Senior Operations Associate (HACT), G-7, Temporary Appointment (9 months), Damascus, Syria #134307

UNICEF works tirelessly to uphold the rights of every child, everywhere. As part of this mission, we implement the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) to ensure accountability, reduce risks, and strengthen national systems. We are seeking a Senior Operations Associate (HACT) to provide critical financial, operational, and administrative support for HACT implementation. Your work will directly impact programme delivery, resource accountability, and sustainable results for children.

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 hope 

For nearly 60 years, UNICEF has stood by Syria’s children, guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Syria ratified in 1993. With six field offices, and 260 dedicated staff, 43 per cent of whom are women, UNICEF, together with its partners, is on the ground strengthening systems, scaling up services in the social sector and delivering life-saving supplies. From education and social protection, to health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, and child protection, UNICEF is reaching every child, everywhere.

Yet the conflict that erupted in 2011 changed everything. As violence spread and needs deepened, UNICEF shifted its focus, responding to the urgent needs of most vulnerable children and women across the country. Today, Syria remains one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises. In 2025, 16.7 million people, including 7.5 million children are in need of humanitarian support, 2.45 million children are out-of-school, and 2 million children are at risk of malnutrition. Recent clashes in various parts of the country clearly underscore the fragility of the situation on the ground, a reality made even more dangerous by nearly 300,000 explosive ordnances contaminating the country, placing children’s lives under constant danger.

How can you make a difference? 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to HACT planning during the programming process
2. Support to implementation of HACT activities
3. Review and use of HACT reports
4. Networking and inter-agency partnership
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  TOR-Senior Operations Associate (HACT).docx

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completion of secondary school education is a must.
• Work Experience:

• Seven years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: programme development/management, auditing, financial planning and management, or another related area.
• A bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a field relevant to the position may replace three years of related work experience. A master’s degree may replace an additional two years.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in Arabic and English is required.

 Desirables:

• Certified Public Accountant or other relevant certification is highly desirable.
• Certification in auditing, risk management, finance, and accounting is considered an added advantage. Prior experience in undertaking auditing tasks will be highly desirable.
• Experience in capacity building through training programs and mentoring, with a proven ability to deliver impactful presentations that drive engagement and understanding is an added advantage.

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…

(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 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 candidates 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.

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.