Programme Specialist (Polio Team Lead), P-4, Karachi, Pakistan #134912, Temporary Appointment ([...]

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For every child, the right to health!

UNICEF is pivotal in Pakistan’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), one of the two remaining polio-endemic countries globally. In partnership with local government and non-governmental organizations, UNICEF is committed to eradicating polio through persistent immunization efforts, community engagement, and comprehensive health communication strategies.

Under the guidance of the Chief of Field Office, this role is accountable for overseeing polio eradication efforts within the province. The Programme Specialist will manage the polio team and represent UNICEF within the provincial Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). The Programme Specialist shall have strong management and demonstrated experience in leading Social Behaviour Change strategies for polio eradication. The incumbent will oversee the entire polio programme, including the planning, design, implementation and administration of Social and Behavioral Change communication initiatives in accordance with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) focused on achievement of UNICEF's priorities.

How can you make a difference?

The incumbent will be responsible for the work of Polio Eradication Team in the Karachi office by advising and supervising them and facilitating their work. He / she will make independent decisions on corrective actions necessary to achieve the objective in his / her area of responsibility. He / she supports the programme to undertake all priority activities towards stopping polio transmission in Pakistan as guided by the Technical Advisory Group and in alignment within the GPEI strategy.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here : Programme Specialist - Polio Team lead Karachi P4.doc

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

Summary Of Key Functions / accountabilities

• Programme management and planning
• Advisory services and technical support
• Programme monitoring and delivery of results
• Advocacy, networking, and partnership building
• Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building

Education

Work Experience

Desirables

Language Requirements

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.

The UNICEF Competencies Required For This Post Are…

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 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 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 women, minorities, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups 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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed‑term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed‑term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).

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 staying and delivering 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 the resilience of communities and the 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.

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