Internal Vacancy: Operations Specialist (Admin, Supply & Procurement), NOC, FT, #138485, Kingston, Jamaica, 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 empowerment

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? 

Purpose of the Position:

Reporting to the Deputy Representative (Operations), P4, the incumbent supports oversight of procurement, supply chain, and logistics operations, helping ensure that governance frameworks, risk management systems, and performance monitoring mechanisms are in place and functioning effectively.

The Operations Specialist (Administration, Supply and Procurement) works under the Operational Support Working Group and serves as coordinator for the administration, procurement, supply, and logistics portfolio. The position supports the Deputy Representative (Operations) on strategic direction, governance, performance oversight, and continuous optimization of integrated operational services across twelve countries and territories, ensuring that service delivery is standardized, efficient, compliant, and fully aligned with programme priorities and organizational objectives.

The incumbent provides guidance to a geographically dispersed regional service platform, directly supervising Operations Associates (G6) and a Supply and Procurement Officer (NOA). Day-to-day operational execution is delegated to the associated teams, with the Operations Specialist providing guidance, quality assurance, and escalation support, particularly on complex, high-value, or high-risk operational matters, and referring matters requiring strategic decisions to the Deputy Representative (Operations).

Through this structure, the role supports the effective delivery and integration of administrative services; procurement and contracting; supply chain and logistics operations; travel and fleet services; premises and facilities management; asset and inventory control; and common operational services. The Operations Specialist implements and monitors compliance with service standards, operating procedures, performance frameworks, and internal control mechanisms, supporting clear accountability for results and effective stewardship of resources.

The incumbent works in close collaboration with the Finance Officer (NOA), Digital Impact/ICT Officer (NOA), and Risk and Compliance Officer (NOB) to support integrated operational planning and organizational effectiveness across the Caribbean MCO. The role contributes to strengthening operational performance, digital transformation, business continuity, and institutional accountability through a coordinated approach.

Working in close partnership with the Deputy Representative (Operations), the Operations Specialist supports the advancement of the One Office, One Operating Model by contributing to service integration, standardization, and value for money across the administration, procurement, supply, and logistics portfolio, helping ensure that operational systems remain fit-for-purpose and capable of supporting both programme delivery and humanitarian response across the Caribbean region.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Portfolio Coordination and Operational Support
2. Procurement, Supply Chain and Logistics Coordination
3. Administrative and Operational Service Delivery
4. Operational Performance Management and Business Transformation
5. Coordination of the Operational Support Working Group
6. Strategic Partnerships, Coordination and Organizational Effectiveness

This position belongs to the Operations Management working group. If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  NOC Operations Specialist (Admin, Supply & Procurement) Jamaica.pdf

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

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

(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 

(8) Nurtures, Leads and Manages People 

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 (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience at the national and/or international
  level is required in one or more areas of operations management, with substantial experience in administration, procurement, supply chain management, logistics, facilities and asset management, contract management, or related operational functions.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex operational portfolios, managing integrated service delivery functions and providing strategic oversight of administrative, procurement and supply operations is required.
• Knowledge of Results Based Management is a requirement.
• Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams, managing organizational change, establishing performance management frameworks and driving operational efficiency and service improvement initiatives is highly desirable.
• Experience in working with SAP/VISION and IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) is highly desirable.
• Experience in the United Nations system, international organizations, public sector institutions or other large and complex organizations is desirable.
• Experience working across multiple locations, countries or decentralized operating environments and coordinating with diverse internal and external stakeholders is an asset.
• Experience in emergency preparedness, humanitarian logistics, business continuity planning or operational support in emergency contexts is considered an asset.

• Emotional Intelligence
• Managing complexity and change

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

Eligibility Requirements: 

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.

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: 18 Sep 2026 SA Pacific Standard Time
Applications close: 04 Oct 2026 SA Pacific Standard Time

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