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 care.

How can you make a difference?

The Rwanda Medical Suppliers (RMS) is implementing the Construction of a Modern Medical Warehouse and Administration Block within the Kigali Special Economic Zone, Masoro. The project comprises a modern pharmaceutical warehouse/distribution center, cold room block, and an RMS Head Office.

UNICEF is supporting this initiative by providing a technical assistance to RMS for (1) the assessment, planning, design finalization, technical specification, procurement support, installation oversight, testing, commissioning and operational readiness of the cold chain facilities at the RMS Modern Medical Warehouse, and (2) review and improve the RMS’s existing cold room maintenance contracts. The consultant shall ensure that the proposed cold rooms, freezer facilities and associated monitoring and control systems are adequately designed and integrated into the warehouse infrastructure and meet RMS's current and reasonably projected operational requirements.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  ToR TMC0005676.pdf

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

(Qualifications/Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills)

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in: one of the following or a closely related field: Refrigeration Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Thermal Engineering; HVAC Engineering; Energy Engineering; or another relevant engineering discipline.
• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field combined with extensive specialized cold chain experience may be accepted.
• Professional certification or specialized training in refrigeration, pharmaceutical/medical cold chain, HVAC, energy systems or temperature-controlled storage shall be an added advantage.

Work Experience:

• 10 years of relevant professional experience in refrigeration, cold-chain or temperature-controlled storage systems;
• At least 7 years of specific experience in the design, specification or implementation of industrial or pharmaceutical cold rooms and freezer systems;
• Demonstrated experience with pharmaceutical, vaccine, medical supply or other highly regulated temperature-controlled storage facilities;
• Demonstrated experience in cooling load calculations and refrigeration system selection;
• Experience in electrical and backup power requirements for critical refrigeration systems;
• Experience with continuous temperature monitoring, data logging, alarms and telemetry;
• Experience in preparing technical specifications and procurement documentation;
• Experience in reviewing refrigeration contractor designs and technical submittals;
• Experience in installation supervision, testing and commissioning of cold rooms/freezers; and
• Experience working in developing-country or African contexts shall be an advantage.
• Experience in large pharmaceutical warehouses, national medical stores, central medical warehouses, vaccine stores or health commodity distribution centres shall be highly desirable

Language Requirements:

•  English is required, French would be an asset

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of refrigeration engineering;
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical cold-chain requirements;
• Knowledge of Good Storage and Distribution Practices;
• Ability to undertake cold-storage capacity assessments;
• Ability to review refrigeration load calculations;
• Knowledge of energy-efficient refrigeration technologies;
• Knowledge of refrigerant safety and environmental considerations;
• Knowledge of cold-chain telemetry and environmental monitoring systems;
• Strong multidisciplinary coordination skills;
• Ability to work with architects, civil engineers, electrical engineers and MEP teams;
• Strong technical report writing skills;
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.

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

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 reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template)  Financial proposal template - TMC0005676.xlsx