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Thought Leadership and Content Strategy Internship, Director's Office, Global Programme Division, New-York HQ, 4 months (On-site / Remote)
Job no: 595509
Contract type: Internship
Duty Station: New York
Level: Internship
Location: United States
Categories: Programme Management
UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, a bright future
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child in all programs and operations, utilizing an equity strategy that prioritizes the most disadvantaged and excluded children to ensure they have equal opportunities to survive and develop without discrimination.
This strategic focus is critical because evidence suggests that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society's most disadvantaged citizens not only fulfills human rights mandates but also leads to the sustained growth and stability of countries.
To execute this vision, the Global Programme Division (GPD) drives programme excellence by providing global strategic leadership, developing standards, and generating high-impact, evidence-based solutions that link global policy with on-the-ground action.
Complementing this structure, Centres of Excellence (CoEs) located in Nairobi, Panama, Amman, and Bangkok provide high-quality, demand-driven technical assistance to Country and Regional Offices, functioning as a single point of entry for support in policy reform, at-scale programme design, public finance, and institutional strengthening. By delivering this tailored assistance, the CoEs also ensure that global policy standards are informed by practical knowledge gained from implementation.
Ultimately, the organization aims to bridge the gap between high-level advocacy and on-the-ground implementation to protect the world's most vulnerable populations.
The PSC Hub supports division-wide performance management, planning, monitoring, reporting, and analytics. As REACH becomes an increasingly important platform for managing and monitoring technical assistance, the Hub requires dedicated junior-level support to develop practical processes, maintain performance information, and prepare the metrics and visual products needed for oversight and reporting.
How can you make a difference?
In this dynamic environment, you will support the Director of the Global Programme Division, helping to drive the thought leadership that influences global policies and partnerships.
Contributing your knowledge and ideas will strengthen our team. In return, we offer you the chance to develop your methodical, social, and technical competencies-including proven writing skills-and gain experience in an international environment.
This internship is an ideal way to start your career. It allows you to apply the knowledge gained during your studies in a professional setting, while building valuable hands-on experience alongside your academic background.
Expected scope of work
As an intern, your responsibilities will be multifaceted, encompassing communicative, research, and administrative responsibilities.
Tasks will include the following:

1. Digital engagement and external visibility
   1. Drive the Director's digital presence by managing a dynamic pipeline of LinkedIn blogs and articles. Given the office's external engagement goals, the role will focus on producing content with consistent frequency to strengthen visibility and influence global policies and partnerships.
   2. Track and analyze LinkedIn performance using already established KPIs to assess reach, engagement, and influence over time.
   3. Prepare a monthly LinkedIn KPI performance report, synthesizing insights on page performance, audience engagement, and visibility trends. The report will highlight key takeaways, what is performing well, areas for improvement, and actionable recommendations, and will be shared with the Director to inform strategic communication decisions.
   4. Coordinate inputs for external-facing content, including consolidating contributions from internal teams and partners to support timely publication and alignment with strategic messaging.
2. Thought leadership research and analysis
   1. Define and contribute to a dedicated research theme, aligned with the strategic priorities of the office and the intern's areas of interest, and translate research findings into both analytical and public-facing outputs, including a thought piece and a blog or LinkedIn article, highlighting key insights and implications for policy, partnerships, or programming.
   2. Carry out targeted research and analysis on emerging issues, partner priorities, and strategic questions within the defined theme to inform the Director's work and support UNICEF's mission.
   3. Contribute to structured knowledge sharing by supporting the development and organization of thought leadership assets, such as a journal, a series of field notes, or other intellectual products.
3. Information and SharePoint management
   1. Maintain and manage SharePoint sites, ensuring content is up to date, accessible, and aligned with agreed structures.
   2. Organize and structure document libraries and folders, applying standardized filing systems to support consistency and ease of use.
   3. Apply and maintain metadata and standardized naming conventions to improve document traceability, searchability, and knowledge continuity.
   4. Manage document version control and archiving, ensuring records are properly stored, retrievable, and compliant with information-management standards.
4. Contracting and recruitment support
   1. Support recruitment and contracting processes, including drafting and updating Terms of Reference (ToRs) in coordination with hiring managers.
   2. Coordinate outreach to candidates and referees, including initiating reference checks and following up on required documentation.
   3. Serve as a coordination focal point with the Common Services Centre (CSC) throughout the recruitment and contracting lifecycle, ensuring smooth communication and timely progression of cases.
   4. Track contract documentation, approvals, and timelines, flagging risks or delays and proactively following up on outstanding inputs.
   5. Ensure completeness and compliance, including archiving all documentation in SharePoint in line with established information-management standards.

Learning benefits for the intern:

• Build skills across a spectrum of responsibilities.
• Exposure to and chance to engage with multiple topics and UNICEF's various programmes.
• Opportunity to support UNICEF at a high level that translates into impact on on-the-ground operations.
• Experience a multicultural working environment unique to UNICEF.

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

• Have the following eligibility requirements.

• Strong alignment to UNICEF mandate and values

• Be enrolled, within the past year, in a graduate degree program with a preferred major in Economics, Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Business or a related field.
• Exceptionally strong communication skills, with the ability to distill information succinctly and accurately.
• Strategic thinking and planning skills.
• Intellectual curiosity and strong analytical and writing skills.
• Hands-on aptitude, emotional intelligence and self-management skills.
• Excellent organization and time management skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to look beyond the tasks assigned, take ownership of projects and make suggestions on how to improve the role.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while working independently with different stakeholders across several projects.
• Experience with SharePoint and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrated ability to manage digital content and information systems, including file organization and version control.
• Interest in global policy, international development, or UNICEF's thematic priorities.
• Fluency in English (required); knowledge another official UN language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian) is an asset.
• Project management skills is considered an asset

The following documents are required at onboarding stage:

• Letter of verification from the college or university that the intern is currently enrolled in an undergraduate school and has completed at least two years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of an undergraduate degree (if the candidate is 18 years old, this replaces the two-year bachelor's completion requirement); or, Graduate Degree Program (i.e., Master's, PhD). It should also state the expected graduation date. Recent graduates are allowed until 2 years after degree completion.
• Copy of their most recent official transcript showing excellent academic performance
• Copy of Identification Card (ID)
• One letter of signed recommendation on letterhead or from professional email address
• Certification of health insurance covering the full internship duration

For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
During the recruitment process, we may test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.
UNICEF is here to serve the world's most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our interns, including leave entitlement and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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. UNICEF is committed to promoting 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.
Remarks:
UNICEF's active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to delivering the best results for children.
On-site interns must be legally authorized to intern in the United States for the duration of the internship or obtain a G4 visa (as applicable). CPT/OPT authorization required (if applicable) for candidates studying in the United States.
UNICEF Interns must have proof of medical insurance covering their time at the duty station.
UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer, without compensation, if a visa or Proof of health insurance coverage is not obtained, or necessary medical/inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
There is no expectancy of employment at the end of this internship.
Advertised: 02 Sep 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Deadline: 13 Sep 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
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