Operations Associate (G-6), Information and Communications Technology, Supply and Procurement | Astana, KazakhstanJoin UNICEF Kazakhstan as an Operations Associate supporting Information and Communications Technology, Supply and Procurement. The role contributes to IT support, procurement, logistics, and supply chain activities, ensuring efficient and compliant operational services to advance UNICEF's work for children. Relevant experience in ICT and supply/procurement is required.

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?

UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to reach the children and young people who are most at risk and most in need. In Kazakhstan, we work to protect every child’s rights. To ensure they are healthy and safe. To help them learn and develop from the earliest years. To empower adolescents and young people with the skills, resilience and opportunities they need to shape their future and contribute to the country’s development.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been working in Kazakhstan since 1994, supporting the Government in advancing child rights and strengthening national systems in health, education, social protection and child protection.

Today, UNICEF’s cooperation is guided by the 2026–2030 Country Programme, which contributes to national priorities, the Sustainable Development Goals and Kazakhstan’s long-term development vision.

Our overarching goal is to support Kazakhstan in strengthening human capital and accelerating progress for children – especially the most vulnerable, including children with disabilities and those living in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

Under the supervision and guidance of the supervisor, the Operations Associate provides a broad range of procedural, administrative, and specialized operational support across functions such as administration, finance and budget, people and culture, supply and procurement, and information and communications technology (ICT). The role requires in-depth knowledge of UNICEF procedures, processes, and policies to ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of services, accurate application of rules and regulations, and effective coordination with internal and external partners

  1. Information and Communications Technology - To provide ICT support ensuring reliable connectivity, secure digital assets, and efficient use of technology resources.
  • Deliver first and second-level ICT support by logging, tracking, and resolving service requests, troubleshooting technical issues, and escalating complex cases as necessary.
  • Managing lifecycle of assigned ICT incidents in service management tool.
  • Maintain ICT inventory, manuals, and other documentation.
  • Ensure timely updates to systems, software, and hardware in line with lifecycle requirements, including mission critical assets related to connectivity and firewalls.
  • Perform the installation, upgrade, configuration, and routine maintenance of ICT equipment, systems, and applications.
  • Support conferencing solutions, audiovisual equipment setup, and other ICT tools required for meetings and events.
  • Perform routine data backups and assist in the generation of system reports, ensuring compliance with data retention standards.
  • Provide inputs to emergency data telecoms preparedness and ICT Disaster Recovery simulation testing to support the office BCP.
  • Provide basic user orientation and training on UNICEF-approved platforms, tools, and security protocols.
  1. Supply and Procurement: To support procurement, logistics, and supply chain operations ensuring timely delivery of goods and services in compliance with UNICEF policies.
  • Contribute to supply chain planning, forecasting, and performance monitoring, providing input to annual supply plans and procurement strategies.
  • Conduct data review, market research, and category analysis to support the development of cost-effective, sustainable procurement strategies.
  • Support procurement processes including establishing and maintaining (LTAs), preparation of documents for the Contracts Review Committee (CRC), preparation of Request for Quotations (RFQs), Invitation to Bid (ITBs), and Requests for Proposals (RFPs), organizing bid openings, conducting evaluations, and participating in clarifications and negotiations.
  • Prepare and process purchase orders and contracts in SAP (ERP), ensuring completeness, compliance, and timely approvals.
  • Ensure accurate documentation and filing for audit purposes.
  • Monitor supplier performance, delivery schedules, and implement vendor management practices such as supply performance reviews.
  • Provide logistics support, including warehouse operations, capacity assessments, and inventory management, ensuring accurate records and compliance with UNICEF standards.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Operations Associate ICT & Supply - Job Description.docx

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

Minimum requirements

  • Education: Completion of Secondary education is required, supplemented with formal training in Computer Science, Information Systems, Telecommunications, Engineering. 
  • Work Experience: A minimum of six years of practical work experience in information technology, requiring systematic methods of troubleshooting and problem solving is required.  
  • Skills: 
  • Experience in administrative support, including office management, record keeping, and coordination of operational processes, is required.
  • Practical experience in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) support, including troubleshooting, system maintenance, and user support, is required.
  • Experience in supply and procurement operations, including procurement processes, vendor liaison, and inventory management, is required.
  • Language Requirements: Fluency in English, Kazakh, and Russian is required.

Desirables

  • Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
  • Relevant administrative experience in supply chain management or a commercial context is desirable. 
  • ITIL Foundation Certificate or equivalent customer support certification is an asset. Technical or university courses related to supply chain, business administration, and contract/commercial law are also an asset.
  • Understanding of development and humanitarian work is an advantage.
  • 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, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted 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.

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.

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.