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 A Future

Under the supervision and guidance of the supervisor, the Operations Associate provides a broad range of procedural, administrative, and specialized operational support across functions such as administration, finance and budget, people and culture, supply and procurement, and information and communications technology (ICT). The role requires in-depth knowledge of UNICEF procedures, processes, and policies to ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of services, accurate application of rules and regulations, and effective coordination with internal and external partners

How can you make a difference? 

1. Finance & budget - To provide financial management and budget monitoring support, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules, accuracy in records, and timely reporting.

• Prepare regular and ad-hoc financial and budget reports by compiling and reviewing data, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance for inclusion in statements of accounts and budget adjustments. Resolving discrepancies in coordination with relevant units.
• Maintain financial records and monitoring systems to record and reconcile daily transactions, balances, payments, and statements
• Support year-end closure processes, including preparation of reports on accounts receivable/payable, prepayments, deposits, non-expandable properties and leave balances, ensuring adherence to deadlines.
• Monitor budgets and expenditures, providing analysis and recommendations for decision making and/or corrective action.
• Assist in budget planning and revisions, tracking funding utilization, and monitoring operational and financial closure.
• Process grant and budget transactions in VISION, including registering allotments and tracking expiries, ensuring documentation is complete and audit ready.
• Collect, verify, and process invoices through UNICEF systems, responding to client inquiries on transaction status as needed.

2. Information and Communications Technology - To provide ICT support ensuring reliable connectivity, secure digital assets, and efficient use of technology resources.

• Deliver first and second-level ICT support by logging, tracking, and resolving service requests, troubleshooting technical issues, and escalating complex cases as necessary.
• Managing lifecycle of assigned ICT incidents in service management tool.
• Maintain ICT inventory, manuals, and other documentation.
• Ensure timely updates to systems, software, and hardware in line with lifecycle requirements, including mission critical assets related to connectivity and firewalls.
• Perform the installation, upgrade, configuration, and routine maintenance of ICT equipment, systems, and applications.
• Support conferencing solutions, audiovisual equipment setup, and other ICT tools required for meetings and events.
• Perform routine data backups and assist in the generation of system reports, ensuring compliance with data retention standards.
• Provide inputs to emergency data telecoms preparedness and ICT Disaster Recovery simulation testing to support the office BCP.
• Provide basic user orientation and training on UNICEF-approved platforms, tools, and security protocols.
• Contribute to cybersecurity by implementing access controls, participating in incident response, and supporting recovery measures in coordination with regional and global ICT security teams. Promote safe digital practices such as password hygiene, phishing awareness, and device protection, and monitor staff completion of mandatory cybersecurity training. Participate in routine reviews of digital access permissions and suggest improvements based on the principle of least privilege.
• Participate in ICT-related projects, assisting in planning, implementation, and testing of new systems and applications. Providing guidance and training to junior staff.
• Liaise with regional and global ICT teams to report local issues, share updates, and coordinate improvements to ICT services.

3. Supply and Procurement: To support procurement, logistics, and supply chain operations ensuring timely delivery of goods and services in compliance with UNICEF policies.

• Contribute to supply chain planning, forecasting, and performance monitoring, providing input to annual supply plans and procurement strategies.
• Conduct data review, market research, and category analysis to support the development of cost-effective, sustainable procurement strategies.
• Support procurement processes including establishing and maintaining (LTAs), preparation of documents for the Contracts Review Committee (CRC), preparation of Request for Quotations (RFQs), Invitation to Bid (ITBs), and Requests for Proposals (RFPs), organizing bid openings, conducting evaluations, and participating in clarifications and negotiations.
• Prepare and process purchase orders and contracts in SAP (ERP), ensuring completeness, compliance, and timely approvals.
• Ensure accurate documentation and filing for audit purposes.
• Monitor supplier performance, delivery schedules, and implement vendor management practices such as supply performance reviews.
• Provide logistics support, including warehouse operations, capacity assessments, and inventory management, ensuring accurate records and compliance with UNICEF standards.
• Liaise with UNICEF Supply Division, freight forwarders, and internal stakeholders to coordinate Procurement Services transactions and follow up on delivery timelines.
• Ensure the application of ethical, sustainable, and value-for-money principles in all procurement and supply activities, in line with UNICEF guidelines.

IV. Impact of Results

Finance and Budget, Supply and Procurement

The role directly impacts the optimal, appropriate, and effective use of resources and the accuracy of financial recording, accounting, and reporting, thereby supporting management oversight, informed decision-making, and quality control. It has a direct influence on the efficiency, compliance, and client satisfaction of specialized supply chain processes, liaising with clients and suppliers to resolve issues on purchase orders, contracts, deliveries, and payments, while ensuring adherence to policies, rules, service standards, and deadlines.

Information communication and Technology

In ICT, the Operations Associate ensures the functionality, security, and efficiency of essential systems, delivering high-quality customer service, providing first- and second-level technical support, performing troubleshooting tasks, and contributing to cybersecurity measures. The work performed affects not only the functionality of fundamental ICT systems, but also the operational efficiency of staff. Indirectly the Associate’s work impacts on delivery of organization-wide programmes. Failure to implement essential cybersecurity protocols will expose UNICEF's digital assets to increased risks, leading to potential data breaches, compromised sensitive information, and weakened overall cyber resilience within the office environment.

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

Minimum requirements:

[Include the vacancy requirements aligned to the category and level of the position. You can see examples in the branded VA example.]

• Education: Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the field of work.
• Work Experience: At least six [6] years of relevant work experience in administrative support, financial and budget management, and human resources operations is required.

• Skills: 

  • Experience in administrative support, including office management, record keeping, and coordination of operational processes, is required.

  • Practical experience in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) support, including troubleshooting, system maintenance, and user support, is required.

  • Experience in supply and procurement operations, including procurement processes, vendor liaison, and inventory management, is required.

• Language Requirements:  Fluency in English and Kazakh, Russian is required.

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 

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.

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.

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.