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 Opportunity

The Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) Division works with National Committees and UNICEF Regional and Country Offices, as well as other HQ divisions, to maximize income and influence from the private sector for the delivery of the UNICEF Strategic Plan. The Division is based in Rome, and the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office (LACRO) is based in Panama, providing strategic and technical support to PSFR Country and Cluster Offices in the Region.

Country Offices in Latin American and the Caribbean engage increasingly with the private sector – both for income and influence, and revenue has grown significantly in recent years. This post sits within the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office reporting to the Market Development Manager, Private Sector Fundraising and Partnerships, with close strategic and technical liaison with the Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) Division.

How can you make a difference?

Join UNICEF and help transform partnerships into impact for children across Latin America and the Caribbean. As a Market Development Specialist (P-3), you will play a key role in driving private sector fundraising, strategic partnerships, and resource mobilization initiatives that support UNICEF's mission. Working with country offices, regional leaders, and global teams, you will help identify growth opportunities, foster innovation, strengthen donor engagement, and maximize sustainable resources to create lasting change for children. If you are a strategic thinker with experience in fundraising, partnerships, business development, or resource mobilization and are passionate about making a meaningful impact, we invite you to join our team in Panama and help shape the future of private sector engagement in the region.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Partnerships and Fundraising Development:

Participates in the strategic development of private sector fundraising (PSFR) and broader private sector engagement and resource mobilization across LAC PSFR COs and emerging CO operations under the guidance of the Market Development Manager (P4).
Supports the maximization of results from private sector fundraising by contributing to a conducive environment and enablers for Fundraising and Partnerships, and the alignment of Private Sector Plans (PSPs) with country programme planning processes.
Advises PFP Managers/Specialists and COs to identify and implement opportunities for net income growth, funding diversification and enhanced efficiencies.
Facilitates the dissemination and implementation of global PFP strategies, policies, procedures and guidance across COs within the regional context.
Identifies and promotes fundraising innovation and new approaches to partnerships (e.g. public-private leveraging) to accelerate private sector revenue growth, programmatic results and CO sustainability.
Contributes to the broader work of the LAC PFP team to maximize private sector contributions to UNICEF programmes and the partnerships agenda in the region.

2. Planning and Monitoring:

Provides technical support to Country Offices (COs) in the development, updating, and implementation of Private Sector Plans (PSPs), including annual budgets, reporting cycles, and revenue allocation ensuring alignment between global and regional strategies and COs context and priorities.
Contributes to the optimization of fundraising investments and budgeting by supporting the preparation of PSFR affordability analysis, investment proposals, tracking allocation of PFP investment and revolving funds, and monitoring implementation and reporting.
Monitors and analyzes PSFR performance across COs, including analysis of results and expenses, identification of trends, strengths, and areas for improvement.
Contributes to the strengthening of planning and financial monitoring, analysis, and reporting systems in the region ensuring compliance with procedures, planning cycle and reporting requirements.
Facilitates knowledge sharing and documentation of lessons learned across COs and with the global private sector network, promoting the application of best practices.
Advises and supports COs in implementing appropriate risk management practices related to PSFR and partnerships, including compliance with due diligence policies and procedures.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Job Description Market Development Specialist P3.pdf

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: A completed advanced university degree (Master University Degree) in one of the following fields is required: business management, marketing, finance, international development, social studies or another relevant technical field.
Work Experience: At least 5 years relevant and progressively responsible professional work experience in private sector partnerships and fundraising (e.g. Individual Giving, Business, Philanthropy or Foundations), Resource Mobilization (e.g. private and public bilateral donors) or Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Skills: Expertise in Private Sector Fundraising and revenue growth.
Proven track record in developing Strategic Partnerships.
Demonstrated experience in Resource Mobilization and funding diversification.
Strong expertise in Donor Engagement and relationship management.
Strong analytical skills with expertise in Financial Analysis.
Proven experience in Stakeholder Management across complex, multi-country environments.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English and intermediate Spanish is required.

Desirables:

Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French or Russian).
Experience developing or managing complex fundraising or resource mobilization operations and donor engagement strategies is a strong advantage.
Experience of development or humanitarian work, country programme planning processes and experience working in programme countries is a strong advantage.
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts is an 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) 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 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 and male 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.

Market Development Specialist (P-3), FT, #103266, Panama City-Panama, LACRO