Internal Vacancy: Administrative Assistant (Executive), GS5, FT, #138601, Duty Station within the Caribbean Multi-Country Office (excluding Kingston, Jamaica)

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 opportunity

UNICEF’s Caribbean Multi-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? 

Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative (Programme Coordinator), the Administrative Assistant (Executive), G-5 provides executive, administrative and coordination support to the Deputy Representative and the three Assistant Representatives leading UNICEF Caribbean MCO's programmatic priorities. The incumbent is responsible for facilitating the efficient management of executive schedules, meetings, travel, correspondence, information flow and follow-up actions, while coordinating administrative processes and transactions in accordance with UNICEF rules, procedures and policies.

The position supports the smooth functioning of the Programme Coordination leadership team in a complex multi-country environment, serving as a key focal point for communications and coordination among programme teams, operations colleagues, senior management and external stakeholders. Through the provision of high-quality executive and administrative support services, the incumbent contributes to effective programme coordination and cross-country collaboration across the Caribbean Multi-Country Office.

The key functions of the Administrative Assistant (Executive) are:

1. Executive and Administrative Coordination Support
2. Programme Coordination and Workflow Support
3. Contracting, Procurement and Consultant Support
4. Meetings, Events and Travel Support
5. Office Administrative Services

This position belongs to the Programme Coordination working group. If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  G5 Administrative Assistant (Executive) Open position (except Jamaica).pdf

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

• High sense of confidentiality, discretion, initiative and sound judgment when handling sensitive information and senior-level interactions.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced, multi-country environment.
• Ability to manage executive schedules, coordinate meetings, missions and events,and ensure timely follow-up of actions and commitments.
• Strong organizational, planning and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and competing deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong communication skills, with capacity to engage and collaborate seamlessly with stakeholders at all levels across Duty Stations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively coordinate and follow up with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accuracy in administrative and operational processes.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and contribute to the achievement of common goals.
• Strong client orientation and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, partners and external stakeholders across Duty Stations.
• Ability to identify administrative and coordination requirements and proactively support the smooth functioning of the leadership team.

Applicants for positions in the General Service must be legally authorized to work in the duty station where the MCO position is located. 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 vacancy is open to internal candidates located in Bridgetown, Barbados; Belize City, Belize; Georgetown, Guyana; Paramaribo, Suriname; and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The position will be located at the duty station where the selected candidate currently works.

(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 administrative, secretarial, executive support, or programme support experience is required.
• Experience supporting senior managers or executives in a complex organizational environment is highly desirable.
• Experience working in a multicultural and geographically dispersed organization environment is desirable.
• Experience in travel administration, meeting and event coordination, contract and consultant administration, and the use of enterprise management systems is considered an asset.

• Project Management (2)
• Collaboration (2)
• Problem Solving (2)
• Digital Dexterity (2)

• 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 DS 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 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.

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

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