Programme Associate – ISCM (GS-6), PG Health – Immunization, Geneva – Switzerland (co-located in GAVI)

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, … health.!

Immunization Supply Chain Management (ISCM) Unit is one of the highly technical unit in Immunization Section. The unit works and contributes to strengthened global, regional and national policies, implementation tools, and capacity to effectively manage vaccines and cold chain equipment within a more integrated and more climate resilient primary health care for improved availability of potent vaccines at service delivery points.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Senior Adviser Immunization, the Programme Associate (PA) provides support to the ISCM Unit and will also performs as a part of PAs pool for providing back-up support when required, ensuring timely and effective delivery that is consistent with UNICEF rules and regulations following standard procedures.

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

Programme Support

• Supporting the Immunization section/Supply Chain Management Unit, in researching, compiling and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data and information from a variety of sources on subject matters relevant to the work of the section to facilitate programme delivery as well as preparation of reports, working papers and presentations.
• Carrying out transactions in VISION ensuring programme results, activities and programme coding are as per annual work plans (AWPs) and making amendments and alterations as per revisions when necessary.
• Carrying out transactions in VISION pertaining to grants and programme-related items for his/her section including but not limited to registering grant allotments and tracking expiring programme grants.

Programme Cooperation Agreement

• Facilitating the development of programme cooperation agreements (PCAs) by providing information and drafting selected sections of it.
• Ensuring the timely and accurate recording and administrative processing of government & CSO/NGO’s proposals and requests for direct cash transfers (DCTs), reimbursement and liquidation.

Procurement of Services

• Support the team in processing of contracts for consultants and external partners that provide a service to the section. This includes preparing and filing documents, completing necessary forms and templates, uploading standard documents in designated sharepoint libraries, and making necessary logistical arrangements.
• Maintains up-to-date vendor lists, partners, and consultant rosters.

Budget Monitoring

• Work with unit lead and focal points to prepare and maintain records, documents and control plans for the budget monitoring.
• Carries out transactions in VISION pertaining to grants for his/her section such as tracking expiring programme grants and commitments.

Travel Arrangement

• Provide support to staff members in the unit/section for travel arrangements and entitlements based on the organization’s rules and policies. Liaises with relevant travel focal points to ensure that the organization obtains the best value and service for all travel.
• Briefs/de-briefs staff members on issues relating to administrative matters such as visas, security clearance, and documentation procedures. 
• Extracts, inputs, maintains, and verifies correctness of travel records in the organization’s travel system to ensure accurate transactions related to travel costs and staff travel.
• Assists in the preparation of budgets for travel costs in the quarterly travel plan and maintain travel plan and travel budgetary control records.
• Monitors travel certification and report back to the team.

Invoice Processing

• Responsible for collecting invoices from the service providers and ensuring following table of authority for certifying and  and approval and, thereafter supports in timely processing through the established platform.
• Uploads and maintains electronic files in  destination system.
• Responds to clients’s queries in consultation with other team members when.

Events/Logistics/programme supports

• Support with the logistical arrangements, through engaging with facilitators, caterers and hosts for the meeting/conferences/webinars.
• Support in liaising with participants for availability and confirmation.
• Liaise with budget focal points and section for costs as needed.
• Support in preparing background materials for participants and uploads cleared materials on the sharepoint.
• Support management of administrative supplies, office equipment, and updating inventory of items.
• Establish and maintain the documentations in the designated sharepoint library.

To qualify as a champion for every child, the candidate must have…

• Completion of secondary education in public administration, finance, international relations, political science, or another relevant technical field is required.
• A minimum of six years of administrative or clerical work experience is required.
• General Service Staff are recruited locally. Candidates must be in possession of an existing visa/work permit or be a resident/citizen of Switzerland and/or a commuting area to be considered eligible for this position.
• Prior experience in programme support functions is an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to effectively manage the section’s material resources and monitor its budget.
• Experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other UNICEF software such as SharePoint.
• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others 

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core competencies

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness
• Works Collaboratively with others
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships
• Innovates and Embraces Change
• Thinks and Acts Strategically
• Drives to achieve impactful results
• Manages ambiguity and complexity

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, 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:

This post is subject DED-M approval

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.

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.

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.