UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, dedication

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. Therefore, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

The Operations function is a strategic Business Partner role, assuring the best use of UNICEF assets in alignment with sound management practices, office priorities and goals to deliver results for children.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of a Deputy Representative Operations, the Operation Associate will support the operations functions, facilitate change, provide risk informed, solution-focused analysis, advice and services and contribute to programme and management decisions for delivering results for children in specific operational contexts.

The Operations Associate will accomplish this by:

• Supporting services in the functional areas of operations: budget, financial management and reporting, facilities management, administration, supply and procurement management, information and communications technology, and safety and security;

• Supporting the Operations Officer to review of business needs for the office, to propose viable solutions aimed at value for money;

• Supporting the fundamentals of ICT management, information security and controls;

• Assisting supply and procurement strategies and interventions to meet programmatic needs while ensuring Value for Money (VfM);

Supporting the management of office premises and facilities with a specific focus on inclusive accessibility, eco sustainability and common premises;

• Facilitating business transactions processed by GSSC from a perspective of Efficiency,Performance, Risk Management and Fraud prevention;

• Supporting the country office during external and internal audit or Peer reviews,contributing with responses to observations and monitoring implementation of recommendations.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The Operations Associate will be supporting the Operations Officer with the following five pillars, the core focus of all operations functions: Valuing People, Valuing Money, Valuing Risk Management, Valuing Systems and Structures, Valuing Partners.

Valuing People:

• Assist the Supervisor in creating an environment of staff well-being and accessibility and inclusion through supporting the implementation of strategies, policies, procedures.
• Assists in implementation of solutions related to people management and office culture as requested by the supervisor
• Keep abreast of industry standards in management and finance and share best practices and knowledge learned within the office.
• Support Excellence in Operations in UNICEF derived from the five strategic pillars.

Valuing Money:

• Assist the office in the Invoice Processing, collecting invoices and filing documents for approval and thereafter processing in vision.
• Upload electronic files and verify results to destination system.
• Respond to client transaction status and other inquiries in the office.
• Ensuring effective identification and use of resources in various concrete Value for Money (VfM) areas, including eco-efficiency and inclusivity, common premises, costing, results-based budgeting financial monitoring etc.
• Assist in the financial oversight management, monitoring and reporting of the office budget – make analysis as needed.
• Support the Supply plan for the office.

Valuing Risk Management:

• Support the office with up-to-date information to make operational and programmatic risk informed decisions with the enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (eGRC) platform.
• Support and participate in testing of business continuity plans to ensure UNICEF organizational resilience to disaster, risks and staff safety and security as well as Emergency Preparedness and Response to humanitarian situations.
• Support implementation of mandatory anti-fraud systems, processes and actions.
• Support mitigation of risks of engagement with external partners via appropriate, risk informed due diligence and HACT assurance activities.
• Supporting the management of office premises and facilities with a specific focus on inclusive accessibility, eco sustainability and common premises.
• Facilitating business transactions processed by GSSC from a perspective of Efficiency, Performance, Risk Management and Fraud prevention
• Supporting the country office during external and internal audit or Peer reviews, contributing with responses to observations and monitoring implementation of recommendations.

Valuing Systems and Structures:

Support to Financial Control

• Maintain unit/work plans and budgets as well as offline financial status reports for Unit work plans.
• Process payments in VISON related to HACT, utility payments, supplies, PO, advances and other payments.
• Check the requests have the necessary supporting documents, usually the original document, validity of the charge, they are certified by the staff responsible and are coded correctly.
• Assist in processing budget revisions of Unit projects for approval of the Chief of the Office
• Submit periodic financial reports for office management oversight, monitoring and review and confirm availability of funds as required.
• Process requisitions and prepare payment vouchers for the unit.

Valuing Partners:

• Support strengthening relations with internal and external stakeholders/ clients
• Provide administrative support on HACT implementation, including follow-up actions required on result of financial assurance activities.

Contracting of consultants or other service providers

• In consultation with supervisor, processes the contracts for consultants and external partners that provide a service to the section/ field office. This includes preparing and filing documents, completing necessary forms and templates, uploading TORs in vision, and making necessary logistical arrangements.
• Keeps vendor lists, partners, and consultant rosters up to date.
• Arrange for the purchase and timely distribution of office supplies.
• Completion of documentation and checklists for recruitment of individual consultants and contractors.

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

• Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the field of work
• A minimum of six years of progressively responsible administrative or financial work experience is required. An academic degree higher than the required degree may be considered to compensate up to two (2) years of experience in case the candidate lacks the required experience
• Fluency in Portuguese and English. Knowledge of Spanish will be considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability.

Competencies:

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels:

Competency_Framework.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious and ethnic backgrounds, representing the diversity of Brazil, such as black and indigenous people, to apply to become a part of our organization. Candidates will be equally considered regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, social and HIV/aids status.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background 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.

Remarks:

• Candidates must be Brazilian citizens or have a valid work permit.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• All candidates who wish to apply to this Vacancy Announcement are requested to prepare and submit their application in English.
• UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.