Programme Assistant (GS-5), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic #136566 [Temp Appointment]

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, results.

UNICEF Dominican Republic works to ensure the rights of all children and adolescents, especially those in vulnerable situations. The office partners with government, civil society and communities to promote equitable access to education, health, protection and participation. UNICEF also highlights persistent challenges affecting children—such as violence, educational gaps, climate change and early unions—and uses evidence, advocacy and social mobilization to drive change. With a rights‑based and equity‑focused approach, UNICEF positions itself as a strategic ally for building a safer, more inclusive and fair country where every child can grow with dignity and real opportunities for development.

How can you make a difference?

As a Programme Assistant in the Education Section, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth implementation of UNICEF’s programme results for children. You will provide essential administrative, operational, and programme support that strengthens coordination across teams, supports partners, and enables timely delivery of activities. Your work will contribute directly to programme efficiency, compliance, and overall impact.

In this role, you will:

• Support programme planning and implementation by monitoring workplans, assisting with transactions in our systems, tracking expenditures, preparing documentation, and ensuring data accuracy.
• Ensure effective budget and financial monitoring by tracking utilization, supporting revisions, preparing control plans, and maintaining accurate financial records.
• Facilitate administrative and logistical processes—including contract and procurement workflows, meeting coordination, travel arrangements, filing systems, and correspondence management.
• Coordinate events and capacity‑building activities, ensuring smooth logistics, preparation of materials, and support to participants and facilitators.
• Strengthen knowledge management by maintaining organized digital repositories, supporting onboarding processes, and ensuring consistent access to updated resources.
• Promote digital dexterity by using AI and digital tools for reporting, visualization, and document management, while safeguarding data integrity.
• Provide flexible emergency and surge support, ensuring business continuity and timely response when priorities shift.

Through meticulous coordination, strong organizational skills, and proactive support to colleagues, you will help accelerate progress toward UNICEF’s commitments to equity and better outcomes for every child.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Programme Assistant G5 Educ.Comp.

Please note that this role is a 1-year Temporary Appointment, with the possibility of extension 1 additional year, offering a valuable opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our work from day one.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completion of secondary education, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to business administration. A bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in Business Administration, Project Management, Finance, or other related field may replace three years of related work experience. A master’s degree may replace an additional two years.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of progressive relevant work experience in administration, project management or financial management.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish is required. Proficient level of English is required, but complete fluency is preferred.

Desirables:

• Skills: Strong technical proficiency, including advanced Excel skills (formulas, data validation, basic analysis), solid command of Microsoft Office 365 tools (Word, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint), and the ability to work effectively with digital collaboration platforms. Skilled in data management and record‑keeping with high accuracy, combined with strong organizational and prioritization abilities, clear communication, and a service‑oriented, collaborative approach when handling multiple requests and sensitive information.
• Prior experience working within the UN system—or in similarly complex, multicultural international organizations—.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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.

Inquiries related to this vacancy announcement will be received exclusively via the email address dmr-talent-acquisition@unicef.org, up to two days before the closing date of the vacancy.

Get Ready for UNICEF!

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

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.  Appointments may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).

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.

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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.