Programme Manager (Panama)
UNICEF
Posted
Mar 01, 2026
Location
Remote
Type
Contract
Mission
What you will drive
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Current vacancies
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Contract type
Temporary Appointment
Locations
Latin America and Caribbean Region
- Panama
Functional Area
Programme
- Programme Management
Position level
- P-3
Programme Manager, P-3, Panama Country Office, Panama City (8 months) #136527
Apply now
Job no: 591359
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Duty Station: Panama City
Level: P-3
Location: Panama
Categories: Programme Management
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 education
***UNICEF works to advance the well-being of children and adolescents in Panama by providing technical assistance, advocating for their rights, building strategic partnerships, and implementing programmes that help ensure their full protection and development.
The overarching goal of all UNICEF efforts is to achieve the full realization of the rights of every child and adolescent. This is done by supporting institutions and decision-makers with technical expertise, fostering strategic alliances, and implementing initiatives that contribute to the fulfilment of their rights.
This work is outlined in UNICEF’s Country Programme, which sets out strategies and action plans to ensure that from early childhood through adolescence, children and young people in Panama have access to the best possible opportunities.
The programme addresses the barriers that hinder the full implementation of the commitments established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Panama in 1990, with a particular focus on early childhood development, child and adolescent protection, and adolescent development and participation.
To know more about our work please visit UNICEF Panamá.
How can you make a difference?
**Purpose of the assignment
**The Programme Manager reports to the Country Office (CO) Representative for general supervision and direction. The Programme Manager supports the Representative on the overall management of the CO and coordinating closely with the different sections on all phases of the Country Programme, from formulation to delivery of results in accordance with UNICEF Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework, ethics and integrity.
The Programme Manager will be the Officer in Charge of the CO in the absence of the Representative.
**Specific Tasks & Responsibilities **
-
CO programme planning and development.
-
Support to the Representative on managing the CO.
-
Monitoring and quality control of programmes.
-
Networking and partnership building.
-
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.
**Details of the Tasks & Responsibilities
****1. CO programme planning and development.
**
- Coordinate the planning and updating of the situation analysis by the programme sectors in the CO to establish comprehensive data and information for programme development planning, management, monitoring and valuation.
- Coordinate with PFP and Operations to ensure coherence and compliance with UNICEF guidelines for programme planning and implementation.
- Guide the various sectors throughout the process of programme formulation, planning and preparation of the Country Programme ensuring harmonization of approaches and alignment with UNICEF Strategic Plan, corporate guidelines, policies/procedures and regional and national priorities. Provide technical support throughout the process.
- Support the development, implementation and monitoring of gender-sensitive programming across sectors in alignment with UNICEF Gender Action Plan for the promotion and achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
- Coordinate the necessary technical programming support from Regional Office and Global Programme Division Centers of Excellence.
**2. Support to the Representative on managing the CO.
**• Monitor and assess programmes and provide advice on best and innovative programming practices.
- Advise the Representative on CO annual work planning, setting priorities/targets and establishing performance measurements. Monitor implementation and progress of work plans; collaborate with colleagues to assist, advise and guide the Representative to ensure achievement of results according to targets and performance standards. Take timely decisions to achieve results and/or alert the Representative for timely action.
- Establish clear performance objectives, goals and timelines; and provide timely guidance to his/her team to enable them to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently. Plan and ensure timely performance planning, management and assessment.
- Monitor critical issues to resolve problems and/or recommend to the Representative appropriate action to ensure appropriate and optimum use of resources.
**3. Monitoring and quality control of programmes.
**• Participate in meetings/events and annual/midterm reviews with the government and other ounterparts/stakeholders to contribute to strategic programme discussions, planning and assessments.
- Evaluate overall programme progress; identify weaknesses, bottlenecks and potential problems. Collaborate with the sectors and/or other partners and stakeholders to resolve issues and/or advise the Representative on resolutions to ensure delivery of results as planned and allocated.
- Monitor the optimum and appropriate use of programme resources (financial, human, administrative and other assets) and verify compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity.
- Approve disbursements and allocations in accordance with delegation of authority established by the Representative.
- Coordinate and/or provide advice on the preparation of mandated programme reports. Confirm accuracy of reports prior to approval by the Representative.
- Work in close collaboration with the Operations Officer and the PFP Section to ensure coherence and compliance with UNICEF’s policies, regulations and procedures.
**4. Networking and partnership building.
**• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners, donors and academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge and expertise and reinforce cooperation.
- Advocate UNICEF goals to advance child’s right to survival, development and wellbeing, mobilize resources, seek cooperation and establish alliances.
- Review communication and information materials for programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships, alliances and to ensure that child, adolescents and women rights’ issues are high in the political agenda and in the general public perception.
- Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions, in meetings with national or local authorities, and with partners.
- Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate UN inter-agency discussions and planning of joint programmes and other collaboration mechanisms, in the framework ...
Profile
What makes you a great fit
Search UNICEF
Search input
**
Vacancies
Current vacancies
Explore our current job opportunities
Filter results
Search using keywords
Search for jobs
Contract type
Temporary Appointment
Locations
Latin America and Caribbean Region
- Panama
Functional Area
Programme
- Programme Management
Position level
- P-3
Programme Manager, P-3, Panama Country Office, Panama City (8 months) #136527
Apply now
Job no: 591359
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Duty Station: Panama City
Level: P-3
Location: Panama
Categories: Programme Management
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 education
***UNICEF works to advance the well-being of children and adolescents in Panama by providing technical assistance, advocating for their rights, building strategic partnerships, and implementing programmes that help ensure their full protection and development.
The overarching goal of all UNICEF efforts is to achieve the full realization of the rights of every child and adolescent. This is done by supporting institutions and decision-makers with technical expertise, fostering strategic alliances, and implementing initiatives that contribute to the fulfilment of their rights.
This work is outlined in UNICEF’s Country Programme, which sets out strategies and action plans to ensure that from early childhood through adolescence, children and young people in Panama have access to the best possible opportunities.
The programme addresses the barriers that hinder the full implementation of the commitments established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Panama in 1990, with a particular focus on early childhood development, child and adolescent protection, and adolescent development and participation.
To know more about our work please visit UNICEF Panamá.
How can you make a difference?
**Purpose of the assignment
**The Programme Manager reports to the Country Office (CO) Representative for general supervision and direction. The Programme Manager supports the Representative on the overall management of the CO and coordinating closely with the different sections on all phases of the Country Programme, from formulation to delivery of results in accordance with UNICEF Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework, ethics and integrity.
The Programme Manager will be the Officer in Charge of the CO in the absence of the Representative.
**Specific Tasks & Responsibilities **
-
CO programme planning and development.
-
Support to the Representative on managing the CO.
-
Monitoring and quality control of programmes.
-
Networking and partnership building.
-
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.
**Details of the Tasks & Responsibilities
****1. CO programme planning and development.
**
- Coordinate the planning and updating of the situation analysis by the programme sectors in the CO to establish comprehensive data and information for programme development planning, management, monitoring and valuation.
- Coordinate with PFP and Operations to ensure coherence and compliance with UNICEF guidelines for programme planning and implementation.
- Guide the various sectors throughout the process of programme formulation, planning and preparation of the Country Programme ensuring harmonization of approaches and alignment with UNICEF Strategic Plan, corporate guidelines, policies/procedures and regional and national priorities. Provide technical support throughout the process.
- Support the development, implementation and monitoring of gender-sensitive programming across sectors in alignment with UNICEF Gender Action Plan for the promotion and achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
- Coordinate the necessary technical programming support from Regional Office and Global Programme Division Centers of Excellence.
**2. Support to the Representative on managing the CO.
**• Monitor and assess programmes and provide advice on best and innovative programming practices.
- Advise the Representative on CO annual work planning, setting priorities/targets and establishing performance measurements. Monitor implementation and progress of work plans; collaborate with colleagues to assist, advise and guide the Representative to ensure achievement of results according to targets and performance standards. Take timely decisions to achieve results and/or alert the Representative for timely action.
- Establish clear performance objectives, goals and timelines; and provide timely guidance to his/her team to enable them to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently. Plan and ensure timely performance planning, management and assessment.
- Monitor critical issues to resolve problems and/or recommend to the Representative appropriate action to ensure appropriate and optimum use of resources.
**3. Monitoring and quality control of programmes.
**• Participate in meetings/events and annual/midterm reviews with the government and other ounterparts/stakeholders to contribute to strategic programme discussions, planning and assessments.
- Evaluate overall programme progress; identify weaknesses, bottlenecks and potential problems. Collaborate with the sectors and/or other partners and stakeholders to resolve issues and/or advise the Representative on resolutions to ensure delivery of results as planned and allocated.
- Monitor the optimum and appropriate use of programme resources (financial, human, administrative and other assets) and verify compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity.
- Approve disbursements and allocations in accordance with delegation of authority established by the Representative.
- Coordinate and/or provide advice on the preparation of mandated programme reports. Confirm accuracy of reports prior to approval by the Representative.
- Work in close collaboration with the Operations Officer and the PFP Section to ensure coherence and compliance with UNICEF’s policies, regulations and procedures.
**4. Networking and partnership building.
**• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners, donors and academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge and expertise and reinforce cooperation.
- Advocate UNICEF goals to advance child’s right to survival, development and wellbeing, mobilize resources, seek cooperation and establish alliances.
- Review communication and information materials for programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships, alliances and to ensure that child, adolescents and women rights’ issues are high in the political agenda and in the general public perception.
- Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions, in meetings with national or local authorities, and with partners.
- Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate UN inter-agency discussions and planning of joint programmes and other collaboration mechanisms, in the framework ...