Administrative Associate, GS6, Fixed Term Position, #138028, Colombo, Sri Lanka, APR (Open to Sri Lankan nationals only)

How can you make a difference?

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF Sri Lanka is looking for a highly committed and self-sustaining professional who can contribute to the effective delivery of complex administrative and operational support services. The Administrative Associate will play a key role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day functioning of office operations and service delivery.

The position offers an opportunity to contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and well-organized work environment through reliable administrative support, effective coordination, and clear communication. The role requires solid and broad-based administrative experience, a strong understanding of organizational workflows, and the ability to work independently with professionalism, attention to detail, and a consistent focus on quality, monitoring, and meeting deadlines.

In addition, the Administrative Associate will support the Operations Manager in maintaining office safety, security, and emergency preparedness arrangements; coordinate administrative support activities related to UN Common Premises; and provide leadership, coordination, and guidance to Senior Drivers/Drivers to ensure safe, efficient, and timely transportation services and overall service delivery.

Key Accountabilities

• Administration section Planning & Project Management (specialized)

Procurement

• Communications & Workflow
• Calendar/Meetings/Correspondence Management
• Events/Logistics
• Travel & Visa
• Invoice Processing
• Budget Monitoring (specialized)
• Supplies/Equipment management

Attendance

Minimum requirements

Desirables

• Professional and/or university courses related to the field of work are highly desirable.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language (Sinhala and/or Tamil) is an asset.
• Previous experience in planning, organizing and delivering support services in Admin/Finance/IT/Supply is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and meet tight deadlines in a fast‑paced work environment is desirable.
• Knowledge of UN/UNICEF'S rules, regulations and procedures is considered an asset.
• Proven ability to deal with confidential and sensitive communication and information is desirable.
• Experience working with corporate Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, particularly SAP, is desirable.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian and fragile settings is considered an added advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

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 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 are conditional on the selected candidate's 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 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.