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, … good health,

Public health emergencies are increasing in frequency and severity, driven by population mobility and displacement, the growth of urbanization and population density, climate change, and by the impact of, often protracted, humanitarian crises. The annual number of outbreaks has increased more than threefold since 1980.

UNICEF is involved every year in over 100 responses related to public health events.

UNICEF ensures that outbreak response strategies are inclusive of children, women, and vulnerable groups, and adapted to their needs, particularly where public health infrastructure may be weakened by epidemic drivers and structural vulnerabilities.

UNICEF preparedness and response to public health emergencies aim to prevent outbreaks, and to detect and respond to them before they can generate high mortality and society disruption. UNICEF addresses the specific needs of the most vulnerable and simultaneously focuses on addressing the outbreak, controlling its spread, and addressing its socio-economic consequences. ​​​​​​​

How can you make a difference?

The position strategically represents UNICEF to influence and partake in global public health emergency preparedness, response and policy making. The position leads and participates in joint programming with international organizations and the World Health Organization in support of member states PHE preparedness and response. This is an exciting opportunity to advance competencies in strategic leadership and management, communication, and public health. The staff member has a strong regular working relationship across Programme Group, EMOPS and senior management of HQ Divisions.

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

Representation and Strategic Partnerships in Public Health Emergencies

• Liaise with WHO and other Geneva-based public health agencies on behalf of the Associate Director, Health Emergency Preparedness and Response and Regional and Country offices involved in preparedness and response to major public health events, including Emergency Operations and disease specific collaborations.
• Support the representation of UNICEF at key external forums related to public health emergencies, epidemic/pandemic meetings convened by partners or alert risk assessments.
• Lead coordination of preparedness and response activities to epidemic/pandemic disease events with WHO.
• Alert the Public Health Emergencies team and UNICEF leadership of new alerts and risk assessments of diseases of epidemic/pandemic potential launched by WHO.
• Contribute to maintain institutional awareness on new and potential public health emergency events, and update on existing ones, based on close collaboration with WHO experts.
• Contribute to regular public health emergencies bulletins and ad hoc briefing notes as needed.

Technical assistance and country support

• Contribute to the development of policy and guidance on public health emergencies.
• Contribute to technical and strategic advice to formulate UNICEF’s preparedness and response plans for public health emergencies, risk assessments, implementation of activities, situation reports, funding proposals, and monitoring and evaluation reports.
• Support countries involved in preparedness and response to public health threats through remote assistance or undertake country missions and field visits to provide surge capacity based on need.

Coordination support for public health emergencies

• Support UNICEF with interagency processes including partner teleconferences, information and data sharing with partners, identifying opportunities for cross-sectoral and inter-agency collaboration.
• Effective communication and networking through partnerships and collaboration.
• Coordinated inputs across the organization into fundraising initiatives for public health emergencies from prevention to response.

Knowledge management

• Contribute to UNICEF’s and partners lessons learned from public health emergencies with a focus on children and inter-sectoral actions.
• Support UNICEF’s engagement in the development and implementation of, and response to, public health emergencies related evaluations.
• Identify and support opportunities for awareness-raising on public health emergencies within UNICEF.

Communication and advocacy

• Support communication and advocacy efforts on public health emergencies in close collaboration with the Associate Director, GCA and other relevant divisions/sections.
• Contribute to the necessary technical strategic information to reinforce the collaboration with GCA in public health emergencies.

The following minimum requirements:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Health, global/international health, epidemiology and/or related field is required.
• A minimum of ten years of professional experience in public health planning and management and/or in relevant areas of health emergency/humanitarian response, at the international level is required.
• Relevant experience in managing public health emergency programs in any UN system agency or International non-governmental organization is required.
• Experience in leading UNICEF programs during public health emergencies at the field level is required.
• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is considered 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

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:

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.