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, Safety
Strategic office context:
The Security Specialist (Access), P3, post is based in the MENARO outpost Office in Gaziantep and reports to the Emergency Coordinator, P4, in Gaziantep and to the Regional Security Adviser, P5/Senior Emergency Specialist (WoS), P5.
Purpose for the job:
Under the guidance of the Emergency Coordinator, this position will be responsible for security and access. The post will also perform all regular security duties and responsibilities in accordance with UN and UNICEF Security Management Systems. The Security Specialist (Access) contributes to the UNICEF mandate through strong security risk analysis advice, and relevant mitigation. The Security Specialist (Access) manages and supports all security activities in the Gaziantep office. The Security Specialist (Access) post will advise and coordinate with the Emergency Coordinator to ensure staff undertake regular programme-filled missions to northwest Syria and have access to the population in need. The Security Specialist (Access) will engage with the de-facto authorities on behalf of UNICEF to establish and maintain access of UNICEF program including the access of population in need of services. The post is also responsible for advising the Emergency Coordinator on analyzing, advocating and negotiating increased access for programme delivery and support UNICEF partners in access related issues in northwest Syria.
The Security Specialist (Access) implements and manages security activities at Gaziantep in close coordination with all members of the UN Security Management System (UNSMS), including the UN Department of Safety and Security, as well as NGO partners in line with the Saving Lives Together (SLT) policy. As a member of the Security Cell, contributes to the development of assessments, procedures and guidelines, including Security Risk Management (SRM) processes, SRM measures, and the relevant Security Plan(s).
How can you make a difference?
The Security Specialist (Access) will undertake the following tasks:
1. Access management and negotiations
2. Security Risk Management and Planning
3. Security Services
4. Programmatic Security Information Analysis
5. Security Networking and Partnership Building
6. Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building
Impact of Results:
The advice and effective decision-making and planning required in complex security environments, which often involve highly stressful situations, will directly impact the security of personnel, as well as organizational premises, assets and resources.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
The following minimum requirements:
• Education: An advanced university degree is required. A University degree in conjunction with additional 2 years (7 years total) of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in global security risk management and/or security analysis is required. Demonstrated access negotiations and international security management experience and understanding of the United Nations Security Management System is highly desirable.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a 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…
Core Competencies for Staff without Supervisory Responsibilities
Functional Competencies
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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, 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 female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
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.