Programme Associate

Are you passionate about sustainability, climate action, and making a difference for children worldwide? As a Programme Associate on UNICEF’s Climate, Energy, Environment, & Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED) Team, you will play a vital role in supporting key initiatives and ensuring the effective and timely delivery of programs aligned with UNICEF’s mission.

Collaborating closely with the Director, Senior Advisor, CEED Technical Team Leads, and external partners, you will contribute to advancing UNICEF’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP) and its resources across regions and divisions. In this dynamic role, you’ll monitor milestones, provide regular progress updates, and offer recommendations to keep activities on track, helping to drive impactful change for communities around the globe.

If you’re a proactive professional eager to support critical workstreams and foster collaboration within a global team dedicated to climate and sustainability, this role is the perfect opportunity for you!. 

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

Budget Monitoring and Management Support:

• Carry out transactions in VISION and Insight pertaining to grants and programme-related items for CEED including but not limited to registering grant allotments and monitoring grants and expenditures
• Regularly monitoring budgets and financial expenditures of the CEED team by employing applicable tools, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, keeping supervisor informed and advised on actions for decision and/or follow up.
• Working with the P1 Programme Officer and other support staff, prepare periodic or ad-hoc financial reports relating to CEED and donors to support the office in optimizing use of programme funds. This includes resources that are allocated across regions or other divisions for the organization-wide delivery of the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP).
• Works with grant managers to establish budget trackers in line with Grant/Project Outputs and regularly monitor balances / ensure costs are in line with the outputs and not going over budget, especially when a grant may be used by multiple team members for multiple workstreams.

Procurement & Contracts Management:

• Regularly updates the CEED Team with advanced notice/ planning on corporate deadlines and processes (including periodic process changes) for contracts and procurement
• Maintains contract tracking and adequate earmarking of budget for ongoing or new contracts for the CEED Team
• Facilitates the processing of cost distributions for staff contracts, contracts for consultants and external partners that provide a service to the CEED team, working in close collaboration with the CSC, POH, HR and other relevant sections. This includes conducting a quality review of TORs, consolidating and storing supporting documents for contract requests, and making necessary logistical arrangements.
• Guides managers in the process of PCA/SSAs in line with the policies and guidance issued by FRG, supply division and DHR.
• Maintains up-to-date vendor lists, partners, and consultant rosters.

Support to office priority setting, planning and operations: 

• Supports the smooth running of the daily operations of the entire CEED Team, which is globally dispersed across multiple timezones with respect to communications, meetings and work flow; identifies complex or sensitive subjects, and contacts, for special treatment as well as priority issues that need to be brought to the supervisor’s attention.
• Provides information and guidance to staff at all levels to ensure understanding of processes and deadlines.
• Support Team planning, including strategic reviews, travel plans and coordination, and administrative support requirements, calendar and meeting management
• Undertakes any other duties assigned by the supervisor.
• Executive Support & Correspondence Management for the CEED Director

Maintains Director’s calendar and arranges meetings: 

• Supports with organizing high-level meetings, including taking the lead for the  finalization of the meeting agenda, invitations, the production and distribution of documentation. Distribute meeting reports and information and ensure follows-up on required actions

Organizes official travel for the Director:

• Support Director’s office engagement activities, including the planning, coordination and execution of internal and external meetings and events. Support the preparation of agendas, presentations, briefing notes, and any other material required by the Director.
• Follow-up on critical tasks requiring the Director’s action and/or approval, including correspondence with Offices of the ED/DED/Directors, and coordinating with staff members and other offices as required. Draft correspondence on a variety of matters on behalf of the Director.
• Contribute to logistical arrangements for events involving senior management participation, working closely with the assistants of other Directors.

The following minimum requirements:

• Completion of secondary education in public administration, finance, international relations, political science, or another relevant technical field is required.
• For this position, a bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a relevant field may replace three years of related work experience.
• A master’s degree may replace additional two years is required.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 6 years of relevant administrative services, budget management, coordination or clerical work experience is required.
• Non-US candidates MUST be in possession of an existing US G4 visa or be a US permanent resident/citizen.
• Staff on stretch assignments holding G4 Visa in NYHQ are not eligible.

Desirables/Assets:

• Experience with UNICEF/UN is a strong asset.
• Training and experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other UNICEF software such as SAP/VISION, SharePoint; knowledge of integrated management information systems required.
• Knowledge of UNICEF administrative policies and procedures is an asset.
• Very strong organizational, planning and prioritizing skills and abilities.
• Well-developed sense of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to work proactively and independently under time pressure.
• Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with external partners.
• High sense of confidentiality, initiative and good judgment.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural background.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/577885