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 Protection

Since 1950, UNICEF has supported the most important transformations in the field of childhood and adolescence in Brazil. Over the past decades, Brazil has made significant progress in including children and adolescents in public policies. However, a significant portion of the population remains excluded. For this reason, UNICEF focuses its efforts on the girls and boys who are most excluded, vulnerable, and victims of extreme forms of violence.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief of Child Protection, the Child Protection Officer (NOB) supports the design, implementation, and monitoring of integrated child protection programmes focused on preventing and responding to violence against children. The role strengthens cross-sectoral collaboration across child protection, education, health, social welfare, justice, and public security systems, contributing to sustainable and child-sensitive responses in line with UNICEF’s Country Programme (2024-2028). Based in Rio de Janeiro, the position also supports child protection initiatives in São Paulo and helps position UNICEF as a trusted technical partner on violence prevention and child protection in complex urban contexts in Southeast Brazil.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

Support to programme development and planning
Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
Technical and operational support to programme implementation
Networking and partnership building
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Job Descriptions - Child Protection Officer NOB.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: A completed first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, law, or another relevant social sciences field.
Work Experience: a minimum of two years of professional experience in social development planning and management, with a focus on child protection, including direct programme implementation and engagement with government institutions is required.
Demonstrated experience in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of child protection programmes at national, subnational, or international levels is required.
Strong knowledge of Brazil’s child protection legal and policy framework, including relevant legislation, national plans, and institutional arrangements is required.
Proven technical experience in preventing and responding to violence against children, including sexual violence, physical violence, exploitation, and other protection risks is required.
Experience strengthening child protection systems, including integrated service delivery, child-sensitive justice approaches, and intersectoral coordination mechanisms is required.
Experience supporting child protection case management systems, referral pathways, and services for children and adolescents affected by violence is required.
Experience generating evidence and knowledge products, including research, assessments, situation analyses, evaluations, and programme reviews related to child protection is required.
Experience working collaboratively with government counterparts and public institutions responsible for child protection at national or subnational levels. and any other related field is required.
Skills: Knowledge of Brazilian child protection policies, legislation, and frameworks.
Experience in child violence advocacy and policy engagement.
Proven skills in fostering multisectoral collaboration and partnerships.
Experience in child case management and referral systems.
Demonstrated capacity to generate and use evidence on violence against children.
Language Requirements: Fluency in Portuguese and English is required.

Desirables:

Language: Knowledge of Spanish language is an asset.
Experience working in Rio de Janeiro and/or São Paulo, with demonstrated understanding of local governance structures, violence dynamics, and service delivery challenges affecting children and adolescents is an asset.
Experience working on child protection interventions in contexts affected by armed violence, organized crime, urban insecurity, or other complex protection environments is an asset.
Direct experience engaging with public security institutions, including police and security actors, on issues related to child rights and child protection is an asset.
Experience developing operational tools, standards, protocols, and guidance materials to strengthen prevention and response to violence against children is an asset.
Experience working within the United Nations system, international organizations, or in developing-country contexts is an asset.
Strong political acumen and understanding of Brazil’s inter-federative governance system and its implications for policy implementation and coordination is an asset.
Demonstrated experience building strategic partnerships and facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration among government, civil society, academic institutions, and community-based organizations is an asset.
Experience supporting policy advocacy, legislative reform processes, or public policy development related to child protection and violence prevention is an asset.
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts is desirable.

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

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.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children's data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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 candidates 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.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. 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.

Child Protection Officer (NO-2), FT, #00129136, Rio de Janeiro – Brazil, LACR