Administrative Specialist, (NO-3), FT , #132859, Kabul, Afghanistan, SAR

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 Champion

How can you make a difference?

You as the Specialist of Administrative Management Services in the Afghanistan Country Office will be accountable for providing managerial leadership and policy guidance to achieve effective administrative service management and staff capacity development. You will collaborate with Operations Management to ensure efficient administrative operations in support of the Office and country programmes. You will ensure that the office’s administrative operations and services are fully compliant with the organization’s administrative policies, procedures, rules, and regulations, while maintaining high‑quality operations in a complex and high‑volume context, supporting the Country Office in Kabul and 13 zonal offices across the country.

Working under the direct supervision of the Admin and Finance Manager, you will lead the day‑to‑day management of the assigned service lines, supervise three direct reports, and hold overall responsibility for managing a wider team of 31 staff members.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

• Appropriate and consistent interpretation and application of administrative policy and procedures are timely implemented to support operations at the country and sub-country levels.
• The budget preparation and implementation are properly administered, monitored and controlled in the area of administrative management and services.
• Supervision and leadership in management and operations of delivery and improvement in administrative support services are timely and effectively provided, and security arrangements are well established for enhanced safety and security.
• Property management of administrative supplies, office equipment, vehicles and other properties is effectively performed.
• Oversees the strategic management of UNICEF guest houses across Afghanistan, ensuring full compliance with safety, financial, and operational policies and standards.
• Provides strategic oversight of travel, fleet, and protocol services, ensuring efficient, safe, and cost-effective arrangements across all duty stations. Maintains compliance with UNICEF policies while delivering timely, high-quality services that support mission success and organizational standards.
• All administrative transactions and arrangements of contracts satisfy the requirements as stipulated and are in compliance with the applicable policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Staff capacity is enhanced through organized staff learning/development programmes in the area of administrative management and services.
• Effective working relations are maintained with other agencies, local authorities and implementing partners.
• Any other assigned administrative management responsibilities and services are effectively carried out and delivered.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD_Administrative Specialist NOC Kabul .pdf

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Business Administration, Social Science, Finance, and any other related fields.
• Work Experience: At least five years of relevant work experience in Administration, Operations, Facilities Management, Accommodation Management, Travel Management, Fleet Management, Contract Management, Budget Management, Asset Management, Staff Development, And Other Related Fields.
• Skills: Strong competencies in Policy Compliance, Budget Management, Facilities Management, Guesthouse Operations, Contract Management, and People Leadership are required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

• Language: Knowledge of the local language of the duty station is highly desirable. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
• ERP experience, SAP financial modules, Emergency Context 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

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 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 female 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.

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.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.