Programme Associate, GS6, Fixed Term Position, Global Programme Division, Nutrition and Child Development, Amman, Jordan COE, #00137529

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 Digital future

The Global Programme Division (GPD) plays a central role in driving programme excellence across UNICEF. It provides global strategic leadership and policy direction, develops and monitors frameworks and standards, and ensures coherence and alignment across sectors, regions, and partners. GPD generates high-impact, evidence-based solutions and serves as a hub of specialised expertise, offering technical guidance on policy reform and scalable programming.
GPD leads UNICEF’s policies, standards, and negotiations for programmes, ensuring that the organisation’s assets and priorities align with, and contribute to, child development goals. In addition, GPD strengthens country-level implementation through integrated technical support, linking global policy with on-the-ground action to deliver results for children on a scale.
As part of this structure, UNICEF has established Centres of Excellence (CoEs) to provide high-quality, demand-driven technical assistance to Country and Regional Offices, and their governments and partners. Located strategically in Nairobi, Panama, Amman, and Bangkok, the CoEs bring together cross-cutting expertise across time zones. Global Programme Practices in CoEs function as a single point of entry for support, delivering tailored assistance in priority areas such as policy reform in matters that advance the well-being of children, at-scale programme design, public finance, workforce development and institutional strengthening, and timely humanitarian response while promoting resilient development. In doing so, the CoEs also contribute to global policy standards, ensuring that UNICEF’s support is grounded in practical knowledge.

Join our team and play role in delivering results for children. You will provide crucial support across the programme cycle, from planning and partnership coordination to data analysis and reporting. Your focus on digital innovation and operational efficiency will help us work smarter and maximize our impact.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision and guidance of the supervisor, the Programme Associate provides specialized programme and administrative support to facilitate the development, implementation and monitoring of UNICEF's programmes. The role involves substantial engagement in data analysis, budget tracking, reporting, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective delivery and compliance with organizational rules. Incumbent exercises judgment, anticipates needs, and recommends actions that contribute to programme planning, implementation and reporting results.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Project Management and Implementing Partnership Coordination, ensuring smooth collaboration and timely processes.
• Data Management, Analysis & Reporting to generate actionable insights for decision-making.
• Grant Management, Budget Monitoring and Reporting, tracking utilization and supporting donor submissions.
• Digital Innovation & Operational Efficiency by leveraging AI and digital tools to streamline tasks.
• Communication, Knowledge Sharing and Dissemination to share results and best practices.
• Capacity Building & Event Coordination for workshops and learning activities.
• Flexibility & Surge Support to adapt to changing priorities and provide backup across the team.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD - Programme Associate_G6.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.
• Work Experience: A minimum of six years of administrative or clerical work experience is required and any other related fields.
• Skills:
• Project Management (3)
• Create project plans, objectives and deliverables
• Track and organize resources like time, budget, and team efforts
• Identify and report potential risks for further guidance
• Collaboration (3)
• Navigate organizational dynamics and adapt behavior to respond to different situations
• Choose appropriate words, tone and tailors' messages respectfully and persuasively to suit different audiences
• Write clear, concise and well-structured reports and documents using appropriate language
• Pay close attention to what others are saying, asking questions for clarification
• Present ideas and information clearly in front of groups
• Problem Solving (3)
• Analyze data, identify trends, patterns and anomalies
• Evaluate information, analyze problems, identify underlying causes and risks
• Summarize and communicate findings, focusing on actionable insights to support decision-making
• Make decisions in time-sensitive situations, even with incomplete information
• Assess the potential impact of solutions (costs, benefits and risks)
• Digital Dexterity (3)
• Utilize AI-powered tools and platforms to automate data analysis
• Apply prompts to improve the quality of reports and data, ensuring alignment with internal regulations and policies
• Use specialist technology business systems and software
• Analyze and summarize data from various business systems to generate reports and insights
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Prior experience in programme support functions is an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as 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

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 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.