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, an advocate
In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.
All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work here: UNICEF Pacific Islands.
Vanuatu is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, including cyclones, earthquakes, and tsunamis, which frequently cause widespread destruction to infrastructure, including schools and essential community buildings. The country’s geographic location makes it particularly susceptible to climate change-related challenges, further exacerbating the risks to educational infrastructure.
In response to these challenges, UNICEF is working to enhance the resilience of school infrastructure to ensure that children have continuous access to safe and inclusive learning environments. The Construction Officer will play a key role in planning and implementing rehabilitation and/or reconstruction efforts for schools and classrooms damaged following the Vanuatu National Asset Master Plan and the schools affected by the recent earthquake in Efate (December 2024). Additionally, this role will contribute to strengthening infrastructure resilience, ensuring that new and rehabilitated structures adhere to climate-adaptive and disaster-resilient construction principles.
This initiative aligns with the objectives of the Climate-Resilient Sheltering Schools (CRSS) Project, funded by the European Union (EU), DFAT and MDAT which aims to rebuild/rehabilitate and reinforce educational facilities to withstand future disasters. The Construction Officer will be responsible for ensuring that all construction activities under this initiative comply with international best practices, UNICEF’s sustainability and resilience frameworks, national building standards, and relevant use of local/traditional construction techniques and materials.
The activities under this assignment will primarily take place in the provinces of Penama, Malampa, and Efate, where the recent earthquake has caused significant damage to educational infrastructure. Additionally, the officer will also be expected to support emerging work in other provinces as needed.
How can you make a difference?
The Construction Officer (Education) will oversee and coordinate education infrastructure projects, ensuring quality, timeliness, and compliance with UNICEF's sustainability and resilience principles. A key focus of this role is supporting the rehabilitation of damaged schools (earthquake and climate related) and strengthening infrastructure resilience to safeguard against future natural disasters. This includes adapting construction techniques to local materials, bringing innovative solutions and enabling community engagement in the works.
Summary of Key Functions and Accountabilities
- Construction Planning and Coordination
- Develop and collect data for the annual construction work plan, including ongoing and planned projects.
- Conduct feasibility studies and site assessments for school rehabilitation.
- Ensure alignment of construction activities with UNICEF programmatic needs and operational plans.
- Preparation of Construction Annual Workplan
- Prepare and collect information required for the annual work plan on regular activities, ongoing projects, and others in the pipeline; determine priorities/targets and performance measurements and monitor work progress to ensure that results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
- Collaboration and Stakeholder Coordination
- Provide technical assistance to UNICEF Education section regarding construction management.
- Coordinate with government entities, contractors, and community stakeholders to facilitate smooth project execution.
- Attend technical meetings, prepare presentations, and document project progress; undertake follow-up actions in relation to project implementation and monitoring.
- Preparation of Design and Technical Documents
- Draft the scope of construction works based on Education requirements, budget, and site limitations; define deliverables and payment modality.
- Apply UNICEF norms and standards (child-friendly, accessibility, MOSS, MORSS, etc.) to construction projects, taking into consideration the local environment, traditional construction techniques and available materials.
- Check technical documents related to construction (design drawings, technical specifications and bills of quantities); verify whether they are clear, complete and compliant to programmatic and construction needs, eco-efficiency and accessibility requirements; undertake the actions required to endorse these technical documents by Ministry of Education.
- Follow up with engineering firms and government entities to obtain all permits required for construction activities before initiating work.
- Procurement Support
- Prepare tender documents in relation to construction works and engineering services, facilitating the engagement of local builders; attend bidders' conference and present the technical components of the tender; draft answers on technical questions raised by the bidders during the tendering.
- Support Supply section in organizing bidders' conference and site visits; participate in the evaluation of technical proposals received and draft technical recommendation; if needed, provide support to Supply section on the analysis of financial proposals.
- Assist Supply section in preparation of CRC submissions with supporting documents related to construction activities.
- Maintain and update a shortlist of qualified construction firms and engineering service providers.
- Project Monitoring and Compliance
- Participate in the kick-off meeting of construction works with the construction company, the engineering firm and relevant government counterparts
- Conduct regular site visits and technical meetings to ensure compliance with project specifications and safety standards.
- Use monitoring tools to track construction progress, quality, and contractor performance.
- Provide status updates to the Education and Construction specialists and UNICEF program teams.
- Ensure adherence to budgetary constraints and implementation timelines.
- Follow up on progress for each activity per milestone and review site supervision reports to ensure compliance with norms, standards, and timelines.
- Use effective monitoring and supervision tools to assess works quality, progress, and performance of engineering firms and construction companies.
- Certify payments/variations and compile supporting documents.
- Monitor construction expenditures and progress certificates, maintaining relevant tracking tables for each construction activity.
- Assist UNICEF Contract Administrator on contract management, amendments, variations, duration extensions, and applying liquidated damages.
- Compile and archive project documents, minutes, correspondence, and instructions.
- Participate in the partial, substantial, and final reception of works after verifying the correction of all defects during the DLP.
- Prepare Contract Performance Evaluation; provide assistance to UNICEF Contract Administrator on contract close-out in VISION; draft the final completion report with the lessons learned.
The Construction (Education) Officer shall perform any other duties related to the implementation of the assignment and consistent with the objectives set forth in the Terms of Reference, as required by the Supervisor.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education:
- A university degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related field is required. In the absence of a degree, a combination of relevant professional certifications and substantial proven experience in the field may be considered.
Work Experience:
- At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in construction project management, preferably in humanitarian or development contexts. In the absence of a degree, a minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience in the field will be required.
- Professional work experience at the national and/or international level in building construction and project management or other relevant programmes is required.
- Experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset.
- Experience in post-disaster reconstruction and climate-resilient infrastructure projects is highly desirable.
Technical Competencies
- Knowledge of construction management, procurement processes, and quality control.
- Familiarity with UNICEF’s Construction Guidelines and sustainability principles is an advantage.
- Understanding of local building codes, environmental regulations, and safety standards.
- Knowledge of disaster-resilient construction techniques and sustainable building materials.
- Knowledge of traditional and innovative construction techniques to capitalize on local materials and local builders' engagement.
- Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
- Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels.
- Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
- Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.), email/internet, and familiarity with database management and office technology equipment.
- Self-motivated and ability to meet tight deadlines.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English is required, Knowledge of the local language is an asset.
Desirables:
- Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
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 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 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.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
