Policy Specialist (Strategic Political & Economical Foresight), P-4, FT, #00133561, Reg Serv - Prog Planning Sec, Panama City – Panama, LACR

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 opportunity

The Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office (LACRO), headquartered in Panama City, Panama, provides strategic leadership, technical guidance, and oversight to 24 Country Offices across the region, supporting their efforts to advance child rights and equity through evidence-based policies, integrated programming, and regional cooperation. The region faces a dynamic and complex policy landscape, shaped by structural inequalities, climate change, technological transformation, demographic shifts, political instability, and ongoing migration and displacement. In this context, UNICEF LACRO is strengthening its policy and foresight function to better anticipate future trends, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and position UNICEF as a thought leader and influential partner in shaping child-centered policies across the region.

How can you make a difference?

The Policy Specialist provides strategic policy advice, political analysis, and foresight to the Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director, RMT, and Regional Office leadership, enabling informed decision-making and strengthening UNICEF's influence across Latin America and the Caribbean. Through horizon scanning, political economy analysis, and assessment of emerging trends, the role identifies opportunities, risks, and leverage points that shape regional priorities, partnerships, advocacy, and programming. Working closely with Country Offices, Headquarters, UN partners, regional institutions, and think tanks, the incumbent translates complex political, social, and economic developments into clear, actionable insights and recommendations. The position also leads to the development of high-impact strategic products, including policy related briefing notes, speeches, talking points, and policy analyses papers, ensuring UNICEF remains agile, strategically positioned, and influential in advancing children's rights and equitable outcomes for the most vulnerable children and adolescents in the region.

Key functions and accountabilities:

1. Strategic Intelligence, Foresight and Policy Analysis
2. Strategic Advisory Support to Leadership
3. Thought Leadership and Strategic Communications
4. Strategic Positioning and Partnerships
5. Regional Coordination and Knowledge Sharing

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD_Policy Specialist_P4 FT.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completed Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, Development Studies, Law, or a related field is required.
• Work Experience: A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in political analysis, governance, policy advisory, international development, or a closely related field is required.
  Experience providing substantive, strategic, and confidential policy - related advisory support to senior level officials and management decision making is required.
• Skills: Strong analytical thinking and synthesis skills, with the ability to distill complex information into concise, actionable insights and recommendations for senior management, are required.
  Experience engaging diplomatically with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, building effective partnerships, and navigating sensitive discussions is required.
  Experience providing strategic policy foresight, coordinating cross-functional initiatives, and delivering executive-level advisory support on emerging issues and organizational priorities is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and good working knowledge of Spanish are required. 

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese or Russian) is an asset. Working knowledge of Portuguese and French is an additional asset.
• Strong political judgment and regional contextual awareness to assess complex political dynamics, identify implications, and support strategic decision-making is highly desirable.
• Experience working with or within the UN system or a comparable international organization is an advantage.
• Experience providing preparation of policy briefs, analytical reports, briefing notes, and high-level correspondence on sensitive and politically complex issues is an asset.
• Experience in data analytics and foresight methods to support evidence-based analysis, risk assessment, and decision making is an asset.
• Proven experience, applying discretion and confidentiality in a sensitive work environment is an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts 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

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

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 are conditional on the selected candidates 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, all groups 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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.