Executive Associate (GS6), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia #22621 (Open to Malaysian Only)

Overview

Provide high-level executive and operational support for UNICEF.

You have:

• Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to administration, management, or a related field.
• A minimum of six (6) years of relevant administrative, executive support, or clerical experience, preferably supporting senior-level managers.
• Fluency in English and Bahasa Malaysia is required.
• Knowledge of other local languages, such as Mandarin, Tamil, and Hokkien, is considered an asset, as is knowledge of another official UN language.
• Strong organizational, planning, and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks proactively and anticipate needs.
• Proven ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion, diplomacy, and sound judgement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage professionally with senior leaders and diverse stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including tact, diplomacy, and the ability to represent the supervisor effectively on administrative matters.

Contract

This is a G-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 1,440 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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.

In Malaysia, UNICEF adds value by influencing the development narrative of the country through quality evidence generation, evidence-based advocacy and policy recommendations, supported by partnerships and alliances with civil society, the private sector, academia, and think tanks.

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

For every child, the right to the right to be protected, supported, and empowered

Under the supervision of the Head of Office, the Executive Associate, GS-6, provides high-level executive and operational support to ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of the office. The role is pivotal in enabling senior leadership to focus on strategic and substantive priorities by ensuring day-to-day operations, communications, and administrative processes are managed with professionalism, accuracy, and discretion.

How can you make a difference****?

As an Executive Associate, you will be a trusted partner to senior leadership, contributing directly to the effectiveness of UNICEF’s programmes and operations. Your work will help ensure timely decision-making, strong internal coordination, and compliance with organizational policies and procedures.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Delivering high-level administrative and operational support to ensure smooth office functioning.
• Providing comprehensive communications and correspondence support on behalf of the supervisor.
• Managing the supervisor’s calendar, meetings, travel, and briefing materials.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Executive Associate JD G-6 (Final).pdf attached.

In this role, you will apply a broad range of specialized administrative and operational procedures to support senior management and their teams. By coordinating communications, following up on deadlines, and representing the head of office on administrative matters, you will help ensure efficiency, accountability, and continuity of office operations—allowing leadership to focus on delivering results for children.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to administration, management, or a related field.

Work Experience:

A minimum of six (6) years of relevant administrative, executive support, or clerical experience, preferably supporting senior-level managers.

Skills:

• Strong organizational, planning, and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks proactively and anticipate needs.
• Self‑starter with a high level of initiative, confidence, and ownership of responsibilities.
• Proven ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion, diplomacy, and sound judgement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage professionally with senior leaders and diverse stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including tact, diplomacy, and the ability to represent the supervisor effectively on administrative matters.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and corporate systems such as SharePoint and enterprise resource planning tools.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with colleagues of diverse national and cultural backgrounds.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Bahasa Malaysia is required. Knowledge of other local languages, such as Mandarin, Tamil, and Hokkien, is considered an asset, as is knowledge of another official UN language.

Desirables:

• Experience providing senior level executive support within the United Nations system or an international organization or in the private sector.
• Experience utilizing AI-powered tools and platforms to automate data analysis and apply prompts to improve the quality of reports and data
• Experience analyzing data, identifying trends, patterns and anomalies

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

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. For this position, eligible and suitable person with disabilities is 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.

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.

Potential interview questions