Health Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and emphasizes equity, focusing on the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families. UNICEF employs a diverse workforce and offers opportunities for professional and personal development, along with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The Health Specialist position at UNICEF involves supporting the development and preparation of health programs, managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on the progress of specific health program sectors such as gender, maternal, neonatal, and child survival/development. The role requires providing technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to ensure the achievement of sustainable results in alignment with organizational strategic plans and accountability frameworks. The Health Specialist will also engage in networking and partnership building, innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building to enhance program effectiveness.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the development and planning of health programs, ensuring alignment with UNICEF's strategic goals.
• Manage the implementation of health programs, monitoring progress and delivering results in accordance with established plans.
• Provide technical and operational support for program implementation, ensuring adherence to best practices and standards.
• Build and maintain partnerships with stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and community organizations, to enhance program reach and effectiveness.
• Engage in knowledge management activities, sharing insights and lessons learned to improve program outcomes.
• Conduct evaluations and assessments to measure program impact and inform future planning.
• Facilitate capacity building initiatives for local partners and stakeholders to strengthen health systems and service delivery.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in public health, epidemiology, pediatrics, family health, global health, health policy, health management, social medicine, or related fields. Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant area combined with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted. Candidates should have at least five years of relevant work experience in health, health care planning, public health, management, maternal and child health, health emergencies, and related fields. Skills in program planning, management, technical guidance, inter-agency coordination, and monitoring and evaluation are essential.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field is required. A Bachelor’s degree may be accepted if combined with sufficient relevant work experience. The educational background should focus on areas such as public health, epidemiology, or health management, which are critical for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant work experience in health-related fields. This includes experience in health care planning, public health management, maternal and child health, and emergency preparedness. Candidates should have a proven track record of managing health programs and working in diverse settings, including developing countries and humanitarian contexts.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, along with proficiency in the local languages of the duty station, specifically Pashto and Dari. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve working in challenging environments. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women and individuals with disabilities. The organization offers various benefits, including paid parental leave and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Candidates must undergo rigorous background checks and medical clearance, and compliance with vaccination requirements is mandatory. UNICEF does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.