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 Education

Background and Strategic Context

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.

Purpose for the job:

As focal point of administrative management services in a country or sub-country office, the incumbent is accountable for delivery of efficient and cost-effective administrative support services, providing guidance for operations of administrative support services and management of administrative staff. Ensures the office’s administrative operations and services are in compliance with the organization's administrative policy, procedures, rules and regulations.

Summary of Key Functions and Accountabilities:

1. Policy, procedures and strategies

 As functional focal point, accountable for the correct and consistent application of policies and procedures in the assigned Travel, Protocol and Transport functions through the provision of guidance and support to the country office or sub-office where applicable

Contributes to strategic planning and monitoring of Travel, Protocol and Transport matters at country/subcountry level as necessary. Provides practical input on implementation of Travel, Protocol and Transport guidelines, in close coordination with the head of office, operation staff/ supervisor.

 Supports supervisor and the head of the office, and updates staff on Travel, Protocol and Transport policies, procedures rules and regulation. Implements the appropriate application and interpretation of administrative rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Briefs and assists arriving and departing staff on basic administrative procedures and requirements.

 Makes specific recommendations on the improvement of systems and internal controls, planning, restructuring and resolution of sensitive issues, taking into account the prevailing conditions in the locality.

 Keeps supervisor abreast of potential problem areas, and identifies and recommends solutions. Prepares reports on Travel, Protocol and Transport matters as required.

 Provides Travel, Protocol and Transport support and services to sub-country (zone) offices and outpostings, where applicable, including preparation and funding of service contracts, preparations of PGMs for all administrative supplies and guidance on administrative procedures.

 Undertakes missions to field locations to review Travel, Protocol and Transport arrangements and makes appropriate recommendations where applicable.

2. Budget management

 Monitors the administration budget in close coordination with supervisor to ensure that objectives stipulated early in the fiscal year are realized for smooth operations of the office including sub-country (zone) offices and out postings where applicable.

 Recommends and prepares estimates for budget preparation purposes. Prepares, monitors and controls the

Travel, Protocol and Transport budget.

3. Administrative- Protocol , Travel and Transport support and services

 Undertakes delivery and improvement in Travel, Protocol and Transport support and office services including efficient service provision, vehicle use and maintenance, timely protocol service delivery, and travel arrangements.

 Supports the Inter-Agency Operations Management Team's approaches for enhancing UN common services to attain efficiencies and effectiveness.

 Helps negotiate and administer matters relating to Travel, Protocol and Transport services with vendors and agencies.

 Overall management of transport section in Country Office, by developing annual transport management plan and its full and effective implementation. Provide full technical support to Field Office Operations in managing transport fleet. Plan official vehicles maintenance schedule without interrupting UNICEF operations/programs plan and ensure all vehicles are well maintained / repaired and kept in good running condition. Plan for procurement of new vehicles and disposal for absolute ones for all country office and Zonal offices vehicles.

 Undertakes safe and defensive drivers’ training needs, organize training programs.

Minimum Qualifications and Competencies:

 Education:

First University degree in social sciences, business management, administration, languages, human resources and

other humanities or any other relevant field of discipline.

 Experience:

2 years of progressively responsible experience in managing and coordinating travel, protocol, and transport operations within a complex, multi-office environment is required.
Work experience in emergency duty station is desirable.
Work experience in the UN Common system or agency
Experience in coordinating protocol activities, implementing structured plans to resolve pending issues, and optimizing operational workflows
Experience in fostering strategic relationships with government entities
Experience in translation of documents in Arabic.

 Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Arabi is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Spanish, or Russian) or

the local language is an asset.

Please find Terms of Reference for the post at hand: TOR - Admin Officer _ Jan 2026 Final.pdf

Core Values:

• Care

• Respect

• Integrity

• Trust

• Accountability

• Sustainability

Core Competencies (For Staff without Supervisory Responsibilities) *

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)

• Works Collaboratively with others (1)

• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)

• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)

• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)

• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)

• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

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, eligible and suitable [female] 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.

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.

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