Emergency Officer, (NO-1), FT, #00123178 – Havana, Cuba

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

UNICEF collaborates with national institutions to guarantee rights and equal development opportunities for children and adolescents, and to strengthen a culture of rights and participation.

In the context of the Cuban economic model’s update, UNICEF supports the efforts of the government to preserve the achievements made in the well-being of children and adolescents and to face up new challenges.

Further information about our work is available at UNICEF | Cuba

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Cuba will begin a new Country Programme Document (CPD) cycle (2026–2030) in 2026. In this context, the office is pleased to announce the vacancy for an Emergency Officer, NO-1 level, on a Fixed Term Appointment, as part of its team.

This position will provide key functions and results to support effective teamwork in the implementation of the office’s emergency preparedness and response activities, in collaboration with other members of the country office’s emergency team. The incumbent will be responsible for providing technical expertise for the development, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of emergency interventions, with the aim of promoting the survival and well-being of children, mothers, and communities affected by emergency situations.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Emergency Preparedness: Provides professional assistance in an analysis to identify emergency-prone conditions/situations and risks and contributes to early warning and timely emergency preparedness. Assists in the formulation of plans of action in preparation and response to emergencies. Assists in organizing and conducting training for the office’s staff capacity building in emergencies preparedness and response. Participates in other emergency training workshops in the region and contributes to enhancement of the emergency preparedness and response capability of the office staff.

2. Emergency Response: Promptly assists in implementing the initial operational tasks relating to emergency assistance. Immediately collects reliable information to verify the nature and extend of the emergency with staff, government officials, other UN agencies or local organizations and media. Follows up to ensure that the office is provided with effective telecommunications facility and staff security assistance in an emergency, as necessary. Contacts with all UNICEF staff and their dependants and visitors to ensure their safety and whereabouts, and promptly informs head of office, supervisor and other emergency staff of their status as required. Participates in Implementing the emergency preparedness and response plan as necessary.

3. Emergency Project management: Participates in the implementation of plans of action and workplans for emergency projects. Undertakes field visits to emergency project areas, to assess local conditions and monitor project progress. Communicates and advocates on the situation and needs of children through local and international media, as appropriate. Collects and analyses lessons learnt from UNICEF's emergency experience.
Works with other colleagues to make sure that disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response strategies are mainstreamed in the country office's workplans.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Job description Emergency Officer Level 1 Cuba.doc

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completed first level university degree (Bachelor`s or equivalent) in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines is required.
• Work Experience: A minimum of one year of relevant professional work experience at the national or international level in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation or administration is required.
• Skills: Knowledge of the principle of gender parity and equality is required. Ability to analyze complex situations, identify risks and needs, and provide evidence-based recommendations for decision-making is required. Ability to support emergency preparedness, response, transition, and recovery activities in line with humanitarian and development objectives is required. Ability to prepare accurate, timely, and comprehensive reports, briefs, and situation updates for diverse stakeholders is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Spanish is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) is considered an asset.
• Experience in humanitarian assistance, disaster risk reduction, information management are highly desirable.
• Experience in emergency related resource mobilization, capacity building is a strong asset.
• Knowledge of UNICEF policies and strategy to address national and international emergency issues, particularly relating to conflicts, natural disasters, and recovery is desirable.
• Experience in contingency planning is desirable.
• Training experience in emergency response management is highly desirable.
• Understanding UNICEF`s core commitments for children in emergencies, humanitarian appeals is desirable.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts is an advantage.

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

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 male candidates and persons living with any disability 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.