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 safety

The Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office (LACRO), headquartered in Panama City, Panama, provides strategic leadership, technical guidance and oversight to UNICEF Country Offices across the region, supporting efforts to advance the rights and well-being of every child. The region is characterized by diverse and rapidly evolving contexts, shaped by structural inequalities, political and socioeconomic instability, migration and displacement, humanitarian emergencies, climate-related risks and other complex challenges. In this environment, LACRO works closely with Country Offices and partners to strengthen regional cooperation, preparedness and effective programme delivery for children and families.

How can you make a difference?

The Regional Security Advisor (RSA) reports to the Regional Director (RD) and maintains a technical reporting line to the Principal Security Coordinator (Matrix Management). The RSA is responsible for advising the RD as well as UNICEF Representatives in the region of their security duties and responsibilities in accordance with UN and UNICEF Security Management Systems and to enable the conduct of UNICEF activities while ensuring the security of personnel, premises and assets. The RSA manages, on behalf of the RD, security activities in support of the Regional Office, collaborating closely with all Section Chiefs, CO Senior Management, UNDSS C/SAs and other security personnel in the region, and provides independent security advice on UNICEF operations within the region. This position is in the UNICEF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACRO)-based post in Panama City, Panama, with frequent travels to UNICEF Country Offices (COs) in the LAC region.

Key functions and accountabilities:

Security Coordination
Security Risk Management and Analysis
Security Planning
Crisis Management
Compliance Monitoring
Training

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File JD_Regional Security Adviser_P5.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: A completed advanced university degree (Master's degree or higher) in a discipline related to Security Risk Management, Risk Prevention, International Relations, Conflict Analysis, Intelligence Analysis, Diplomatic Studies, Conflict and Security or Counter Terrorism is required.
Work Experience: A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in security risk management in an international context is required.
Skills: Demonstrated experience in supervising people is required.
Language Requirements: Proficiency in Spanish and English is required.

Desirables:

Language: Intermediate or proficient French is desirable; knowledge of Portuguese or Arabic would be an additional asset.
Demonstrated international security management experience and understanding of the United Nations Security Management System is highly desirable.
Previous experience within the United Nations is highly desirable.
Regional office-level work experience is considered an asset
Relevant country-level work experience, particularly in developing, fragile, emergency and humanitarian contexts, is considered a strong asset.

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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable. Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks. 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.

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.

Regional Security Advisor (P-5), FT, #00117053, Regional Services Div, Office of the Reg Director, Panama City – Panama, LACR