Operations Specialist (P-3), FT, #00138703, Mexico City - Mexico, LACR

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.

UNICEF Mexico Country Office operates through a country-wide structure comprising a Country Office in Mexico City and three Zonal Offices serving the northern, southern, and eastern regions of the country. In support of the Country Programme 2026-2031, the office manages a complex operational environment that requires efficient, compliant, and client-oriented management of financial, administrative, human resources, supply, information technology, and business operations functions.

The Operations function is a strategic Business Partner role, assuring the best use of UNICEF assets in alignment with sound management practices, office priorities, and goals to deliver results for children. In the Mexico Country Office, Operations plays a central role in enabling programme implementation by strengthening risk management, fiduciary oversight, internal controls, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance across the office. 

UNICEF Mexico works with government, civil society and private sector partners to advance children’s rights and support national priorities, with a focus on the most vulnerable children and families. The Operations Specialist (P-3) will support leadership and oversight in support of the Deputy Representative Operations (P-5), and provide strategic technical leadership on Enterprise Risk Management, HACT Compliance, internal control frameworks, compliance performance and audit follow-up, while coaching and providing quality assurance to national officers. It will also supervise the Administrative and Finance Officer (NO-2), helping to strengthen finance and administration within the Operations unit while reinforcing managerial layering, accountability and consistency across risk management and operational support functions. In this sense, the position is planned for two years, a decision that will be revisited during the mid-term review.

As a Strategic Business Partner, the incumbent will support operations functions and work closely with the Deputy Representative Operations, facilitate change, provide risk informed, solution-focused analysis, advice and services and contribute to programme and management decisions for delivering results for children in specific operational contexts.  

The Operations Specialist will lead the Administration and Finance team and accomplish this by:

• Facilitating services in the functional areas of operations support: budget, financial management and reporting, facilities management, administration;
• Supporting the Deputy Representative Operations to implement career development opportunities for staff;
• Acting as a member of the Country Management Team (CMT), and uphold organizational risks, governance systems and policies, and promoting results-based management;
• Acting as a member of the Country Management Team, and upholding the organizational risks, governance systems and policies, and promoting results-based management;
• Understanding business needs for the office, to anticipate challenges, propose viable/creative solutions aimed at value for money;
• Providing key contribution to CPD, CPMP, AMP and support to Results Based Management and implementation using Value for Money criteria;
• Promoting the fundamentals of Digital Impact management, information security and controls while leading the Administration and Finance team;
• Supporting the country office during external and internal audit reviews and responding to audit observations and monitoring implementation of recommendations;
• Collaborate on providing regular feedback on risks and achievements of operations functions in the office;
• Leading on facility management with a specific focus on inclusive accessibility, eco sustainability and common premises;
• Monitoring business transactions processed by GSSC from a perspective of Efficiency, Performance, Risk Management and Fraud prevention

The Operations Specialist will support the Deputy Representative Operations to uphold the following five pillars, the core focus of all operations functions: Valuing People, Valuing Money, Valuing Risk Management, Valuing Systems and Structures, Valuing Partners.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD Operations Specialist P3 FT.pdf

• Education: Completed Advanced University Degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in one of the following areas is required: Business Management, Financial Management, Public Finance, Accounting, or related operations functions, including Supply Chain Management/Purchasing, Human Resources Management, Information Management, Information Technology, International Business, Project Management, and other related fields.
  Full professional accounting designation (CA, ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CPFA, Expert Comptable) from an internationally recognized institute/body of accountancy with valid membership in good standing is required in case the candidate does not have the advanced degree.
• Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience, at the national and/or international level, is required, specifically in implementing organizational initiatives in one or more operations management area: financial management and reporting; facilities management; administration. 
  Demonstrated supervisory experience is required, including experience guiding staff and providing oversight and quality assurance.
• Skills: Ability to manage financial resources, budgets, and operational performance effectively is required.
  Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate risks while ensuring compliance through effective internal controls, audit follow-up, and anti-fraud measures is required.
  Ability to improve business processes and operational efficiency through simplification, digital solutions, and continuous improvement initiatives is required.
  Ability to provide strategic operational advice and support informed decision-making through sound judgment and data-driven analysis is required.
  Ability to lead, supervise, and develop teams while fostering collaboration, inclusion, and staff well-being is required.
  Strong communication, negotiation, client-orientation, and stakeholder engagement skills are required.
• Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.
  

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French or Russian) is an asset. Knowledge of Spanish is highly desirable.
• Experience working with corporate ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning), especially SAP-Vision, and IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) is highly desirable.
• Experience working in the UN system, international NGOs, or large public or private sector organizations is considered an asset.
• Prior experience working with or in the private sector, and supporting private sector fundraising, is desirable.
• Additional experience in grant management and enterprise risk management, including its implementation and oversight, would be desirable.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts is an asset.

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

(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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable.

Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks.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.

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 from Africa and Asia 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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

Advertised: 06 Nov 2026 Central Standard Time (Mexico)
Applications close: 15 Nov 2026 Central Standard Time (Mexico)

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