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 Resilience

Afghanistan remains one of the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian and development contexts, characterized by protracted humanitarian needs, recurrent natural disasters, climate-related shocks, population movements, disease outbreaks, access constraints, and severe socio-economic vulnerabilities affecting children and women. UNICEF Afghanistan implements a large-scale integrated programme through multiple zonal offices and field presences, combining humanitarian action, resilience programming, systems strengthening and support to basic human needs delivery.

Within the evolving humanitarian and Basic Human Needs (BHN) coordination architecture, UNICEF maintains significant leadership responsibilities in emergency preparedness and response, inter-agency coordination, UNICEF-led clusters and Areas of Responsibility (AoRs), and operational coordination at national and subnational levels. UNICEF also supports area-based and integrated coordination mechanisms to strengthen coherence between humanitarian action, resilience programming and longer-term systems support.

How can you make a difference?

The Chief, Field Operations and Emergencies reports to the Representative and is responsible for the overall management of the Field Operations and Emergencies Section, including oversight and coordination of zonal offices, emergency preparedness and response functions, humanitarian and BHN coordination responsibilities. The post ensures effective coordination between field operations, emergency response, programme sections and operational support functions to strengthen delivery, monitoring, accountability and operational effectiveness across Afghanistan. The position is office-based in Kabul with frequent travel to field locations.

1. Overall Leadership, Guidance and Coordination to UNICEF Field Operations and Zonal Offices

Provide strategic leadership, oversight and coordination to Chiefs of Field Offices and zonal office teams to ensure effective implementation, monitoring and delivery of UNICEF programmes across Afghanistan.
Ensure effective coordination between field offices, programme sections and operations functions to strengthen integrated programming, operational effectiveness and accountability for results.
Support field offices in work planning, implementation, operational coordination, risk management and monitoring of programme performance.
Ensure field realities, operational constraints, population movements, access issues and humanitarian priorities are effectively reflected in country office decision-making, planning and advocacy.
Promote integrated programming approaches and support coherent implementation of UNICEF programmes at subnational level, including in priority districts and high-risk areas.
Ensure effective field-level coordination and representation with government counterparts, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society and other humanitarian and development partners.

2. Leadership and Oversight for Emergency Preparedness and Response

Provide strategic managerial leadership and oversight for UNICEF emergency preparedness and response activities in Afghanistan, in line with UNICEF Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action and inter-agency humanitarian frameworks.
Ensure effective contingency planning, emergency preparedness, risk analysis and emergency response coordination across the country office and zonal offices.
Oversee the implementation and regular updating of the Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP 3.0), contingency plans and emergency preparedness actions.
Ensure timely and coordinated emergency response to population movements, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and other humanitarian emergencies affecting children and women.
Ensure appropriate emergency coordination, operational support, rapid assessments, reporting and response monitoring systems are maintained and strengthened.
Support surge planning, emergency staffing and operational readiness measures required to sustain emergency response capacities.

3. Effective Humanitarian Coordination and UNICEF Humanitarian Leadership Responsibilities

Provide leadership, oversight and strategic guidance for UNICEF-led clusters, humanitarian coordination mechanisms and inter-agency engagement.
Support effective UNICEF participation in humanitarian coordination platforms, including Humanitarian Country Team (HCT)-related processes, inter-cluster coordination mechanisms, operational coordination structures and area-based coordination mechanisms.
Ensure UNICEF maintains its humanitarian leadership accountabilities and coordination responsibilities within the evolving humanitarian and Basic Human Needs coordination architecture.
Support coordination and alignment between humanitarian coordination structures, area-based coordination mechanisms, Operational Coordination Teams (OCTs), Regional Teams and Basic Human Needs coordination platforms.
Ensure effective coordination between UNICEF programme sections, field offices, emergency teams and cluster coordination functions.
Support coherent humanitarian advocacy, operational coordination and engagement with humanitarian partners, donors and UN agencies.
Lead and strengthen UNICEF’s inter-agency collaboration and coordination on humanitarian action, emergency preparedness and response, anticipatory action, population movements and durable solutions, ensuring that UNICEF is effectively represented across humanitarian, area-based and Basic Human Needs coordination platforms.
Ensure that UNICEF’s operational leadership, programmatic priorities and advocacy agenda for children and women are effectively positioned and reflected in inter-agency analysis, planning, prioritization and decision-making processes.

4. Strengthen Risk-Informed, Resilience-Focused and Integrated Programming

Support the integration of humanitarian, resilience and risk-informed approaches across UNICEF programmes and field operations.
Promote integrated and area-based programming approaches to strengthen service delivery for vulnerable populations and communities.
Ensure field offices and programme sections incorporate risk-informed programming, disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness measures into planning and implementation processes.
Support strengthened analysis, monitoring and use of information related to humanitarian risks, vulnerability trends and operational constraints.
Promote coherence and complementarity between humanitarian action, resilience programming and support to basic human needs and essential services.
Support the development and implementation of integrated field delivery approaches in priority districts and high-risk areas.

5. Humanitarian Planning, Reporting, Resource Mobilization and Strategic Communication

Lead the development, coordination and quality assurance of UNICEF humanitarian planning, analysis and reporting products, including Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC), SitReps, flash updates, response plans, emergency appeals, donor reports and senior management briefing materials.
Ensure UNICEF humanitarian planning and response frameworks are aligned with the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP/HNRP), inter-agency priorities and the evolving humanitarian and Basic Human Needs coordination architecture.
Oversee the analysis of humanitarian access constraints and propose solution strategy, as part of the UN Access Working Group, to ensure humanitarian assistance reach beneficiaries.
Lead the development of emergency response strategies, operational plans and resource mobilization priorities in coordination with programme sections, field offices, cluster coordination teams and senior management.
Ensure timely and high-quality humanitarian reporting, analysis and information products to support strategic decision-making, advocacy, donor engagement and operational coordination.
Lead humanitarian donor engagement and resource mobilization efforts related to emergency preparedness and response, including coordination of proposals, appeals and reporting requirements.
Direct strategic communication and advocacy on humanitarian needs, operational risks, child rights concerns and emergency response priorities.

6. Strengthen Emergency and Field Coordination Capacities

Provide leadership and support for strengthening emergency preparedness, humanitarian coordination and field coordination capacities across UNICEF Afghanistan.
Support capacity development initiatives for UNICEF staff, and partners on emergency preparedness and response, humanitarian coordination, risk-informed programming and integrated field programming.
Promote knowledge sharing, lessons learned and continuous improvement related to field operations and emergency response.
Strengthening systems and tools for field monitoring, operational coordination, emergency reporting and programme oversight.

7. Support Senior Management Decision-Making and Strategic Coordination

Represent field operations, emergency preparedness and response, humanitarian coordination and field-level priorities within UNICEF management structures and strategic discussions.
Advise the Representative and Senior Management Team on humanitarian trends, operational risks, access constraints, population movements and emergency response priorities.
Support strategic planning, programme reviews, risk management and operational decision-making processes.
Ensure effective coordination and communication between field offices, programme sections, emergency functions and senior management.

The post is responsible for ensuring timely and effective programme delivery in humanitarian and development settings, strengthening field coordination, supporting risk-informed and resilience-focused programming, maintaining emergency preparedness and response readiness, and upholding UNICEF’s humanitarian leadership and coordination responsibilities.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File JD Chief Field Operations and Emergency, P-5, 00138371.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Administration, Government and Public Relations, Public or Social Policy, Sociology, Social or Community Development, or another relevant technical field.
Work Experience: A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional work experience in programme management, planning, monitoring and evaluation, project administration or another relevant area is required.
Skills: leadership, team management, drive to achieve, embrace change, manage ambiguity
Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables:

Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an advantage
Development context experience, multilateral agency experience
Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset
Experience in development contexts is an added advantage
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts

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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

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 female 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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

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.

Chief Field Operations and Emergency, P-5, Fixed Term, #00138371, Kabul - Afghanistan, APR