UNICEF is seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking and committed professional to join its team as a People and Culture Officer. In this exciting role, you will support the implementation of the People and Culture Strategy (2026–2029) and deliver a people-centered workplan aimed at fostering an enabled, motivated and high-performing workforce. You will play a key role in enhancing the efficiency of people and culture processes, fostering a positive workplace culture and employee experience, advancing data-driven talent management, and positioning UNICEF as an employer of choice. The role also offers the opportunity to support multiple emergency response efforts, making a meaningful contribution to UNICEF’s mission for children.

The Malawi Country Office offers an exciting and rewarding opportunity to join our dynamic People and Culture (P&C) team. Under the guidance of the People and Culture Specialist, you will support the overall delivery of the P&C workplan and provide services through strong technical expertise and a client-focused approach.

Responsibilities or duties

In this role, you will play a pivotal part in delivering a broad range of generalist people and culture services, managing end-to-end employee lifecycle matters, providing timely, people-centered guidance, ensuring fair, practical and policy-compliant solutions and supporting emergency response. You will help drive efficiency across P&C processes, strengthen workplace culture and employee experience, champion change, promote talent and performance management, and advance agile, innovative, and best-fit practices. The role spans, but not limited to, business partnering, strategic P&C support, service delivery, learning and capacity development, and workforce analytics.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Minimum requirements:

Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Human Resources Management, business management, international relations, psychology and any other related fields.

Skills:

• Strong technical knowledge of human resources management principles and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to provide sound guidance and advisory support to staff as an HR business partner.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to identify and assess issues, draw sound conclusions, and make practical recommendations.
• Ability to think critically, innovate, and apply creative problem-solving to a broad range of P&C issues.
• Ability to embrace and manage change effectively, including taking calculated risks when appropriate.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear and concise reports and deliver effective presentations.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to build productive, collaborative, and healthy working relationships.
• High level of discretion, sound judgment, and maturity in handling confidential information and sensitive matters, including concerns and grievances.
• Strong professionalism, technical proficiency, and commitment to client service.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language

Background and/or familiarity with emergencies are considered as a strong asset.

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

Experience needed

Work Experience: At least 2 years of relevant work experience in Human Resources, human resources management, workforce analytics, onboarding, staff engagement, staff experience, performance management, performance recognition, talent development, learning, career support, mental health, offboarding, project management and any other related fields.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

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

• Support the implementation of the People and Culture Strategy (2026–2029)
• Deliver a people-centered workplan aimed at fostering an enabled, motivated and high-performing workforce
• Enhance the efficiency of people and culture processes
• Foster a positive workplace culture and employee experience
• Advance data-driven talent management
• Position UNICEF as an employer of choice
• Support multiple emergency response efforts
• Support the overall delivery of the P&C workplan
• Provide services through strong technical expertise and a client-focused approach
• Deliver a broad range of generalist people and culture services
• Manage end-to-end employee lifecycle matters
• Provide timely, people-centered guidance
• Ensure fair, practical and policy-compliant solutions
• Support emergency response
• Drive efficiency across P&C processes
• Strengthen workplace culture and employee experience
• Champion change
• Promote talent and performance management
• Advance agile, innovative, and best-fit practices
• Business partnering
• Strategic P&C support
• Service delivery
• Learning and capacity development
• Workforce analytics

• Strong technical knowledge of human resources management principles and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to provide sound guidance and advisory support to staff as an HR business partner.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to identify and assess issues, draw sound conclusions, and make practical recommendations.
• Ability to think critically, innovate, and apply creative problem-solving to a broad range of P&C issues.
• Ability to embrace and manage change effectively, including taking calculated risks when appropriate.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear and concise reports and deliver effective presentations.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to build productive, collaborative, and healthy working relationships.
• High level of discretion, sound judgment, and maturity in handling confidential information and sensitive matters, including concerns and grievances.
• Strong professionalism, technical proficiency, and commitment to client service.

• Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Human Resources Management, business management, international relations, psychology and any other related fields.
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience in Human Resources, human resources management, workforce analytics, onboarding, staff engagement, staff experience, performance management, performance recognition, talent development, learning, career support, mental health, offboarding, project management and any other related fields.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language (Desirable).
• Background and/or familiarity with emergencies are considered as a strong asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.