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 Empowerment

How can you make a difference?

Reporting to the Deputy Representative Operations, you will lead UNICEF's end-to-end supply chain operations, ensuring the timely, efficient and accountable delivery of goods, services and construction works that enable programme results for children.

You will oversee supply planning, procurement, contracting, customs clearance, warehousing, inventory management, logistics, and distribution in line with UNICEF policies and ethical standards. You will manage and develop the supply team, foster strong internal and external collaboration, and provide strategic technical support to governments to strengthen national supply chain systems. You will also drive innovation, promote local market development, and enhance supply chain performance to improve efficiency and value for money. In emergencies, you will lead logistics preparedness and response by developing operational strategies, coordinating with key partners, and ensuring business continuity. Your leadership will strengthen operational resilience, mitigate supply chain risks, and directly contribute to achieving impactful and sustainable results for children.

Lead UNICEF Malawi’s supply chain operations, ensuring timely, efficient and accountable delivery of goods, services and construction works that advance results for children.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File JD Supply and Logistics Specialist Level 3.doc

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

Minimum requirements

Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Business Administration, Management, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, Health or related social science field.
Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience, at the national and international levels, in supply, logistics, procurement, contract management, supply chain management, warehouse management, customs clearance, vendor management, transportation, emergency logistics, public procurement or another related field.
Skills:
Strong technical knowledge of end-to-end supply chain management, including procurement, contracting, logistics, warehousing, inventory management, customs clearance and distribution.
Ability to apply institutional supply, procurement and financial rules, ethical standards, risk management principles and internal controls to ensure compliant and accountable delivery.
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, including the ability to assess supply chain risks, identify bottlenecks, develop mitigation measures and improve value for money.
Proven ability to lead, supervise and develop teams, manage performance, and foster collaboration across programme, operations, government, supplier and partner stakeholders.
Strong communication, negotiation and conflict-resolution skills, including the ability to resolve misunderstandings constructively and influence decisions in complex operating environments.
Ability to drive innovation and continuous improvement, including practical use of digital tools and emerging technologies to strengthen supply chain efficiency, transparency and timeliness.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
Demonstrated experience negotiating with suppliers, service providers, government counterparts or partners to secure timely, cost-effective and compliant delivery of goods, services or works.
Experience applying a child-focused lens to supply chain decisions, including prioritizing timely delivery of essential supplies and services that directly support programme results for children.
Experience using supply chain data, digital platforms or performance dashboards to monitor delivery, identify risks and bottlenecks, and support evidence-based decision-making.
Experience working in emergency, fragile, landlocked or resource-constrained operating contexts where supply chain continuity, risk mitigation and rapid problem-solving are essential.
Demonstrated hands-on experience in end-to-end supply chain operations, including procurement, contracting, customs clearance, warehousing, transportation, inventory management and distribution.
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) 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 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 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.

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.

Supply & Logistics Specialist, P-3, Fixed Term Position, #00137626, Lilongwe, Malawi - ESAR