Join UNICEF Philippines as a Health Officer and help improve the lives of children and women, especially the most vulnerable. In this role, you will support the design, implementation, and evaluation of health programmes focused on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), children with disabilities, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI), emergency health response, and environmental health. Working alongside government partners, NGOs, UN agencies, and donors, you will turn evidence-based priorities into sustainable, impactful results that advance child health and well-being across the Philippines.
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 Health
How can you make a difference?
The Health programming within the UNICEF Philippines Country Office works to improve equitable health outcomes for children and women, particularly those who are most marginalized and vulnerable. As part of the Country Programme, the section supports the full health-programming cycle, including situation analysis, programme development and results-based planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. It works closely with government counterparts, civil society organizations, United Nations agencies, donors and other partners to strengthen programme delivery, address implementation bottlenecks, build institutional capacity, promote innovation and good practices, and mobilize partnerships and resources for sustainable health results.
As part of the UNICEF Philippines Country Office Health and Nutrition Programme, the Health Officer will contribute to the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health programmes focusing on non-immunization work like NCDs in children, Children with Disabilities, IMCI and some support for health in emergencies and children’s environmental health with particular attention to marginalized and vulnerable children and women. Working closely with government counterparts, civil society organizations, United Nations agencies, donors and other partners, the incumbent will help translate evidence and programme priorities into practical and sustainable results.
This position offers an exciting opportunity to combine technical public-health expertise with programme management, field engagement, partnership building and innovation. Under the supervision of the Immunization Specialist, the Health Officer will support situation analyses and results-based planning, monitor programme and financial performance, identify implementation bottlenecks, strengthen partner capacity, document lessons learned and contribute to advocacy and resource mobilization. The role is well suited to a collaborative and solutions-oriented professional who wants to grow while making a tangible contribution to the survival, health and development of every child.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
Health Officer, NO2, FT.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: A completed Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Public Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, Health Administration, Environmental Science/Health, Biological Science, Biological Sciences Teaching, Biology, Biomed Science, Biophysics, Bioengineering, Sociology, Epidemiology, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education or any other related field.
- Work Experience: At least two years of relevant work experience in Health, Health and Nutrition, Health Care, public health/nutrition planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness or any other related field.
- Skills: Health systems strengthening, Programme planning and management, Partnership building and networking, Results monitoring and evaluation, Innovation and knowledge management.
- Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.
Desirables:
- Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
- Previous experience with UNICEF; Experience working with the Department of Health, Centers for Health Development, and local government units on public health programmes Experience in child health programming, including Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness (IMNCI), prevention of non-communicable diseases in children, and programming for children with disabilities is desirable.
Experience in child health financing and the design of benefit packages is desirable. Experience in Climate and environmental health programming is an asset. Experience with resource mobilization and partnership development is desirable.
- A Doctor of Medicine is an asset.
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
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
(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.
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 irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, 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.