UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save childrenโs 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 โ 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
How can you make a difference?
Job Organizational Context
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does โ in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to childrenโs rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life โ in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions โ her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a societyโs most disadvantaged citizens โ addressing inequity โ not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
The Division of People and Culture (DPC) acts as an enabler to the change strategies and ongoing transformation initiatives of UNICEF in line with the Global OneHR Strategy and Delivery Model to achieve results for children. Accordingly, DPC priorities are aligned to support UNICEFโs strategic plan, specifically to foster a โdynamic workforce and an organizational culture that is people-centeredโ, one of the key focus areas of the OneHR Strategy.
DPC is leading and supporting various Organizational change processes across the organization, including the Global Recruitment Ringfencing Exercise (GRRE) related to the Future Focus Initiative (FFI), the centralizing of global recruitments and support to staff on abolished posts which continue to be, DPC priorities. Being a key change management exercise, it is important toย ย ensure that staff and stakeholders understand the vision, priorities of these changes and how it will be achieved and are meaningfully engaged throughout the transformation.ย
The Project Officer will be working under the guidance of the Associate Director People in Humanitarian Action, DPC and plays a pivotal role in supporting the coordination and implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the Global Ringfencing They will support the Coordination teamย as identified with the facilitation of work teams to bring momentum to the design and implementation of initiatives /projects, liaising with teams, stakeholders and maintaining effective linkages with other relevant functional units both in DPC and , UNICEF
Key Functions, Accountabilities and Duties:
Support the Associate Director and the team in setting and perusing key strategic and change objectives related to Global Recruitment Ringfencing Exercise and the Coordination team Support the Associate Director and key stakeholders with effective work planning, prioritizing, coordinating and monitoring of key initiatives/projects related to the implementation of Global Recruitment Ringfencing Exercise in line with the objectives set. Support engagement with the Governance Body overseeing the exercise, approving key elements including, inclusion of panel members, approving the transition of recruitment processes to the key phases and review of hiring recommendations. Ensure administrative and logistical elements to facilitate the successful functioning of the Governance Body including availability of information and documentation to support to timely decision making, allowing the smooth running of the exercise and meeting deadlines. Support on follow-up on, activities and actions and tasks presented by the coordination team.ย Provide regular updates and identify exceptional issues which needs to be escalated. Collaborate with and contribute to appropriate monitoring with Ringfencing Project Leads to ensure quality and timeliness of completion, prevent gaps, overlaps and duplication of efforts.ย Support troubleshooting on issues which may arise. Monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards and timelines, escalating any relevant issues to the Associate Director and coordination team, as necessary. Support reporting and communication on progress implementation of the Ringfencing Exercise as well as with the Recruitment Outcomes and recommendations. Prepare background and position papers, briefing notes, presentation for the supervisorโs consideration in cooperation with relevant stakeholders. Consolidate content received, and finalize drafts prepared by coordination team and other stakeholders. Collaborates with project leads and coordination team staff Support Unit as well as communication team on developing communication materials. Keep the supervisor aware of operational developments and follow up actions to be taken including liaising with key focal points in the field and feedback. Assist the supervisor in the preparation of documents and presentation for coordination meetings and meetings other key senior staff,ย Participates in working groups and meetings as assigned and provides regular feedback to supervisor and updates on points for decision making.If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete ToR here: ย People and Culture Officer (Project) P2 DPC.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will haveโฆย
Minimum requirements:
Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Social Science, Psychology, International Studies, International Business Relations, International Development and any other related fields. Work Experience: A minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience in Human Resources/People and Culture (including recruitment, strategic HR, or HR business partnering, change management or project management is required. Skills: Involvement in planning and reporting processes, experience in coordinating projects and change communication and proficiency in data analysis is desired. Recruitment and writing skills are highly desirable. Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.Desirables:
Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. Experience in context of international development cooperation, preferably within UNICEF is an asset. Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint and knowledge of project management tools and UN HR systems is an asset. Experience in a multicultural environment is also 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 areโฆ
(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 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.