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

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world in population and geographical area, with 201.5 million people, of whom 59.7 million are children. Over one-half of all children are Afro-descendants and children account for more than one-third of the country’s 821,000 indigenous people. Brazil has made impressive gains in child rights in recent years yet remains an unequal country where certain groups of children and women have not yet benefited from these gains.

The impartial voice of UNICEF and its constructive partnership with the Government may be key in any political transition to maintain the gains in child rights and continue to expand and strengthen policies. This is particularly important for the most disadvantaged children: Afro-descendants; indigenous children; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) children; children in dispersed rural communities in the Northeast and Amazon regions; and children in marginal areas of large cities.

These boys and girls in situations of greater vulnerability are present throughout the country, but with greater concentration in the Amazon, in the semi-arid and in the great urban centers.

Through integrated programmes and with the commitment of all, UNICEF Brazil hopes to promote positive changes that could potentially impact the lives of all children and all adolescents in Brazil.

How can you make a difference?

The Programme Assistant (G5) is positioned in the Programme Section, reporting directly to the Supervisor or Section Chief. This position carries cross-sectoral functions of programme planning and operations, ensuring seamless coordination between technical teams, operations units, and external partners/service providers. Depending on programme priorities, the Incumbent may be positioned in sector-specific teams (e.g., Health, Education, Child Protection) or in crosscutting initiatives (e.g., equity, emergency response).

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Programme Assistant G5 job description.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Completion of secondary education (i.e. high school diploma) is required.
Work Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of relevant administrative or clerical work experience is required, including programme administration, project coordination support and financial administration.
Skills: Ability to coordinate and monitor operational activities, ensuring the timely delivery of outputs and effective management of priorities are required.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders is required.
Data management skills, including collection, maintenance, protection, analysis, and presentation of data, are required.
Demonstrated ability to maintain organized information and documentation are required.
Advanced knowledge of using Microsoft Office suite (especially Excel) is required.
Language Requirements: Proficiency in English and Portuguese is required.

Desirables:

Language: Proficiency in Spanish is desirable.
Completed technical or university degree in Accountancy, Public Administration, Planning and Management, Public Management, Economics, Social Policy, International Relations Affairs, or other related disciplines are desirable.
Familiarity with using SAP ERP is highly desirable.
Data visualization skills are an asset.
Experience in procurement, travel coordination, event management, knowledge management, contract and vendor management are desirable.
Relevant experience gained within the United Nations is an asset.
Familiarity with AI tools is an asset.
Relevant emergency response experience is desirable.
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) Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
(2) Works Collaboratively with others (1)
(3) Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
(4) Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
(5) Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
(6) Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
(7) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

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 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 persons with disabilities and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds 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.

Programme Assistant (G-5), FT, #00082695, Recife - Brazil, LACR