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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, access

UNICEF México has programmatic presence in the state of Guerrero since 2018, mostly in the areas of Child Protection and Education. In 2022, UNICEF Representative and the Governor of Guerrero signed a Memorandum of Understanding and work plans have been developed with several secretaries since then.

On October 25, Hurricane Otis made landfall on the Mexican Pacific coast as a Category 5 hurricane, impacting with greatest force in Acapulco and Coyuca de Benítez and five other municipalities of Guerrero state. On October 30, the Mexican government declared a state of emergency, officially concluding on November 9 and launching a recovery phase through the “General Plan for Reconstruction and Support for the Population Affected in Acapulco and Coyuca de Benítez by Hurricane Otis”. Since October 28 UNICEF deployed a team to assess the situation and coordinate the response with the local and national authorities. Since November 5 UNICEF has been on the field with child-friendly spaces, a mobile medical unit, psychosocial, nutrition, and WASH services and kits, as well through a multidisciplinary team seconded to the local child protection authority. UNICEF is currently developing a reconstruction plan and is looking for a Field Support Specialist to lead its programme and team in the state.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Deputy Representative Programme, the Field Support Specialist (FSS) is accountable for managing and leading UNICEF´s programme and team in the state of Guerrero. The FSS represents UNICEF in the State of Guerrero, leads, and oversees the various program sectors and operational service teams ensuring the delivery of quality results per UNICEF’s programme of cooperation, country programme management plan, and overall vision set forward by the Representative. The FSS oversees the timely and quality implementation of UNICEF´s reconstruction plan to the hurricane Otis in the affected areas in the state.

1. Effective management of UNICEF presence and staff

2. Knowledge Management for Programmes, regarding particularly UNICEF´s reconstruction program response to Hurricane Otis in the state-affected areas

3. Programme Development and Management, regarding particularly UNICEF´s reconstruction program response to Hurricane Otis in the state-affected areas

4. Optimum Use of Program Funds regarding particularly UNICEF´s reconstruction program response to Hurricane Otis in the state-affected areas

5. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations regarding UNICEF´s reconstruction program response to Hurricane Otis in the state-affected areas

6. Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach regarding particularly UNICEF´s reconstruction program response to Hurricane Otis in the state-affected areas

7. National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability regarding UNICEF´s reconstruction program response to Hurricane Otis in the state-affected areas

8. Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the National, Community, and Family Levels

9. Partnership, Coordination, and Collaboration regarding UNICEF´s reconstruction program response to Hurricane Otis in the state-affected areas

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: [attach JD/TOR here]

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree), preferably, in one of the following fields: social sciences, international relations, public administration, government, and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.

Candidates who do not possess a master’s degree but have a bachelor’s with an additional two years of experience may be considered, especially if they hold other related studies or certificates.

• A minimum of five years of professional work experience in programme planning, monitoring and/or evaluation, or in project management.
• Experience supervising teams.
• Familiarity/ background with emergency contexts.
• Fluency in Spanish.
• Intermediate level of English.

Desirables

• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization.
• Fluency in English

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 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 [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] 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 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.

Please note that this position is based in Acapulco, Guerrero where we do not have an office. The incumbent may be required to travel constantly to our office in Mexico City and will respond remotely to this office. 

THIS IS A NATIONAL POSITION. PLEASE NOTE THAT only CANDIDATES WITH A MEXICAN NATIONALITY WILL BE CONSIDERED.