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.
For more information related to the work of our organization in Mexico, please visit our website: UNICEF Mexico, the video of our amazing results in 2023: A good six-year term for children: Un buen sexenio para la niñez or read our Annual Report 2023: Informe Anual 2023 UNICEF México.
For every child, the right to a sustainable future
UNICEF Mexico operates as a key advocate for children's rights in the country, working closely with government, civil society, and private sector partners to deliver results for children and families. The office supports national priorities in health, education, child protection, and social policy, focusing on reaching the most vulnerable populations.
UNICEF Mexico is looking for an Operations Specialist at the P-3 level. Reporting to the Deputy Representative – Operations, the Operations Specialist plays a central role in managing and coordinating the fiduciary priorities and operational systems of the country or field offices. The incumbent is responsible for effective, equitable, efficient, and sustainable operations across Finance, Business Analysis, Accounts, Risk Management, Internal Controls, Budgeting, Administration, Compliance, and Quality Assurance. The role also includes guiding general services and professional staff to deliver operational support for country programme implementation, while contributing to policy development and maintaining high standards in operational processes.
The Operations Specialist is tasked with a strategic focus on risk management, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance and will actively contribute to planning and implementing the Country Programme Document (CPD), Country Programme Management Plan (CPMP), and Annual Management Plan (AMP).
As a member of the Mexico Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) Taskforce, the Operations Specialist plans and oversees micro assessments, spot checks, audits of implementing partners, and the follow-up on recommendations, aiming to mitigate financial risks, strengthen national capacities, and ensure the proper use of transferred resources.
How can you make a difference?
Reporting to the Country Office (CO) Deputy Representative Operations, the Operations Specialist supports the management of CO or Field Office operations. The incumbent leads for results, drives change, provides risk-informed, solution-focused analysis, advice, and services, and contributes to management decisions for delivering results for children in all operational contexts. The Operations Specialist is entrusted with the following pillars: Valuing People, Valuing Money, Valuing Risk Management, Valuing Systems and Structures, and Valuing Partners.
As a Strategic Business Partner, the Operations Specialist maximizes the use of UNICEF assets through sound management practices aligned with office priorities and goals. The role encompasses accountability for operations functions, facilitating change, providing technical oversight, and ensuring the effective management of implementing partnerships in the Mexico CO, in accordance with operational policies, procedures, and mainstreaming of risk.
The key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks are:
1. Support to implementing partnership management and leveraging UNICEF’s oversight and understanding of financial management across all areas of the office.
2. Provide quality assurance and enhance risk management to increase organizational performance and strengthen internal controls, including regarding implementing partnerships.
3. Analysis, monitoring and reporting for operational centralization and optimization for maximized efficiency gains.
4. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: 
ToRs_Operations Specialist P3_Publishing version.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s) in Business management, financial management, Accounting, Public Finance or any other field related to the operations function.
- Work Experience:
- A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience, at the national and international level, is required, specifically in implementing strategic organizational initiatives in one or more operations management area including: risk management; budget; financial management and reporting.
- Experience in Results-Based Management.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English.
Desirables:
- Experience in the UN system agency, large private or public companies.
- Additional experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Audit and investigations
- Safety and security
- Grant Management
- Experience working with corporate ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) and IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards).
- Experience in supporting successful client-oriented work units.
- Previous hands-on experience in strategic operations.
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
- Knowledge of Spanish. The selected candidate will have to commit to improve their/his/her Spanish skills once appointed to the post
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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people
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 from countries outside of Latin America 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.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
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.
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.
This is an INTERNATIONAL POSITION. Please note that national candidates cannot be considered.
