Senior Operations Associate

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 protection.

The Mongolia Country Office Country Programme is committed to protecting children's rights in line with international obligations. The programme priorities were selected based on consultations with national counterparts, United Nations agencies, and development partners to focus on areas that need action to achieve child-related national priorities and reduce equity gaps. The programme priorities, which include Health, Education, WASH and Climate Change, Child Protection, and Social Policy, aims to promote funding, policies, and address geographic disparities across the country.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

How can you make a difference?

Under the close supervision and guidance of the Operations Manager, the Senior Operations Associate provides technical and administrative support across finance, travel management, fleet and driver management, and supply functions to ensure smooth day-to-day operations of UNICEF Mongolia. The position supports compliance with UNICEF policies, effective use of resources, and operational efficiency in support of programme implementation.

• Finance Support
• Provide routine finance support to the Operations Section in line with UNICEF financial rules, procedures, and internal controls. Manage petty cash operations, including reconciliation and documentation. Support VAT-related processes, including vendor verification, tracking, and documentation.
• Process and monitor operational payments to vendors, service providers, and partners, including utilities, communications, and other recurring operational expenses through VISION/SAP.
• Monitor and follow up on payments processed through Global Shared Service Center and VISION/SAP, including programme, individual, and operational payments.
• Support vendor review and maintenance, including bank details and compliance checks.
• Support payroll and overtime-related processing and coordination.
• Travel Management
• Administer travel arrangements for staff and visitors in line with approved travel plans and UNICEF policies.
• Review all travel requests and process domestic and international travel arrangements (tickets, visas, accommodation, and DSA/per diem).
• Review and finalize travel authorizations in FIORI as the Travel Focal Point and prepare DSA calculation sheets, ensuring accuracy of information for approval by the Operations Manager.
• Coordinate with travel agencies and internal stakeholders to ensure cost-effective and timely travel arrangements.
• Brief staff on UNICEF travel policies, procedures, and travel entitlements.
• Ensure compliance with UNICEF travel policies and UNDSS security clearance requirements prior to travel.
• Fleet and Driver Management
• Manage the flow of office transportation and drivers, including performance monitoring and daily task allocation.
• Coordinate daily fleet operations through UN Mobility, including vehicle scheduling and movement planning.
• Ensure the safe, appropriate, and efficient use of official vehicles.
• Monitor vehicle logbooks, fuel consumption, maintenance, insurance, and registration to ensure compliance.
• Support adherence to road safety, security, and UNICEF fleet management standards.
• Organize driver training and support capacity-building initiatives related to safety, security, and vehicle management.
• Supply and Logistics Support
• Assist with procurement and supply processes, including preparation of requisitions, purchase orders, receipt of goods, and inventory tracking, in line with UNICEF policies and procedures.
• Facilitate the processing of institutional contracts in coordination with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare, update, and file procurement and logistics documentation; complete required forms and templates; support vendor master data management (MDM); upload TORs in VISION; and make necessary logistical arrangements.
• Collect invoices, compile and file supporting documentation for approval, upload electronic records, and process related transactions in VISION.
• Maintain up-to-date vendor lists, partner records, and Long-Term Agreements (LTAs).
• Maintain accurate supply documentation and support asset and inventory management activities.
• Support end-user monitoring and follow-up on the utilization of supplies and services.
• Coordinate logistics arrangements related to the delivery, storage, and distribution of supplies.
• Ensure full compliance with UNICEF supply and logistics policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Administrative and Operational Support
• Support the organization and management of office events, including partner meetings, retreats, and workshops.
• Assist in the timely procurement of office supplies and equipment to ensure availability and efficient use.
• Monitor appropriate use of office supplies and maintain updated inventory records.
• Ensure servicing and maintenance of office equipment and supplies in line with organizational standards.
• Provide general administrative support to the Operations Section.
• Coordinate with programme sections to ensure timely and efficient operational support.
  
  

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Senior Operations Associate_JD.pdf

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

Minimum Requirements

Completion of secondary education is required.

A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in operations, finance, administration, logistics, fleet, or supply support is required.

Three years and an additional two years of experience may be substituted for candidates holding a Bachelor's and Master's degree, respectively.

Experience in supporting successful client-oriented work units is an asset.

Experience in the UN or international organization is an asset.

Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

Strong organizational and coordination skills.

Good knowledge of administrative, finance, travel, fleet, and supply processes.

Proficiency in MS Office and familiarity with ERP systems (SAP/VISION) is an asset.

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset

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

The UNICEF Competencies Required For This Post Are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships [II]
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness [II]
• Drive to achieve results for impact [II]
• Innovates and embraces change [II]
• Manages ambiguity and complexity [II]
• Thinks and acts strategically [II]
• Manages ambiguity and complexity [II]
  
  

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.

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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

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.

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.