Programme Assistant, GS-5 TA, Montevideo, Uruguay #136506

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 be seen

Under the close supervision and guidance of the Child Protection Officer, the Programme Assistant provides a broad range of administrative, operational, and procedural support to the Programme Section. The Programme Assistant facilitates the implementation, monitoring, and delivery of programme results by ensuring the timely and effective execution of tasks in accordance with UNICEF rules and regulations. The Programme Assistant has a cross‑functional role and works in coordination with other sections

How can you make a difference?

1. Programme & Project Support
• Support the preparation, implementation and monitoring of annual work plans (AWPs), ensuring that planned results and coding are aligned with organizational priorities.
• Carry out transactions in SAP and ensure data accuracy, monitor project implementation, track expenditures, and process amendments when necessary.
• Assist in drafting inputs to programme reports, dashboards, and performance indicators using digital tools.
• Liaise with programme and operations colleagues to resolve transactional or procedural issues.

2. Administrative & Financial Support
• Facilitate processing of contracts (consultants, vendors, partnerships), including TOR uploads, Service Gateway transactions, and logistical arrangements.
• Manage office calendars, coordinate team meetings, draft meeting minutes/reports and ensure proper filing and dissemination of correspondence and records.
• Maintain updated tracking systems for staff leave, absence, and team events.
• Prepare documentation for financial monitoring, such as control plans and budget reports.
• Collect and facilitate processing of invoices and payment requests through VISION and Service Gateway.
• Conduct quarterly physical verifications of office assets, raise procurement requests for replacements, and update the asset records in accordance with UNICEF asset‑management policies.
• Update and validate partner contact databases, training participant lists, and consultant rosters—ensuring that information is current and best practice compliant.

3. Operations and Travel Support
• Provide travel support for team members, including trip/itinerary bookings, and coordination with travel focal points and HR for entitlements.
• Support procurement of supplies, and office equipment management, maintain updated inventories.

4. Administrative and Logistics Support and Event Coordination
• Provide logistical and operational support for training sessions, workshops, and conferences, including vendor coordination, venue/room bookings, catering services, and communication for participant confirmation.
• Assist in preparing background materials, agendas, and attendance records.

5. Knowledge Management & Communication
• Maintain well-organized document repository, both digital and physical where needed, systems for knowledge sharing and institutional memory.
• Provide administrative and logistics support for onboarding new staff, interns, consultants.
• Support staff in navigating digital repository to locate most up-to-date and relevant resource.
• Draft and edit internal communication including meeting summaries, and provides inputs to procedural guides if and as needed.

6. Digital Dexterity
• Utilize AI and data visualization tools to obtain synthesized information and presentation.
• Maintain digital archives in line with UNICEF’s digital workforce and data protection guidelines.
• Champion digital solutions and support colleagues in adopting new tools for efficiency.
• Safeguard documents ensuring confidentiality and mitigate data risks.

7. Emergency Support & Flexibility
• Support section during emergencies and/or surge assignments by reprioritizing tasks and providing accelerated administrative and logistical support.
• Ensure business continuity by providing back-up support in the office when required.

By expertly managing the compilation and coordination of critical work products, the incumbent directly ensures the timely delivery of essential project components and strict adherence to established operational frameworks. This proactive support streamlines administrative processes, mitigates potential delays, and establishes a robust and efficient operational foundation upon which the programme activities are effectively executed. Consequently, the incumbent's meticulous contributions have a significant impact on the office's overall efficiency and directly contribute to the successful and impactful implementation of project and programme objectives, ultimately enhancing the office's ability to achieve its strategic goals.

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

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completion of secondary education is required. Educational background in disciplines related to administration, finance, and project management will be considered an asset.
• Work Experience: Minimum five years of relevant administrative or clerical work experience required. Professional experience with the United Nations will be particularly valued.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish and English is required.
• A bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a field relevant to the position may be considered to compensate for three (3) years of experience in case the candidate lacks the required experience.
• A master’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a field relevant to the position may be considered to compensate for an additional two (2) years (in addition to the three years from above, totaling 5 years).

Desirables:

• 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

[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role].

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:

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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 underrepresented groups 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.

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.