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, an Education

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Strategic office context:

This position reports to Chief Supply Chain Strengthening Centre and will work on normative aspects with partners to scale supply chain optimization, system design tools, innovations, guidance, capacity building and implementation support to regions and countries across the three system design priorities of optimization, segmentation, and integration. Within this scope, this position will build on UNICEF’s leadership in last mile innovations to expand the potential of alternative, next-generation solutions that can be integrated into sustainable supply chains in terms of cost efficiency, supply chain effectiveness, government ownership and environmental stewardship. This end-to-end system design lens will work toward increased access to life saving commodities that impact the health, nutrition, hygiene, sanitation and education of children.

How can you make a difference?

As a part of Supply Chain Strengthening Centre, the incumbent will work in close collaboration with government partners, UNICEF regional and country offices, UNICEF Programme Division, donors, and global development partners (e.g., Gavi, BMGF, The Global Fund, USAID, WHO) to (1) contribute to the definition and implementation of national (immunization and beyond) supply chain strengthening strategies with a focus on system design/optimization, innovations, sustainability and resiliency; (2) provide leadership on system strengthening and supply chain design across all UNICEF operated and government operated/regulated supply chains for essential child health, nutrition, WASH and education supplies (3) coordinate the provision of technical advice, assistance and outsourcing capacities from the private sector, professional associations, academia and others, while emphasizing procurement of local services for supply chain innovations and system design improvements, and (4) facilitate exchanges of best practices and work with partners and stakeholders to improve performance (e.g., increase availability), increase efficiencies, reduce the environmental impacts and build local ownership in national supply chains.

1. Lead the development of supply chain strengthening strategies, tools and guidance to assess and improve national supply chains with governments and partners to improve performance (e.g., increase access), increase efficiencies, reduce the environmental impacts and build local ownership in national supply chains – with the overarching goal of improving access to vaccines, medicines, health products, nutrition, WASH and education supplies.
2. Build external relationships and collaborate with stakeholders on supply chain design and innovations in the context of health systems strengthening (HSS). Represent the Centre, Supply Division, and UNICEF at relevant global meetings and working groups (e.g. with Gavi, BMGF, WHO, USAID, TGF, iSC2); facilitate cooperation in activities with partners at global, regional, and country level.
3. Work with the supply community, regional and global supply and program staff to support the coordinated provision of technical assistance to countries for supply chain design, innovations and improvements, drawing making use of data and capacity building  from internal and external expertise in:
   • Distribution strategies and transportation management
   • Warehouse and inventory management
   • Supply chain system design, simulation, and optimization strategies
   • Last mile delivery innovations
   • Environmental sustainability and resiliency considerations in product delivery and use
   • Technology systems to enable improved supply chain optimization decision-making
4. Support innovation by; (1) landscaping emerging technologies, supply chain services, practices and processes, (collaborating with leading academic institutions, (3) reviewing standards, (4) documenting evidence; and (5) identifying barriers and opportunities to bring innovations to scale.
5. Foster private sector collaboration by identifying opportunities for governments to outsource supply chain services; provide solutions to manage barriers to private sector engagement in public supply chains; and update UNICEF’s private sector engagement strategy.
6. Project manage donor grants. Coordinate planning and reporting on results and outcomes achieved in immunization supply chain strengthening to internal stakeholders and, donors and        partners.
7. Manage staff working on supply chain design including for, but not exclusive to: immunization, nutrition, last mile innovations, and environmental sustainability including focus on data analytics and capacity building activities.
8. Any other duties as requested by the supervisor.

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

Education:

Master’s degree, preferably in the area of Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Operations  Research , Engineering, or related field

*A first level university degree (Bachelor’s) in a relevant technical field (as identified above), in conjunction with ten (10) years of relevant work experience may be taken in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

• Minimum eight (8) years of relevant and progressively responsible work experience in a professional capacity in logistics and supply chain management in the public or private sector.
• Work experience in health supply chains in an international setting is desirable and knowledge of public health
• Work experience with applying technologies and the development of modeling of supply chain performance is also an advantage.

Language Requirements:  Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) 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…

• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness and     Ethical Awareness (2)
• Drive to Achieve Results for Impact (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Manages Ambiguity and Complexity (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Works Collaboratively with Others (2)
• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)

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.

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.