The position is required to support the expanding operational demands related to meetings, conferences, trainings and high-level engagements across the office. As the office increasingly hosts multi-stakeholder forums, internal coordination sessions and donor/partner engagements, a dedicated role is needed to oversee end-to-end event planning, efficient venue allocation, and integration of logistical, procurement, financial and administrative functions in close liaison with transport and travel.
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?
The purpose of this role to oversee the following portfolio in support of both Kenya Country Office and Nairobi Common Services
Venue & Events Coordination
- Leads end-to-end planning and coordination of meetings, conferences, and training sessions, ensuring alignment with organizational standards and protocols.
- Oversees the venue management system, proactively resolving scheduling conflicts and optimizing utilization of internal and external spaces.
- Coordinates comprehensive event logistics, including room setup, seating plans, AV/ICT requirements, interpretation services, and catering.
- Conducts quality assurance checks on venue readiness and functionality, ensuring compliance with safety and accessibility standards.
- Acts as the primary liaison between requesting offices, facilities management, ICT, and external vendors for seamless event delivery.
- Develops and disseminates standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines for venue booking and event management.
Procurement & Contracting Support
- Manages procurement processes for event-related goods and services, ensuring compliance with UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations.
- Prepares requisitions, TORs, and supporting documentation in VISION, monitors approval workflows and contract issuance.
- Maintains and updates vendor rosters and consultant databases for event services.
- Coordinates with Supply Section to ensure timely processing of POs, service contracts, and payments.
Communications & Workflow Management
- Oversees internal and external communications related to event planning, ensuring timely and accurate information flow.
- Responds to inquiries and provides guidance on venue availability, event logistics, and organizational procedures.
- Manages correspondence, including official emails and documentation linked to event coordination.
Calendar & Meeting Management
- Maintains and monitors calendars for shared meeting spaces and high-level events, ensuring visibility and accessibility for stakeholders.
- Organizes inter-agency and internal meetings, coordinating participant availability and resource allocation.
Event Facilitation & On-Site Support
- Provides on-site oversight during major events, ensuring adherence to plans and addressing emerging issues promptly.
- Coordinates with budget focal points on event-related expenditures, quotations, and financial reporting.
Financial & Invoice Processing
- Reviews and validates invoices for venue rentals, catering, and equipment services; ensures compliance with documentation standards.
- Processes transactions in VISION and monitors payment status, responding to vendor and client queries.
Supplies & Equipment Management
- Monitors availability and proper use of event-related supplies and maintains inventory of audiovisual equipment and materials.
- Coordinates repairs, replacements, and procurement of event assets; participates in annual physical inventory exercises.
Additional Duties
- Supports budget preparation and financial oversight for events, ensuring alignment with approved work plans.
- Performs other related duties as required to ensure efficient event and administrative operations and keep the supervisor abreast of potential problem areas and identify and recommend solutions.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: Completion of secondary education is required.
- Work Experience: Minimum five years of relevant administrative or clerical work experience required
- Skills : Technical knowledge and audio-visual management, Risk assessment and contingency planning; Venue selection and logistics management; Vendor and supplier management
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language – Kiswahili – is an asset.
Desirables:
- Proven experience in event management or a related field.
- Training /certification in events management
- In-depth knowledge of UNICEF Administrative procedures, particularly on events, conferencing, and travel.
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…
(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
[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role].
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.
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.