Internal Batch Recruitment (2 positions): Communication and Partnerships Specialist, NOC, FT, #138593 Trinidad & Tobago, #138561 Suriname, Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean

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 results

UNICEF’s Caribbean Mult-Country Office (MCO) serves twelve English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. As part of UNICEF's Future Focus Initiative, the Caribbean MCO brings together policy influence, technical expertise and strategic partnerships to advance results for children across the region through one integrated programme, one management structure and a shared pool of resources. The Multi-Country Programme 2027-2031 focuses on three shared outcomes: equitable access to primary health care, learning and skills; protection of children from all forms of violence; and child poverty reduction and resilience strengthening.

Children across the Caribbean face interconnected challenges including learning losses, mental health concerns, violence, child poverty and increasing exposure to climate-related disasters. Despite many countries being classified as upper-middle or high income, significant inequalities persist, particularly for vulnerable children, adolescents, indigenous communities and those living in remote areas. Small island developing states also face fiscal constraints and heightened vulnerability to economic and climate shocks, requiring stronger regional cooperation and system-based solutions.

The Caribbean MCO’s management strategy is governed by four principles that together translate the new business model into concrete ways of working:

• Impact-driven: technical expertise is organized in shared multi-country working groups rather than replicated in each country, with enabling functions aligned around UNICEF’s strongest comparative advantages.
• Effective and agile: parallel country ecosystems are replaced by harmonized systems and flexible cross-country staffing, keeping management lean and decisions close to implementation.
• Grounded: regional scale is balanced with national depth through country-specific workplans, Heads of Office in each duty station, and matrix management that anchors authority and accountability at country level.
• People-centered: structural and managerial choices are guided by staff wellbeing, transparency and inclusion, with clear role definitions, meaningful consultation, and continuous investment in learning and development.

The operational expression of this model is the working group model. Rather than replicating similar roles across four separate country offices, technical and operational expertise is organized into 16 thematic and functional working groups, each distributed across different duty stations and each serving the full 12-country MCO — not just its host location. Roles are designed around three organizing principles: shared regional service, meaning every specialist contributes to the wider MCO; complementary expertise, meaning team capabilities reinforce each other rather than repeating the same profile in multiple places; and agile presence, meaning the workforce can be rapidly deployed across countries through travel, surge support or remote modalities in line with evolving needs and priorities. This working group model is the foundation of a fundamentally new way of working for UNICEF in the Caribbean: depth replaces duplication, and shared capacity replaces fragmented country-by-country coverage.

How can you make a difference? 

The position located in T&T reports to the Advocacy and Communication Specialist (Team Lead), P3, and the position located in Suriname report to the Partnerships Specialist (Team Lead), P3 and therefore the incumbents will work closely with both Team Leads. The Communication and Partnerships Specialist provides technical guidance and performance input on assigned partnership development, partner stewardship, and resource-leveraging deliverables, in coordination with the formal supervisor. The incumbent serves as a focal point for integrating advocacy, communication, and partnership engagement within an assigned multi-country portfolio. The position collaborates closely with programme teams, country focal points, governments, development partners, International Financial Institutions, regional organizations, private and public -sector actors, media organizations, youth networks, and civil society partners across the Caribbean MCO.The Communication and Partnerships Specialist manages assigned advocacy, communication, and partnership engagement portfolios. The incumbent provides specialist technical advice and coordinates national and multi-country initiatives that influence public policy, mobilize strategic partnerships, strengthen UNICEF's visibility, and support the generation of financial and non-financial resources for children across the Caribbean Multi-Country Office

The incumbent supports UNICEF's strategic shift towards greater policy influence, public engagement, partnership development, and resource mobilization by identifying opportunities to leverage advocacy, communication, and partnerships to achieve results for children. The position contributes to the development of multi-country advocacy campaigns, communication strategies, stakeholder engagement plans, and partnership initiatives that generate political commitment, social change, public support, strategic alliances, and financial and non-financial resources for UNICEF's programme priorities.The role develops and maintains relationships with governments, regional organizations, International Financial Institutions, private-sector partners, foundations, youth networks, media organizations, civil society, and other strategic stakeholders, helping align influence, expertise, financing, and partnerships around UNICEF's priorities for children and adolescents.The position manages assigned projects and workstreams, coordinates contributions from internal and external stakeholders, develops high-quality advocacy, communication and partnership products, monitors results and identifies opportunities for innovation and impact. The incumbent serves as a technical resource on advocacy, communication, and partnership engagement within the MCO and contributes to strengthening UNICEF's visibility, credibility, influence, and resource mobilization efforts across the 12-country Caribbean portfolio.

Key functions and accountabilities are:

• Advocacy Strategy Development
• Advocacy Strategy Implementation
• Strategic Partnership Development and Resource Leveraging
• Strategic Communication and Public Engagement
• Digital Communications and Innovation
• Media Relations and Stakeholder Engagement

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  NOC Communication and Partnerships Specialist Suriname and T&T.pdf

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

Fluency in English and local language of duty station is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Candidates applying for NO positions must hold the nationality of the duty station country where the position is located, except for UNICEF internal candidates, holding a fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointment and are legally authorized to work in that country, independently of UNICEF appointment, and as per the UNICEF Staff Selection Procedure. Candidates must hold and upload a valid CARICOM Skills Certificate when applying to positions located in a CARICOM Member State outside of their country of nationality and are accountable for taking the respective steps for the verification of the certificate in the Duty Station, immediately upon arrival to the new Duty Station if selected for the position, in accordance with applicable immigration and employment requirements of the respective Country.

This batch recruitment covers two positions across the Caribbean Multi-Country Office. Candidates must indicate, at the time of application, the duty station(s) for which they are applying and where they already hold legal authorization to work without requiring UNICEF sponsorship. The positions are located in Paramaribo, Suriname and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

(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 are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel.Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in advocacy, strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, partnership development, resource mobilization, external relations, or related areas is required.
• Demonstrated experience contributing to the development and implementation of advocacy and communication strategies with clear theories of change, measurable time-bound objectives and performance indicators is required.
• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining strategic relationships with governments, regional organizations, development partners, private-sector entities, foundations, civil society organizations, or International Financial Institutions is required.
• Experience developing stakeholder engagement strategies and contributing to policy change is required.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting and/or managing projects and workplans in similar roles is required.

• Ability to influence and build partnerships, in close coordination with diverse stakeholders across countries.
• Strong coordination and communication skills, with the ability to coordinate effectively across multiple reporting relationships and geographic contexts.

• Experience supporting resource mobilization, donor engagement, partnership proposals, investment cases, or partner stewardship is highly desirable.
• Experience managing digital and social media platforms, content and audience engagement is desirable.
• Experience in media relations is desirable.
• Experience working in a regional, multi-country or matrix-management environment is desirable.
• Experience in training and facilitation and in developing or emergency contexts is an asset.
• Strong project management skills.
• Ability to prioritize and negotiate. 
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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, candidates that meet all the requirements and are legally allowed to work in the respective Duty Station 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.

UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of visa or work authorizations 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.

Advertised: 06 Oct 2026 SA Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: 20 Oct 2026 SA Eastern Standard Time

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