UNICEF Somalia is seeking an Administrative Associate, GS-6, under a Temporary Appointment based in Mogadishu. The role will support asset management, facilities and premises operations, events coordination, staff telecommunications, transportation services, and routine administrative reporting. The position requires strong organizational skills, experience in administrative or operational support, and the ability to work effectively in a complex and fast-paced environment.
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 a future
How can you make a difference?
The operational context of the UNICEF Somalia Country Office demands an exceptionally resilient administrative infrastructure to sustain programmatic delivery across an asymmetric and highly volatile environment. Operating within a complex, non-family duty station characterized by stringent security protocols, fluid logistics, and decentralized field offices, the efficient upkeep of institutional assets, telecommunications networks, and secure premises is directly tied to business continuity and staff safety. Introducing the Administrative Associate (GS-6) position provides a dedicated technical anchor to manage these high-stakes operational dependencies. Centralizing the tracking of high-value assets, optimizing cost-effective facility operations, relocation of the main office in Mogadishu and coordinating critical transportation and communications infrastructure, this role mitigates compliance risks and prevents administrative bottlenecks. Ultimately, this position relieves technical sections of transactional operational burdens, reinforcing internal controls and transforming routine administration into a proactive, compliant enabler of UNICEF's mandate for children in Somalia.
Under the supervision and guidance of the Administrative Officer, the Administrative Associate (GS 6) provides specialized administrative and operational support services in the areas of asset management, facilities and premises management, events support, staff telecommunications, and transportation coordination.
The role requires in depth knowledge of UNICEF administrative procedures, processes, systems and policies, and contributes to the efficient, compliant and cost-effective management of assets, facilities and operational services at the duty station. The incumbent supports business continuity and enables program delivery through accurate record keeping coordination, monitoring and routine follow up, in line with established guidelines.
Key functions, accountabilities and related duties
1. Asset management
- Maintain accurate, complete and up‑to‑date records of expendable and non‑expendable assets, including those recorded in VISION and supplementary tracking tools.
- Ensure proper asset tagging, location assignment, custodian allocation and status updates in accordance with UNICEF asset management procedures.
- Support the organization and conduct of annual and ad‑hoc physical asset verifications, including reconciliation of discrepancies and preparation of supporting documentation.
- Serve as Secretary/Member (Ex‑Officio) to the Property Survey Board (PSB), including preparation of cases, documentation, minutes and follow‑up on approved recommendations.
- Monitor and record asset movements, transfers, write‑offs and disposals, ensuring documentation is complete and compliant with organizational requirements.
- Maintain organized electronic and physical filing systems for all asset‑related documentation to support audits, reviews and management reporting.
2. Facilities and premises management
- Provide administrative and coordination support for the management and maintenance of office premises, guesthouses, warehouses and common facilities.
- Monitor service providers and contracts related to cleaning, life-support services, electricity, water, waste management, and office maintenance.
- Assist in coordinating routine and corrective maintenance of buildings, utilities, furniture and equipment in collaboration with relevant service providers.
- Support oversight of facilities‑related service providers by tracking deliverables, work orders and completion status, and escalating issues as required.
- Assist in monitoring compliance of facilities with organizational standards on safety, security and environmental considerations, in coordination with Security and ICT colleagues.
- Support space planning, office layout adjustments and all activities related to the relocation of the main office in Mogadishu.
3. Events management
- Provide administrative and logistical support for official meetings, workshops, conferences and events at the duty station.
- Assist with venue arrangements, room setup, equipment coordination, materials preparation and service requests, based on approved requirements.
- Coordinate with internal colleagues and external service providers to ensure timely delivery of logistical support for events.
- Maintain basic records related to events support activities for reporting and reference purposes.
4. Staff telecommunication management
- Administer the issuance, tracking, recovery and record‑recordkeeping of staff telecommunication items, including SIM cards, mobile phones and internet dongles.
- Ensure that all payments to telecommunication service providers are current to prevent any potential service interruptions for the UNICEF team.
- Maintain accurate inventories and allocation records for telecommunication equipment and subscriptions in line with established procedures.
- Provide routine administrative support related to telecommunication service coordination, including follow‑up with service providers as instructed.
- Escalate technical or service issues to ICT focal points as appropriate.
5. Transportation management
- In close working with Administrative Assistant for fleet management; provide administrative support to the coordination of transportation services for staff, visitors and official missions.
- Maintain accurate logs and records related to vehicle usage, allocations, trip requests and service schedules.
- Support the transport/fleet function by ensuring timely documentation, data entry and routine follow‑up on transport‑related requests.
- Assist in preparing summary information for reporting and monitoring purposes for the fleet management.
6. Administrative support and reporting
- Draft routine correspondence, reports, summaries and administrative briefs related to assigned functions.
- Maintain organized records and documentation to support internal controls, audit requirements and compliance reviews.
- Respond to routine queries from staff on administrative procedures related to assets, facilities and operational services, referring to complex issues to supervisors.
- Perform other related administrative duties as assigned to support office operations.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
TOR Admin Associate GS6.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: Completion of Secondary Education is required.
- Work Experience: At least 6 years of relevant work experience in administration, asset management, facilities management, operations administration, premises management, events management, transportation coordination, fleet management, telecommunications administration, records management, or inventory management is required.
- Skills: Coordination, Organizational skills, Accuracy, Operational support, Drafting skills, Digital tools.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
Desirables:
- Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is considered an asset.
- Knowledge of Somali language is an asset.
- Experience working in the UN, international organizations, or large public institutions is desired.
-
Technical/ vocational /university courses in administration, logistics, asset management,
facilities management or related fields are assets. -
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and
humanitarian contexts, is desired.
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
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 female 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.
Visa residence requirements: i.e. 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.