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 Operations Team at UNICEF Ukraine
How can you make a difference?
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s 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 — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — 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.
Strategic office context :
The prolonged war in Ukraine continues to have devastating consequences for children, increasing risks of disease, family separation, trafficking, exposure to unexploded ordnance and violence – including gender-based violence. Over 3.3 million people remain internally displaced,1 while over 4.7 million have returned to Ukraine.2 The intensification of attacks in 2024 has resulted in increased civilian casualties, new displacements and devastated infrastructure countrywide, disrupting access to vital services for hundreds of thousands of people. In the first half of 2024, 65 health facilities and 257 educational facilities were verified as damaged or destroyed. Attacks on energy infrastructure have caused the worst power outages since the war started. District heating systems – which support 47 per cent of the population – have received US$2.1 billion in damage.
To meet new CPD requirements the S&L structure requires reprofiling to focus on procurement of institutional services. This post is required to interact with program sections in reviewing and finalising TORs, conduct solisitation processes, facilitate joint program/supply meetings with vendors, administer service contracts, LTAs, etc., to enable efficient and effective contracting and timely delivery of various institutional services, researces and surveys required to meet needs of the new Country Programme.
Purpose for the job:
Under the general guidance of the Contracts Manager the incumbent is responsible for planning, development of procurement strategies/plans and overall procurement and contracting process - including contract implementation and management, monitoring suppliers’ performance, market research and long- term procurement planning.
Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:
1. Support procurement of services, including development of procurement strategies and method of purchase, and establishment of LTAs.
2. Conduct contracts management to ensure supplier compliance to LTA’s and institutional contracts terms and conditions; and provides guidance and advice to programme sections on programme related institutional contracting and LTAs.
3. Provides contracting technical support to programme sections during procurement planning exercises. Monitor and update procurement plans and develop tender calendars. Provide advice/guidance to requisitioning programme sections concerning contractual conditions and supplier appraisals for purchasing of services, including review of SOWS/TORS.
4. Ensures all procurement activities are in compliance with UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations, SD Manual and all other applicable procurement procedures and directives. Monitor KPIs including review of CAPA and provide reports to Performance Monitoring Board.
5. Makes recommendations for finalization of contracting processes and award of contracts; signs procurement orders/contracts up to the authorized limit, and, in cases where the amount exceeds authorized signature authority, prepares submissions to the Contracts Review Committee for reviews and subsequent approval by the authorized official.
6. Undertake market research to develop a pool of healthy vendors and maintain updated vendor list.
7. Performs any other duties or assignment as requested by the Supervisor.
Impact of Results:
- Timely and effective support to the programme sections in definition service requirements for efficient processing of procurement request.
- Timely and effective processing, negotiation and management of service contracts and legal terms for programme in compliance with UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations and Supply Divisions Executive Directive in force;
- Timely and effective negotiations of service contracts for HQ Divisions in compliance with UNICEF standard contractual provisions.
- Timely and effective advice and support to programme section on service contracting process and through establishment of procurement arrangements for their use.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education:
- University degree in Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, Business administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management or related field.
Work Experience:
- Minimum two years of relevant international professional work experience in procurement/Contracting of services.
- Experience with worldwide procurement contract negotiations and administration combined with broader economic knowledge and/or directly related technical fields.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required.
Desirables:
- Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
- An understanding or working knowledge of the UN or similar organization/NGO is an added advantage.
- Knowledge of another official UN language or 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 people with disabilities 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.
