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, hope

UNICEF Ukraine

Join the Emergency Team at UNICEF Ukraine!

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the job:

Under the supervision of and in regular consultation with the supervisor, implement country office emergency preparedness and response. Responsible for the technical contribution to the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the emergency interventions to advance the survival and well-being of children and mothers and affected communities in an emergency situation.

Key end-results:

1. Timely and thorough analysis is made to identify emergency-prone situations and contribute to early warning and enhancing emergency preparedness. Supports constant flow of information and communication crucial for the planning and implementation of emergencies responses.
2. Analytical tools are available covering both situation and response to support management and field offices decision making around early preparedness and programme adaptation actions.
3. Substantive professional contributions are made to the formulation of emergency plans of action, contingency plans, and monitoring of compliance with plans of action.
4. Effective analysis of available data regarding the evolving emergency situation and its implications to the operation are timely provided. Supports constant flow of information and communication crucial for the planning and implementation of emergencies responses.
5. Staff training in emergencies preparedness and response is effectively supported to enhance the emergency preparedness and response capability of the office.
6. Professional support is provided to establish facts and needs, coordinate a rapid assessment, and determine priorities and an appropriate intervention by UNICEF.
7. Timely delivery of assistance and supplies is maintained, urgent staffing requirements are identified, and the appropriate and effective use of UNICEF resources is monitored for effective project delivery.
8. Emergency reporting is drafted, including urgent updates, situation reports, briefing notes, donor updates.
9. Lessons learnt from UNICEF’s emergency operations experience are collected and analysed for adoption of the best practices and standards for longer-term emergency interventions. Longer-term requirements of the emergency operation/interventions are effectively identified.

Key accountabilities and related 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.

Emergency Preparedness

1. Acts as key liaison with relevant ministries, Clusters and other forums, representing UNICEF where appropriate, and ensuring information flow for office decision making.
2. Provides professional assistance in risk analysis to identify emergency-prone conditions/situations and contribute to early warning and timely emergency preparedness.
3. Identifies formal and informal sources of information (including, among others, local and international media, social media, think tanks and other analysis), collecting, interpreting and analysing all available data on the evolving emergency situation and its implications to the operation. Keeps the effective flow of information and communication crucial for the planning and implementation of emergencies. Identifies availability of resources in emergency prone areas.
4. Participates in interagency forums around assessments and analysis to ensure that children are positioned centrally and that available analysis is looped into the UNICEF programme design and response.
5. Develops new analytical tools (incorporating mapping, dashboard, and other visualizations) to clearly communicate information for management action. Introduces new tools which could include ARC-GIS, PowerBi, or others, as relevant to ensure concise, up-to-date information is available for decision-making, including on the situation and UNICEF response.
6. Contributes to the development of new data collection exercises to fill information gaps related to the situation and/or the UNICEF response. Integrates accountability to affected populations tools to ensure the response reflects the needs and preferences of the population.
7. Assists in the formulation of plans of action in preparation and response to emergencies. Gathers information on best practices in emergency situations for the preparation of contingency plans. Monitors compliance of all sectors with emergency plans of action.
8. Assists in organizing and conducting staff training for the office’s capacity building in emergencies preparedness and response.  Provides briefing, as required. Participates in other emergency training workshops in the region, and contributes to enhancement of the emergency preparedness and response capability of the office staff.

Emergency Response

1. In the event of an emergency, promptly assists in implementing the initial operational tasks relating to emergency assistance. Immediately collects reliable information to verify the nature and extend of the emergency with staff, government officials, other UN agencies or local organizations and media.  Follows up to ensure that the office is provided with effective telecommunications facility and staff security assistance in an emergency, as necessary. Contacts with all UNICEF staff and their dependants and visitors to ensure their safety and whereabouts, and promptly informs head of office, supervisor and other emergency staff of their status as required.
2. Assists supervisor with assessment of local emergency and security situation.  Visits the location to conduct an initial rough assessment of the magnitude of the crisis and its implications for children, mothers and the community. Assists with the assessment of the validity of the emergency preparedness plan and ability of the office vis-à-vis the current crisis as well as immediate and additional needs. Provides input in and contributes toward determining priorities and an appropriate intervention by UNICEF. Coordinates with other partners to make a rapid assessment covering priority areas as defined by the Core Commitment for Children in Emergencies.
3. Participates in the implementation of plans of action and workplans for emergency project. Undertakes field visits to emergency project areas, to assess local conditions and monitor project progress. Carries out project administration. Prepares inputs for appeals and updates related to emergencies. Coordinates with program sections staff and others to mobilize donor response and recovery/rehabilitation-related funding, including humanitarian appeals and documents (e.g., pitch documents). Communicates and advocates on the situation and needs of children through local and international media, as appropriate.
4. Collects and analyses lessons learnt from UNICEF’s emergency operations experience and contributes towards adoption of the best practices and standards for longer-term emergency interventions. Assists in identifying longer-term requirements of the emergency intervention/operations.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines.

Work Experience:

• Two years of relevant professional work experience at the national and/or international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation or administration.
• Field work experience.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Ukrainian.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
• Training/experience in emergency response management highly desirable.
• Knowledge of another official UN language 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…

(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 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. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] 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.

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.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

This position is based in Kyiv and the incumbent will be expected to work on-site. However, depending on the security conditions and advisory, s/he will be required to relocate within Ukraine.