Operations Specialist, NO-3, Fixed Term Position, Kabul, Afghanistan, #00138030

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

Strategic office context:

Afghanistan is one of two remaining polio endemic countries globally. In 2025, twenty-one cases of wild poliovirus cases were detected in children and in 2026, as of June, 6 cases of wild poliovirus have been detected in children, highlighting ongoing transmission of the virus and the urgent need for outbreak control measures. Additionally, Afghanistan ranks second among countries with the highest number (490,000) of children who have not received any routine vaccine dose in South Asia region and eighth globally. In 2025, one in two children completed their full schedule of routine vaccinations by one year of age (AHS 2025). The routine immunization system in Afghanistan is challenged with several factors including access into remote communities, declining funding for vaccine procurement and vaccination outreaches, mass displacement of populations, and rapid turnover of frontline workers. The low vaccination coverage and prevailing challenges have led to low quality of immunization with frequent occurrence of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, including measles and poliomyelitis.
Furthermore, health emergencies, conflicts and resulting population displacements have strained the health system, while weaknesses in health governance, financing and delivery, compounded by socio-cultural barriers, hinder access to quality health care. This picture is worsened by the shortage of human resources and their unequal distribution, the insufficiency of medical supplies, the low performance of health information systems and the existence of a weak community health system. These gaps in the health system in the context of humanitarian response in Afghanistan need to be urgently addressed to ensure the health and well-being of the most vulnerable children in Afghanistan. UNICEF’s work in Afghanistan provides the opportunity to work on Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus approach to strengthen links between different interventions in humanitarian and development context, helping build more resilient health systems and communities while contributing to risk reduction

Purpose of the job

The Operations Specialist provides technical and operational support to ensure the effective, efficient, and accountable delivery of Polio Section’s programme. The role involves supporting the management of financial, human resources, administrative, and supply functions, ensuring compliance with UNICEF policies and procedures, and contributing to the achievement of results for children. The Operations Specialist reports to the Chief of Immunization as per the Country Office set-up for supervision and guidance and works in close relationship with the Operations Section, the Supply & Logistics Section and the People & Culture Section of the Afghanistan Country Office.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Operations Specialist_NOC_Polio_Kabul.pdf

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in Business, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Operations, Public Finance, Supply Chain Management, Human Resources, Information Technology, International Business, Project Management, and in any other related field is required.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Operations, Facilities Management, Administration, Supply Management/Contracting/Logistics, Information Communication Technology, Human Resources, Operations Management, Financial Management, Procurement, Risk Management, Compliance, Donor reporting, Partnership Management. and any other related fields are required.
• Skills: Demonstrated expertise in results-based management, project management, and organizational initiatives are required. Strong emotional intelligence and complexity management skills are also required.
• Language requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Strong knowledge of IPSAS, SAP, HACT procedures, donor agreements, and humanitarian operations, with demonstrated ability to ensure compliance with organizational and donor requirements are also 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.