UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save childrenโs 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. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job โ it is a calling.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
The Audience & Market Insights (AMI) team, housed in the Division of Private Fundraising & Partnerships (PFP), works alongside the Public Partnerships Division (PPD) and the Global Communications & Advocacy Division (GCA) to mobilize the resources that make children's rights a reality. As official-development-assistance budgets tighten, UNICEF's forthcoming 2026-29 resource mobilization strategy puts increased emphasis on private-sector growth-engaging millions of individual supporters as well as corporate, foundation and philanthropic partners.
AMI delivers and enables the generation of audience insights that can support growth. The team is global in mandate but operates in close collaboration with the fundraising and communications ecosystem. AMI partners closely with National Committees, Regional Offices and in-market teams that hold responsibility for fundraising and communication decisions.
In the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, the post advertised will:
- Work closely with the P4 Market Research Manager (Mass Audience) and the P3 Market Research Specialists covering Asia Pacific, and with the Europe-based Market Research Manager (Hard to Reach audiences e.g., philanthropists).
- The role will report to the Chief of Audience and Market Insights
- The role will liaise closely with key markets, supporting them in their insight development and seeking to learn and share individual market progress with the ecosystem as a whole.
This networked model ensures that insight flows both more effectively market-to-market, and into strategic leadership, enabling more effective, audience-informed fundraising and engagement outcomes.
For every child, a Champion
The Market Research Specialist (P3) drives an audience-informed approach across Panama private-sector fundraising and partnerships, while contributing to AMI's global insight streams. Acting as an internal consultant to PFP, GCA, PPD, National Committees and Country Offices, the incumbent will:
- Listening & scope - surface stakeholder objectives and translate them into clear insight plans
How can you make a difference?ย
By converting evidence into strategy, the role enables UNICEF to grow income, influence, and impact for every child across a dynamic, multi-country landscape.
1. Global Insight Leadership
Lead one of AMl's core studies (e.g., brand tracking, competitor intelligence) each year. Frame business issues, maintain consistent but evolving design, and steer delivery through AMI peers across regions. Challenge established hypotheses and test new angles to keep the study future fit.2. Regional Consulting (Latin America and Caribbean)
Partner with fundraising & communication teams in the market to listen to their needs and turn them into insight briefs and plans. Co-design bespoke research that balances rigor, speed, and budget. Facilitates debrief workshops that convert findings into decisions and road maps.3. Agency, Consultant & Vendor Stewardship
Select, brief and coach external partners research agencies and individual consultants-negotiating scope and pricing in line with UNICEF policy. Provide candid, constructive feedback that lifts partner performance. Scan the supplier landscape for innovative techniques and tools worth piloting.4. People Development (Interns and colleagues on stretch)
Recruit, onboard, and motivate interns or staff on stretch or secondment; set clear objectives, provide regular coaching, and recognize achievements. Delegate meaningful workstreams that build capability while ensuring high quality outputs. Foster a learning culture built on curiosity, experimentation, and psychological safety.5. Knowledge Translation & Enablement
Curate AMI's knowledge base (use dashboards, Teams/SharePoint systems and other systems the team has chosen). Package complex data into narratives that inspire action-infographics, playbooks, and โlunch and learn\" sessions. Spot patterns across markets and advocate early and compellingly for action with Chiefs and Directors as needed.6. Operational Excellence & Capacity Building
Liaise with Procurement and HR to maintain a high caliber, diverse supplier, and talent roster for insight work. Establish SOPs, templates, and QA checks that safeguard data quality and ethics standards where gaps are present. Role model a culture of curiosity and experimentation across the peer group and those engaging with AMI.To qualify as a champion for every child, you will haveโฆ
Education:
Work Experience:
A minimum of five (5) yearsโ professional experience in leading end-to-end, mixed-method market research projects across multiple countries and/or regions is required. Demonstrated experience translating consumer and brand insights into actionable recommendations for commercial stakeholders is required. Demonstrated ability to craft multi-methodology approaches to garner relevant and actionable audience insights is required. Hands-on with modern research toolsets (e.g., Qualtrics, Dovetail, Lookback, Tableau/Power BI, Python, R, SPSS) is an asset. Proven track record balancing speed and rigor (quick pulse surveys, lean experiments) without compromising quality is an asset Prior experience to humanitarian or development sector research is an asset. Demonstrable experience of using Al tools to improve efficiency in the delivery of research objectives is an asset. Developing country work experience is an asset. UNICEF/UN experience is an asset.Language Requirements:
Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) would be an asset.For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEFโs 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 areโฆ
Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1) Works Collaboratively with others (1) Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1) Innovates and Embraces Change (1) Thinks and Acts Strategically (1) Drives to achieve impactful results (1) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)During the recruitment process, we assess candidates following the UNICEF competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.
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.
UNICEFโs active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally requiredย 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.ย
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 applicantsโ bank account information.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
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.