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, 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.
This position is situated within the Digital Supply Unit of UNICEF's Supply Division Service Contracting Center, which leads the procurement of digital goods and services to globally support UNICEF programmes, government partners, and global initiatives such as Giga. The unit is a centre of excellence for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) procurement, delivering secure, scalable, and value-driven digital solutions.
How can you make a difference?
Under the supervision of a Contracts Specialist (Digital Supply Unit), the Contracts Officer will support the Giga initiative by planning and executing procurement strategies for ICT goods and services, including internet connectivity, and Network solutions and ICT infrastructure and managed services. The role will ensure optimized and timely contracting of Internet connectivity and associated services in compliance with Giga’s technical requirements and local country’s expectations.
Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:
Under supervision, the contract officer will plan, develop, and execute procurement strategies for categories directly supporting Giga’s technical pillars, including, but not limited to:
- Connectivity and communication services, such as internet bandwidth, telecom infrastructure, and managed services;
- Cloud-based solutions and data hosting to support digital tools deployed under Giga;
Software development and platform services, including SaaS tools for school mapping, contract management, and performance monitoring;
- Digital tools and applications, including geospatial platforms, data visualization dashboards, and mobile/web apps to enable school connectivity tracking;
- ICT hardware and equipment to support school- and country-level infrastructure needs.
The Contracts Officer will Support end-to-end procurement processes—developing solicitations, supporting evaluations, negotiating terms, and finalizing Institutional Contracts and Long-Term Agreements (LTAs), in close collaboration with Giga’s technical team, country offices, and implementation partners.
In addition, the role involves engaging in market research, analyzing commercial trends for digital connectivity and infrastructure services, and advising on scalable sourcing approaches to maximize value for money and efficiency. All activities will be conducted in full compliance with UNICEF’s Financial Rules and Regulations, and in line with public procurement principles.
The incumbent may be responsible for supervising one procurement support staff member and contribute to the overall coordination of procurement planning and execution in support of Giga’s country-level deployment strategy.
- Lead procurement processes related to Giga, from market research to contract finalization for key categories including connectivity, ICT equipment and infrastructure, and related services.
- Support the development of technical documents such as Statements of Work (SOWs) and Terms of Reference (TORs) in collaboration with Giga teams and technical partners.
- Draft and negotiate Institutional Contracts and Long-Term Agreements (LTAs), and prepare submissions to UNICEF Contract Review Committee (CRC).
- Contribute to procurement planning, market analysis, and strategy development in line with Giga’s evolving needs.
- Liaise with Country Offices, Regional Offices, and global partners to support joint procurement, benchmarking, and efficient delivery of digital solutions.
- Represent the Giga procurement function in internal and external meetings, workshops, and consultations.
- Perform any other duties as assigned by the Contracts Specialist or the Contracts Manager (Digital Supply unit) in support of Giga’s global objectives.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
JD_Contracts_Officer-(GIGA)_P2_TA Digital Supply Unit_ SCC_Valencia.docx
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Information Technology, or related field is required.
Work Experience:
- Minimum two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience including at least one (1) at the international level is required.
- Experience in commercial activities with the public or private sector in developing and industrialized countries is required.
- Experience with worldwide procurement, contract negotiations and administration.
- Understanding of the principles of public procurement.
- Solid track record and willingness of adaptability and integration into a new team and new environment
- Proven experience with large-scale ICT procurement, including:
- Internet connectivity solutions (e.g. satellite, fiber, LTE)
- Network and related hardware (routers, switches, solar backup systems)
- ICT Installation and Support Service (e.g. managed services, maintenance, service monitoring)
- Awareness of cyber security risks, compliance with standard terms and conditions addressing information and data security, and related best practices is considered an asset.
- Experience in market research and outreach, especially in emerging and frontier markets is highly desirable.
- Understanding of contractual frameworks for aggregated purchasing or pooled procurement, ideally across multiple countries or regions is highly desirable.
- Experience in supporting multi-country coordination for concurrent procurement initiatives is highly desirable.
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. (This criteria is essential as a desirable and should be included in all job postings.)
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
[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role].
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.
