lower-middle-income country facing significant challenges in child development and deprivation. According to the latest Human Development Index (HDI) report, Guinea has an Human Development Index of 0.480, ranking 178th out of 191 countries in 2023, reflecting its ongoing struggle with poverty and social development challenges. Since 1984, UNICEF has worked with the government and various partners, including UN agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations, to improve conditions for children. 

The population of Guinea is projected to be around 15.2 million in 2025, with 63.4% living in rural areas and women comprising approximately 50.3% of the population. The annual growth rate remains steady at about 2.8%. Children under the age of 18 account for roughly 51% of the population, underscoring the critical need for child-focused interventions in areas such as health, education, and protection (World Population Review). 

The vision of the 2024-2028 country programme is: "A Guinea where children, especially adolescent girls and children from the most vulnerable families in the most disadvantaged geographical areas, have equitable opportunities for sustainable access to essential social services and quality social protection, and can reach their full potential, including in a context of climate-related vulnerabilities and emergencies". 

Currently, Guinea faces several humanitarian and emergency situations with multiple health crises, including outbreaks of diseases such as poliovirus, diphtheria, yellow fever, and Lassa fever. The country is particularly vulnerable to health shocks due to weak healthcare infrastructure. In addition, the country faces regularly natural disasters, such as flooding, which displace populations, damage infrastructure, and exacerbate the already challenging humanitarian conditions. These ongoing challenges necessitate continued support and local resilience-building measures to mitigate their impact on the population. 

The UNICEF Guinea office is looking for committed and creative professionals to make a lasting difference for Guinean children. 

 

Purpose for the job:

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative (Operations), the incumbent undertakes administrative management support services in a country office. The incumbent assists in ensuring efficient and cost-effective administrative support services, providing guidance to administrative staff as well as supporting staff in Conakry Office administrative assignments. The incumbent ensures that the office’s administrative operations and services are in compliance with the organization's administrative policies, procedures, rules and regulations.

 

How can you make a difference? 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS 

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primary, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

 

1.Appropriate and consistent interpretation and application of administrative policy and procedures timely implemented to support operations at the country or sub-country levels.

・Provides practical input on implementation of administrative guidelines, in close coordination with the head of office, operation staff/ supervisor.

・Supports supervisor and the head of the office, and updates staff on administrative policies, procedures rules and regulation.  Implements the appropriate application and interpretation of administrative rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Briefs and assists arriving and departing staff on basic administrative procedures and requirements. 

・Contributes to recommendations on the improvement of internal controls systems considering the prevailing conditions in the locality.

・Keeps supervisor abreast of potential problem areas, prepares reports on administrative matters as required.

・Provides administrative support and services to zone offices and out postings, where applicable, including preparation and funding of service contracts, preparations of PGMs for all admin supplies and guidance on administrative procedures.

 

2. The budget preparation and implementation are properly administered in administrative management and services.

・Assists supervisor in preparing estimates on office premises, supplies and equipment requirements for budget preparation purposes. Assists zone offices in the establishment and maintenance of administrative services and the administrative budget.                                    

 

3. Operations of delivery of administrative support services are timely and effectively provided, and security arrangements are well established for enhanced safety and security.

・Assists the Deputy Representative for Operations in the establishment and maintenance security arrangements and related administrative services.

 

4. Property management of administrative supplies assistance ensures, office equipment, vehicles and other properties is effectively maintained.

・Supports management of administrative supplies, office equipment and vehicles, updating inventory of items, serving as ex-officio member to the Property Survey Board where applicable.

・Assists supervisor in Property Survey Board submissions, preparing minutes of meetings.

・Assists supervisor in executing PSB recommendations approved by the Head of Office.

・Monitors and supervises adequate and appropriate use of supplies. Ensures that services and maintenance of premises are in accordance with organizational standards.

 

5. All administrative transactions and arrangements of contracts satisfy the requirements as stipulated and are in compliance with the applicable policies, procedures, rules and regulations.

Ensures that all administrative transactions and arrangements of contracts are in compliance with the applicable policies, procedures, rules and regulations.

・Contributes to the reviews of contractual arrangements related to administrative support (i.e. courier, premises maintenance, ancillary administrative support, vehicle maintenance, equipment maintenance etc.) to ensure that the terms and conditions of all contracts are being adhered to by providers of goods and services. Proposes to supervisor any changes that may be required. 

・Monitors payments against contractual obligations.

 

6. Staff learning and development

・Develops training activities to ensure effective performance and efficiency in admin services management. Implements effective staff learning and development programme activities for capacity building. Contributes to workshops for staff’s competency building, staff learning and development, career development.

 

7. Partnership, coordination and collaboration

・Support effective working relations with other agencies, local authorities and implementing partners on issues relating to administrative matters through information exchange, collaboration, and harmonization. Cooperates with other UN agency counterparts in the UN reform initiatives (including common services and premises agenda, etc.).

 

8. Performs any other duties and responsibilities assigned as required.

 

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

Education:

Completion of Secondary School, University level courses in administration, finance, or any other related field of discipline relevant to the job is an asset.

 

Experience:

7 years of relevant professional work experience with both national and international work experience in office management, administration, finance, accounting, ICT, human resources, supply or any other relevant function.

Work experience in emergency duty station.

 

Language Requirements:

Fluency in French is required; knowledge of English or another UN language is an asset.

Applicants who have already applied for this post need not to apply again

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 and candidates with disabilities 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. 

 

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.