Chief Child Protection Vacancy-Job Ref: ACMYUNICEF/2409/202632

Chief Child Protection Vacancy-Job Ref: ACMYUNICEF/2409/202632

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

Job Description
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.

For every child, the right to an Advocate

How can you make a difference?

Come join us in beautiful, complex, and diverse Malaysia to lead our high-performing child protection team and help deliver lasting results for children. As Chief, you will provide strategic leadership and technical oversight for the development, implementation, and monitoring of child protection programmes, while fostering partnerships with government, donors, UN agencies, the private sector, and business partners. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence national policies, contribute to the Malaysia MADANI framework and the 13th Malaysia Plan, and drive innovation to strengthen systems so that every child is protected, included, healthy, learning and able to realize their full potential.

As Chief of Child Protection, you will lead the planning, implementation and monitoring of child protection programmes that deliver concrete and sustainable results supporting national efforts to strengthen the protection environment for children in Malaysia. Special focus will be given to supporting the Government in implementing the CRC Concluding Observations and Recommendations from 2026. Developing and building strategic partnerships with governments, CSOs/NGOs and business partners is critical to success, ensuring that UNICEF is adding value and supporting the Government’s aspiration to reach high-income status while making children a key priority for national development.

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

Minimum requirements
Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in International Development, Psychology, Sociology, Law – International, Social Science, Human Rights and any other related fields.
Work Experience: At least 8 years of relevant work experience in Programme, Child Protection, Development,Human Rights, International Development, Research, Partnerships, Child Online Protection, Alternative Care,. and any other related fields.
Skills: strong interpersonal skill, leadership skill.

Language Requirements: English – Proficient/Fluent
Desirables
Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
High-income country, Online child protection, Development & humanitarian, Migrant/undocumented children, Alternative care experience
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

Please click on the button below to Apply.