JOB DESCRIPTION

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 HOPE!

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Programmatic Support Consultancy

Section/Division/Duty Station:  Ethics Office – NYHQ

Duration: September 2025 to February 2027

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ/ Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

To bring unique external expertise in supporting current initiatives by the Ethics Office, and through specialized skills and knowledge, provide programmatic support, including in coordinating and supporting the increasing number of ethics volunteer corps, ‘Ethics and Culture Champions Programme (ECCs)’ (around 500), delivering training, outreach and communications to UNICEF staff and other special and ad hoc assignments from Ethics leadership.

Scope of Work:

1. Assist in developing learning materials (quizzes, case studies, PowerPoint Presentations, multi-media and other relevant materials, such as brochures or pamphlets for distribution) based on relevant policies and procedures and external materials from the consultant’s research.
2. Obtain feedback, data, and lessons learned from stakeholders, potentially using surveys.
3. Assist in coordinating and representing the Ethics Office in internal working groups/partnerships related to Ethics and Culture, including with organizational culture, People & Culture, Staff Association, PSEA and child safeguarding etc.
4. Support joint collaborative initiatives tools, surveys and diagnostics with other Offices such as Pulse check, staff survey, spectrum tools etc.
5. Support all aspects of coordination, communication and training to the ECCs network.
6. Support all efforts related to Ethics Month 2025, including designing campaign materials for month-long activities and monitoring interaction of COs, ROs and HQ through communication with ECCs and HR Business Partners (HRBPs).
7. Develop and support deployment of communication materials, assets, tools, and guidance, including guidance notes, FAQs, and other communication assets. Maintain ethics communications platforms and channels by supporting development of key messages related to ethics that are clear, aligned and integrated across a range of platforms and channels, e.g., intranet, SharePoint, Yammer, email, face-to-face, etc.
9. Increase Ethics Office social media presence internally with website updates, Yammer posts and other engaging activities; monitor and respond to Ethics Office followers in dynamic and interactive ways while cultivating meaningful engagement.
10. Manage internal/external websites of the Ethics Office – Ethics Office, ECCs website, Ethics Panel of the United Nations (EPUN) webpage etc. to improve/increase the global presence of the Ethics Office.
11. Regularly respond to questions and requests for assistance on ethics communications platforms and channels.
12. Support the Ethics Director and Senior Adviser on other assignments and initiatives as required.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

The Terms of Reference and deliverables (2-3 per quarter) are for 6 quarters in the areas outlined below (exact deliverables are contained in the detailed Terms of Reference).

Training & Outreach

1. Assist in developing 2 sets of learning materials (Quizzes, case studies, PowerPoint Presentations, multi-media and other relevant materials, such as brochures or pamphlets for distribution).

2. Obtain feedback, data, and lessons learned from the audience, potentially using surveys.

Coordination support

3. Assist in coordinating and representing the Ethics Office in (2) internal working groups/partnerships.

4. Support 2 joint collaborative initiatives tools, surveys and diagnostics with other offices.

5. Support all aspects of coordination, communication and training to the ECCs network.

6. Support all efforts related to Ethics Month 2025 and Ethics Month 2026.

Communications

7. Develop and support deployment of communication materials and assets. e.g., PPTs, roadmaps, videos, FAQs, etc. (c. 3 sets).

8. Maintain ethics communications platforms and channels with key messages, e.g., intranet, SharePoint, Yammer, email, face-to-face, etc. regularly.

9. Increase social media presence internally with website updates, Yammer posts and other engaging activities; monitor and respond to Ethics Office followers regularly.

10. Manage internal/external websites of the Ethics Office – Ethics Office, ECC, EPUN, etc.

11. Respond to (c.10-15) questions and requests for assistance on ethics communications platforms and channels.

Deliverables:

1) Support and contribute to developing of collaborative tools and coordination with ECC network (Q1: c.15 sessions; Q2: c.10 sessions; Q3:15-20 sessions; Q4: 10-20 sessions; Q5: 15; Q6: 10).

2) Prepare pre- Ethics Month campaign materials and support to (c.10) CO/ROs during Ethics Month 2025; compile a report of Ethics Month based on monitoring of activities, feedback from CO/ROs (Q1).

3) Continue Ethics Month campaign materials and support to CO/ROs (c.10) throughout November 2025 (second part of Ethics Month); compile a report for the Ethics Month based on monitoring of activities, feedback from CO/ROs (Q2).

4) Prepare pre- Ethics Month campaign materials and support to (c.10) CO/ROs during Ethics Month 2026; compile a report of Ethics Month based on monitoring of activities, feedback from CO/ROs (Q5).

5) Continue Ethics Month 2026 campaign materials and support to CO/ROs (c.10) throughout November 2026 (second part of Ethics Month); compile a report for the Ethics Month based on monitoring of activities, feedback from CO/Ros.

6) Ethics communication assets: Maintain ethics comms platforms and channels through key messaging; update and maintain yammer, up to 25 relevant social media posts (for Q1, 2, 3, Q5, Q6: 20); respond to queries timely Q3, Q4: c30); update and maintain internal/external websites.

* There may be adjustment to the frequency of some deliverables based on organizational priorities.

Qualifications

(1) Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, HR development, public or business administration or public relations or related field is an advantage.

(2) Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• At least 2 or more years of programmatic support, relevant work experience in communication & (digital) media. An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field may be accepted in lieu of number of years of work experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with strong interpersonal and presentation skills are required.  Fluency in other UNICEF languages (French, Arabic, Spanish) is an asset.
• Able to adapt and work in a multicultural setting.
• Additional consideration will be given for any past work experience with UNICEF or another UN agency.
• Substantive understanding and work experience in ethics, integrity, compliance, or related topics is preferred.

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF”s e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

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

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 all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, are encourage to apply 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.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (if applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.

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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements