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 Champion

How can you make a difference?

Purpose for the job: The Health Specialist reports to the Chief Feld Office (Level 4/5) for guidance and general supervision. The Health Specialist supports the development and preparation of the health programme and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the programme progress of a sector of the health programme (e.g. gender, maternal, neonatal, child survival/development) within the country programme. The Health Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), organizational Strategic Plans and goals, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

Aligned with the 2026–29 Strategic Plan and ongoing programme shift, UNICEF’s health programme is transitioning from direct implementation support to upstream advocacy and systems strengthening. In this context, upstream work means influencing policies, strategies, financing decisions, institutional arrangements, standards, planning processes and accountability mechanisms that shape how health services are designed, funded, delivered and monitored at scale. Advocacy means using evidence, analysis, convening power and strategic communication to influence government and partner decisions, secure commitment, remove bottlenecks and promote equitable prioritization of children and adolescents in national and sub-national health agendas. Adopting a systems approach means working through and strengthening national and sub-national health systems, government platforms, policies, financing, data, workforce capacities and accountability mechanisms, rather than relying primarily on standalone or project-based interventions. The Health Specialist will help drive this shift by advancing evidence-informed policy engagement, strategic partnerships and government-led reforms that improve service delivery, reduce bottlenecks and achieve sustainable impact at scale. Convening stakeholders, fostering cross-sectoral convergence and leveraging partnerships will be central to improving health outcomes for children and adolescents.

The role has a strong focus on upstream engagement through policy advocacy, systems strengthening, strategic partnerships, and the application of UNICEF’s 3Cs—Convene, Converge, and Catalyze—for Every Child approach to advance sustainable improvements in health systems and outcomes.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Support to programme development and planning by applying a systems-strengthening approach
Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
Technical and operational support to programme implementation
Networking, partnership building and upstream advocacy to influence policy, financing, planning and accountability for child and adolescent health
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 Health Specialist Level 3-FINAL.docx.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health/nutrition, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or another relevant technical field.
Work Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public health planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care and/ or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness.
Skills: Strong technical expertise in public health, with a focus on maternal, newborn and child health. Demonstrated programme management skills, including results- based management. Proven advocacy skills, including upstream advocacy and evidence-based engagement with key stakeholders.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required

Desirables:

MBBS with MD in Community Medicine is highly desirable.
Experience in supporting large-scale government health programmes through strengthening systems, including work with government platforms, policy and planning processes, service delivery systems, data use, capacity development and accountability mechanisms, is highly desirable.
Experience in upstream advocacy, including evidence-based policy engagement, strategic communication, stakeholder convening, partner coordination, resource mobilization or influencing government planning and financing decisions for public health is also highly desirable.
Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
Experience in health emergency preparedness and response is desirable for Guwahati position.
Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. Basic knowledge of Hindi for Ranchi position is highly 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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

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 promoting 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 candidate’s 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.

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 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.

The role focuses on upstream engagement through policy advocacy, systems strengthening, partnership building, and advancing UNICEF's 3Cs for Every Child approach Convene, Converge, and Catalyze; to achieve sustainable improvements in Health.

National officer positions require candidates with local knowledge, established networks, and the ability to engage effectively with Government partners.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Batch Recruitment (2 positions): Health Specialist, (NO-3), Fixed Term, Ranchi (#68444) and Guwahati (#131718), (Open for nationals of India only)