This is a re-advertisement, candidates who have already applied do not need to re-apply.

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 a Future

Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the world's regions most vulnerable to a diversity of hazards which have in parts been intensified by climate change: hurricanes in Central America and the Caribbean; torrential rains and flash flooding across the continent; prolonged droughts in Central and South America; large scale fires in South America; and volcanic activity and earthquakes along the Pacific coast and in the Caribbean. These disasters result in forced displacements and expose children to increased risk of exploitation and abuse.

UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office (LACRO) works to reinforce country offices (COs), partners and national counterparts' capacities to respond to emergencies, in accordance with the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) and within the principles of Humanitarian Reform and the inter-agency Transformative Agenda. At regional and country office level, UNICEF works with partners to ensure more focused cost effective and coherent humanitarian work in the region, while building up emergency preparedness through interagency cooperation. LACRO supports COs, partners and national counterparts to build more resilient systems, communities and societies, so they can better resist, absorb and recover from disasters. This includes a multi-sectorial approach to address vulnerabilities and risks to children.

How can you make a difference

The Emergency Manager (P4) at UNICEF LACRO provides strategic and technical support to Country Offices across Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen emergency preparedness and response. The role focuses on disaster preparedness, early warning, anticipatory action, and coordination during humanitarian crises. It also contributes to regional emergency management and may deploy surge support to country offices when needed. The position requires strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills to work effectively with UN partners, governments, NGOs, and donors in complex emergency contexts.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primary, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

Emergency Preparedness (regionally and/or in support of COs)

Strengthen Country Offices’ (COs) humanitarian capacity and accountability to deliver equitable, lifesaving interventions through training, learning initiatives and capacity building.

1. Participate in the formulation and monitoring of contingency and emergency response plans, ensuring sectoral compliance, adequate financial resources, and effective coordination of preparedness and response management.


2. Strengthen and accelerate regional and country humanitarian processes to ensure needs-based planning and effective implementation of the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs). Define roles and responsibilities for humanitarian planning and response; build knowledge and competencies of humanitarian leaders, managers and focal points; enhance partnerships; mobilize resources; and ensure effective inter-agency coordination.


3. Provide policy and programme advice on emergency preparedness and response, including management-related issues. Guide COs in strengthening preparedness and response mechanisms, particularly in anticipation of impending emergencies.


4. Develop and maintain emergency-related databases and ensure effective information flow for planning and implementation. Identify available resources in emergency-prone areas and establish logistics preparedness plans to enable timely response.


5. Develop, organize and conduct emergency training for regional standby Emergency Response Teams and CO staff. Participate in regional emergency workshops to strengthen UNICEF and partner emergency response capacity.


6. Ensure integration of risk-informed programming and national shock-responsive systems into all country programme cycle documents (CPD, CPMP, AWP/AMP, MTR, SITAN, SMR, HAC, etc.).


7. In coordination with the Regional Emergency Adviser (REA), liaise with UN agencies, NGOs, IFRC, regional groups, donors and partners to support inter-agency efforts and integrate UNICEF activities into broader humanitarian frameworks. Consolidate partnership opportunities and mobilize resources for emergency-related programmes and appeals. 

Emergency Response (in support of COs) 

1. Upon the onset of an emergency, deploy as Team Leader or member of the Emergency Response Team to establish UNICEF presence and initiate operational response.


2. Assess the impact of emergencies on children and families. Lead or participate in inter-agency needs assessments with Regional Office, HQ and field teams to determine priorities and define appropriate UNICEF interventions. Contribute to UN Country Team emergency assessments with a focus on survival, protection and wellbeing of children, adolescents and women.


3. Support the (Deputy) Representative in oversight of emergency operations, ensuring effective management of funding, budgets, reporting, field coordination and clear accountabilities. Provide back-up support to COs to monitor progress, identify constraints, and strengthen participatory decision-making processes.


4. Ensure systematic management and use of knowledge and evidence to improve delivery of CCCs. Prepare briefing notes and reports for senior management, HQ, donors and partners to inform decision-making and fundraising.

Other emergency programme management responsibilities (regionally or in support to COs) 

1. Prepare inputs for humanitarian appeals, project proposals and updates. Work with programme sections, Centres of Excellence (CoEs), and senior management to mobilize donor funding for emergency response, recovery and rehabilitation, including multi-annual appeals and concept notes.


2. Define longer-term operational and staffing requirements to transition from surge response to regularized emergency structures.


3. Maintain strategic coordination and liaison with government, UN agencies, NGOs, donors and partners. Represent UNICEF in humanitarian and recovery forums and keep management informed of key developments, risks and opportunities. Ensure effective sectoral coordination within the cluster framework in line with the CCCs.


4. Mainstream disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response strategies into country office workplans and programme documents, including Situation Analysis and Country Programme Documents.


5. Strengthen humanitarian advocacy to promote safe access and the provision of life-saving assistance and protection for children and communities. Lead the formulation of humanitarian access strategies and innovative approaches.


6. Contribute to regional and country discussions that strengthen the humanitarian-development nexus, including shock-responsive systems and durable solutions approaches that address children’s multidimensional vulnerabilities.


7. Provide technical assistance to COs and facilitate RO/HQ support in defining humanitarian strategies and ensuring inter-agency coordination. Participate in multi-country or inter-agency evaluation missions and undertake surge deployments as required.


8. Support the Regional Emergency Adviser in managing LACRO Humanitarian Action for Children planning and reporting, including oversight of ORE fund implementation rates and results.


9. Provide leadership and strategic direction for emergency programme development and humanitarian access. Hold primary responsibility for humanitarian access strategy formulation and shared responsibility for strategic programme decisions, financial accountability, human resource management, and cluster oversight, including supervision of emergency project teams. 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD Emergency Manager P4

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in social sciences, law or another related field. 
  A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. This is applicable to internal (FT, Continuing and Permanent) staff only.


• Work Experience: 8 years of relevant work experience with progressively greater management responsibilities in social planning, research, emergency and/or rehabilitation programmes at national and international levels, with significant emphasis on analysis and advice on the needs of children and women affected by emergencies. 


• Skills: UNICEF policies and strategy to address on national and international emergency issues, particularly relating to conflicts, natural disasters, and recovery. Knowledge of global humanitarian issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current UNCEF position and approaches. Knowledge of local conditions and country legislation relevant to UNICEF programmes. Knowledge of humanitarian reform principles, international humanitarian laws, reform updates. Knowledge of the latest developments and trends in emergency preparedness and response management related fields. UN security operations and guidelines. Knowledge of the principle of gender parity and equality.


• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Spanish is required. 

Desirables:

• Knowledge of Portuguese or French is highly desired. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.


• Direct field experience in emergency programme planning, management or evaluation is a distinct advantage.


• Work experience in LAC would be an asset.


• Relevant UN or international NGO experience is an asset.


• 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

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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children's data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

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.