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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, the right to Education
UNICEF Supply Division (SD) works to ensure equitable and inclusive access to essential supplies and services for children and their families, in development, humanitarian and fragile contexts. These supplies are critical to saving lives, supporting children’s health and education, and protecting them from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. As the UN’s largest end-to-end supply chain entity, UNICEF leverages its global reach, market influence, supply chain expertise, and partnerships with governments, civil society, the private sector, industry, and other stakeholders to meet children’s needs and protect their rights around the world.
SD focuses on three result areas to maximize impact, scale, and effectiveness: strategic procurement; supply preparedness and response in humanitarian and fragile contexts; and supply chain optimization. To facilitate and accelerate progress toward these results, SD employs three change strategies: financing for supply and services, supply chain digitalization and supply chain localization.
UNICEF, together with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), launched Giga in 2019 with the aim of connecting every school in the world to the internet. By transforming schools into digital hubs, Giga empowers children with access to information and opportunities while also generating broader community development.
How can you make a difference?
The Procurement Assistant plays a critical role in enabling Giga’s success by ensuring access to high-quality, timely, and cost-effective digital services. By facilitating digital procurement in support of school connectivity, the role directly contributes to UNICEF’s mission to close the global digital divide and advance education and equity for every child.
Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks
Project Management
• Use project management tools to organize and track tasks within a project
• Schedule and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines
• Provide project updates and report issues
Collaboration
• Use tact and discretion in sensitive situations
• Communicate thoughtfully and diplomatically considering how words may be perceived by others
• Write clearly and concisely in emails and reports, outlining brief summaries and suggested actions
• Communicate key points and recommendations verbally in a clear and direct manner
• Organize, visualize, and present data, tailoring visuals to highlight key insights
Problem Solving
• Compare different sets of information to identify correlations and differences
• Analyze information to identify the root cause of problems and possible risks
• Identify key data and patterns in reports and summaries
• Organize, visualize, and present conclusions in a structured and logical way
• Consider and suggest possible solutions to resolve problems independently
• Consider available information when making decisions
Digital Dexterity
• Use AI tools and digital platforms to collect information
• Assess AI-generated tasks for accuracy and effectiveness
• Use key organizational business systems and digital platforms
• Manage and organize digital documents and files in alignment with digital workforce policies and culture
• Safeguard documents, ensuring confidentiality, and manage data risks
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
JD _Procurement Assistant (GIGA)_G5_TA Digital Supply Unit_SCC_ Valencia.docx
To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: Completion of secondary school education is required, supplemented with courses/certifications in business administration, supply chain management and procurement, contract/commercial law, Information Technology or related relevant technical field.
Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible supply-related work experience (procurement/ contracting, supply) is required. Experience with service contracting, particularly in support of large-scale, multi-country initiatives such as GIGA, is an advantage.
*A bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a field relevant to the position may replace three years of related work experience. A master’s degree may replace an additional two years
Familiarity with UNICEF or UN supply procedures and systems is advantageous, especially in the context of global partnerships and joint initiatives with other UN agencies.
Good knowledge of current trends in procurement and contracting of information and communication technology (ICT) services and products, particularly those relevant to digital connectivity and school infrastructure in the public sector or international organizations, is strongly desirable.
Solid track record and willingness of adaptability and integration into a new team and new environment
Experience in Networks/Internet Connectivity Services is a plus
Awareness of cybersecurity risks and understanding of procurement compliance requirements related to data
protection, information security, and associated contractual safeguards are considered an asset, especially in the context of digital connectivity projects like GIGA.
Strong computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SAP are required.
- Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
Desirables:
- Relevant experience at the country level, particularly in development, fragile settings, and humanitarian contexts.
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 promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates 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.
UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).
The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.
In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
CO/ HQ specific: visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.
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.
