Join UNICEF in Ankara as the Digital Impact Officer and support UNICEF’s mission and strategic plan by enabling programme and operational effectiveness and efficiency through innovation, partnerships and providing ICT solutions and services in a timely, secure and safe manner.
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 digital opportunities
How can you make a difference?
The purpose of the incumbent role is to carry out broad ICT functions and enable the provision of ICT solutions and services and assist in the delivery of results in our office. The ICT function supports UNICEF’s mission and strategic plan by enabling programme and operational effectiveness and efficiency through innovation, partnerships and providing ICT solutions and services in a timely, secure and safe manner.
Summary of the key functions, accountabilities and related duties or tasks include:
1. Enable continuous operation of ICT infrastructure and accessibility to ICT solutions and services
- Ensure physical and logical security and safety of ICT environment and infrastructure;
- Operate ICT infrastructure — environment, hardware, network and telecommunications;
- Assist in the management of contracts for ICT for services and products;
- Implement corporate solutions, services and keep systems and applications up and running;
- Manage changes and apply upgrades, security updates and patches;
- Conduct or supervise the provision of preventive and corrective maintenance;
- Manage emergency telecommunication operations and equipment;
- Manage ICT disaster recovery plans;
- Monitor, assess and verify the use of ICT resources to ensure compliance;
- Escalate compliance exceptions (proactive) and deviations (reactive)
2. Provide help, support and assist with capacity building and knowledge management
- Provide technical and operational support to end-users;
- Manage escalated ICT incidents or problems to GSSC/ITSS;
- Distribute [CT-related communication materials from NYHQ GSSC or regional office;
- Prepare and circulate internal ICT-related communications —emails, manuals, newsletters, flyers, best practices, FAQs...
- Offer or coordinate training workshops or clinics to build end-users capacity or to introduce new solutions and services;
- Share local experience and lessons learned with regional office, GSSC or ITSS for the collective benefit;
- Support the planning, organization and implementation of capacity building and knowledge management initiatives to enhance staff competencies;
- Support opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency, effectiveness and foster innovation;
- Participate in-person or remotely in country, regional or global events, discussions setting the future of ICT evolution to achieve UNICEF mission;
- Stay abreast of ICT trends, developments and best practices through professional development — journals, training, certification, etc.
3. Support operational and administrative tasks
- Manage and supervise ICT Staff;
- Support the office business continuity plans development and ensure the inclusion of ICT inputs and perspective;
- Monitor risks and threats to ICT environment or infrastructure. Take appropriate action and inform management;
- Confirm the compliance with the host government regulatory requirements vis-å-vis the Basic
- Cooperation Agreement (BCA), i.e., data collection of sensitive information or personally identifiable information (Pll), telecommunications licenses, use of specialized equipment, such as HF/VHF radios, high-gain antennae, satellite phones, VSATs, VOIP, etc...
- Participate in inter-agency events, meetings or discussions to present UNICEF ICT interests, priorities and position;
- Act as ICT focal point for Emergency preparedness, Delivering as One, One UN or other initiatives;
- Work closely with Administration and Finance on budget, billing certification, inventory and asset management;
- Assist in providing information for reports, reviews or audits;
- Prepare documentation for programme, planning and budgeting exercises CPD, CPAP, IBR, MTR, AWP, etc.
- Liaise with regional office, GSSC and I TSS to keep abreast of new initiatives and opportunities to innovate and modernize office operations and to contribute to the collective ICT evolution.
4. Assist in the delivery of results
- Spearhead approved innovation initiatives and work closely with programme staff to facilitate proper implementation;
- Support technical and operational knowledge transfer to programme staff, implementing partners and beneficiaries;
- Study and understand the business requirements, i.e., PPP, RBM, HACT, etc... to improve the delivery of results;
- Advise programme staff to build an expert team to build better relationships with counterparts and implementing partners;
- Support counterparts and implementing partners to build capacity and nurture independence;
- Assist in the selection of training providers and the development of training materials;
- Collaborate with C4D and use their advocacy, outreach and dissemination tools for better utilization of technology to advance delivery of results;
- Support Supply and programme staff to establish local LTAs for ICT-related programme contracts for services and products;
- Provide oversight of providers and third-parties of ICT-related services and products to programme;
- Assist in the facilitation of project management methodologies training and support the application by staff, counterpart and implementing partners.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
Digital Impact Officer Level 2.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: A Bachelor (First Level) University degree in computer science, software engineering, information technology management or related field is required.
- Work Experience: At least two (2) years of relevant professional experience in information technology management in a large international organization and/or corporation is required.
- Skills: Certification and/or proven experience in at least one of these ICT technical competencies (ICT Project Management, Business Analytics, Information Security, ICT Audit and Risk Management, Telecommunications, Networks Information Security, Software Engineering and Programming) is required.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Turkish is required.
Desirables:
- Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
- Relevant experience in a UN system agency is desirable.
- 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
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, all 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.
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.