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, results

We are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not a job, it’s a calling.

UNICEF's Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) in Budapest, Hungary provides services to UNICEF offices globally in the areas of Finance, Human Resources, Payroll and Information Technology. For more information about GSSC please visit our webpage at Global Shared Services Centre | UNICEF and check this YouTube.

How can you make a difference?

The People & Culture Associate contributes to ensuring that a full range of activities for the personnel administration and benefits of staff are maintained in accordance with UNICEF’s policies and procedures. This post contributes to strengthening the operations of the organization, maintaining/enhancing benefits and entitlement to all staff.

Under the supervision and guidance of People and Culture Officer, the People & Culture Associate, GS6 is responsible for the following tasks.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Determine appropriate entitlements and appointments.

Process highly complex cases and transactions in different systems, ensuring that they are in accordance with the internal rules and regulations, processes and procedures.
Provide accurate and informed guidance to staff members in accordance with staff rules and regulation, as well UNICEF’s policies.
Analyse cases that do not comply with UNICEF’s Rules & Regulations in consultation with People & Culture Manager/Officer.
Review complex transactions in advance of submittal to payroll.
Ensure appropriate and timely actions are taken regarding the administration of benefits and entitlements of UNICEF staff members under his/her responsibility.

2. Maintain computerized reporting system for Human Resources Processes.

Report directly to People & Culture Officer for approval of staff data.
Verify information for monthly and bi-monthly reports to ensure that salaries are affected with correct entitlements.

3. Train other staff on entitlements and processes.

- Keep staff abreast on HR rules and regulations, business processes, changes to and processing of entitlements and benefits.
- Provide knowledge transfer to GS-5 staff. Support and ensure timely action on entitlements, contractual status, etc.
- Ensure staff is knowledgeable and up to date on all relevant aspects of HR administration.

4. Coordinate with various divisions within UN System.

- Gather and disseminate information in response to staff queries.
- Provide support to staff on various entitlements and benefits
- Perform ad hoc responsibilities as requested by People & Culture Officer.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Completion of secondary education (high school diploma) is a minimum requirement.

Work Experience: Minimum of six (6) years of relevant work experience in human resources is required. A completed university degree from an accredited institution will be counted towards the minimum work experience requirement. Minimum three (3) years of relevant experience is required for candidates holding bachelor’s degree in relevant fields. A relevant master’s degree may replace additional two (2) years.
Skills: Advanced knowledge in the Microsoft Suite of Products (including MS Word, MS Excel & MS PowerPoint) is required.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required.

Desirables:

University level courses in human resources and business administration are desirable.
Previous hands-on experience in planning, organizing and delivering administrative support services is highly desirable.
Work experience with a development organization is an asset.
Knowledge of UN/UNICEF'S rules, regulations and procedures is considered an asset.
Knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is considered an asset.
Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

Internal applicants from the GSSC are required to complete the Learning Path corresponding to their current level before applying for another position. Additionally, they must attach a snapshot of the completed path to their applications. Applications that do not meet these two minimum requirements will not be considered. For further details on learning paths, please visit the L&D Portal Learning and Development (sharepoint.com).

As an advocate for every child, you will receive…

UNICEF offers an attractive remuneration package with UNICEF GSSC Benefits 2026.pdf

For further details, please visit Compensation and Benefit site on UNICEF Career page

Applicants must be nationals of Hungary or EU/Schengen countries OR in the possession of a valid long-term Hungarian residence and work permits. Temporary and/or sponsored visas are not accepted. UNICEF GSSC does not facilitate MFA accreditation for locally recruited staff, applicants must be holders of acceptable permits already at the time of application. Applicants with non-EU citizenship must attach copies of their valid Hungarian work permits, otherwise their applications will not be considered.

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

The 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

People & Culture Associate, GS-6, HR Administration (Benefits & Entitlements), UNICEF Global Shared Services Centre, Budapest, Hungary (Post # 95657)