Quality Assurance Specialist, P-3, Fixed Term Position, Copenhagen, Supply Division, #00086209

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 Chance

How can you make a difference

To use specialized commodity knowledge to ensure that the appropriate quality standards are being consistently applied and maintained for pharmaceutical and/or nutrition products and food supplements globally purchased by UNICEF Supply Division and Country Offices.

Ensures compliance with Good Storage and Distribution Practices (GSDP), ISO and other relevant international regulations, standards and guidelines, including integration of Quality Management Systems (QMS) requirements into work processes and functions.

• Responsible for the selective quality inspection/testing of pharmaceutical and/or nutrition products, on receipt in Copenhagen and at any location of manufacturing required, including the field, and ensure fitness for use and consistence between the item, the material specification and purchase order requirements.
• Under guidance of the supervisor takes part in approval of manufacturers of pharmaceutical and nutrition products and food supplements. Performs or arranges GMP/GDSP inspection of manufacturers and service providers where relevant.
• Manages handling of complaints and recalls of pharmaceutical and nutrition products under guidance from the supervisor
• Arranges Pre-Delivery Inspections of Pharmaceutical and Nutrition products and food supplements to ensure compliance with specifications for the products
• Works with relevant centers in Supply Division to implement temperature-controlled shipments of pharmaceuticals and other relevant products supplied to and from Supply Division as well as for direct shipment to the customer.
• Supports implementation of GDP activities related to self-inspection and training.
• Any other duties as requested by the supervisor.

The selected candidate must be willing and able to travel to the duty stations, including emergency locations, as operational needs arise. This is a non-rotational and highly specialized position.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 86209_Quality Assurance Specialist_ P3 _QAPC_Nov 2025.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Pharmacy, Nutrition and Dietetics, Nutrition, Food Technology and any other related fields.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Pharmaceutical, Nutrition, Quality Assurance, Quality Management, Supplier auditing, pharmaceutical quality, Food safety, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Distribution Practices (GDP), inspection, procurement compliance and any other related fields.
• Skills: Quality Assurance, Good Storage and Distribution Practices (GSDP), Risk Management, Public Procurement, Supply Chain Models, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Distribution Practices (GDP).
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish)
• UN collaboration, international collaboration, QMS auditor certification, GMP auditor certification
• 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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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 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.