Project Coordinator

** Deadline to apply is 2 June 2026 **

Description of assignment title

Project Coordinator

Assignment country

Malaysia

Duty stations

Kuala Lumpur

Work location

On UN premises

Host entity

UNICEF Malaysia

Modality

Onsite

Type

National

Volunteer category

Specialist

Work schedule

Full-time

Number of Assignments

1

Expected start date

01/06/2026

Duration

12 months (with possibility of extension)

Context

UNICEF Malaysia is a unique country office in that it is an upper middle-income country, but with significant remaining disparities and inequalities where both advocacy and programming approaches are required.

UNICEF is committed to advocating for businesses to consider respect to children's rights, beyond the issue of child labour. Children in Malaysia are often among those most affected by adverse business impacts, yet sustainability practices for children is very limited and focused primarily on child labour – neglecting to address multiple adverse impacts that businesses can have on the full range of children's rights at the workplace, at the marketplace, in communities and the environment.

Hence, we are seeking a dynamic and creative individual to join us as UNV Project Coordinator to lead innovative projects and ambitious initiatives to accelerate business action for children, beyond child labour. You will have the opportunity to work with stakeholders in business, government, civil society, academia, and young people representatives in projects to guide and accelerate business action to respect, protect, and support children.

Join UNICEF's mission to make a meaningful impact for children and work alongside business leaders and visionaries who are shaping a brighter future for all children in Malaysia.

Task description

Under the general supervision of the Corporate Alliance Officer, the UNV will be the driving force behind ambitious projects at the intersection of business sustainability, public policy and children's rights through programme management.

Your responsibilities will include:

Facilitation: Lead in coordinating meetings by scheduling, preparing agenda and materials, making logistical arrangements, facilitating, and managing key action items. Other areas include serving as the primary point of contact to facilitate coordination between senior business leaders, senior management, and other stakeholders; as well as document, monitor, track, and report progress on workplans.

Events and sessions with business leaders: Organize dialogue and awareness raising sessions aimed at strengthening understanding in child rights and business of key partners, including the senior business leaders, UNICEF staff, and civil society partners.

Media and publicity: Assisting in workshops, events, launches, and other vital communication activities.

Project planning and execution: Supporting the planning, coordination, execution, and monitoring, of projects to guide and accelerate business action for children. Key priorities would include business and human rights, child digital rights and protection, family-friendly workplaces, healthier food retail environment, child labour risks and protective factors, environment sustainability, and other upcoming areas of work.

Research and proposal writing: Supporting research for the development of innovative proposals to gain support, commitment to action, and resource mobilization to accelerate business action to respect, protect, and support children.

Reporting and Documentation: Capturing success stories and lessons learned from projects to support knowledge management including the development of compelling project documentation such as progress narratives and reports, donor reports, human-interest stories for social media, blog articles, and other materials as needed.

Undertaking any other related tasks as required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take an active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);

Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;

Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities.

Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.

Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.

Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected outputs:

As an active UNICEF Malaysia Child Protection team member, efficient, timely, responsive, and high-quality support rendered to the team and its beneficiaries in the performance of her/his functions, including:

Efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to Strategic Communications and Partnerships results carried out by UNICEF.

Increased programme visibility within UNICEF community and amongst UNICEF partners, and increased integration within programmatic areas related to communication.

Developed joint communication strategies.

A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed.

Relevant experience

2 years

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Malay, Level: Fluent, Required

Tamil, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

Mandarin, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

Hokkien, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

Skills and experience

A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in project management and coordination, corporate sustainability or business and human rights at the national or international level.

A strong advantage for candidates who in addition bring expertise on Child Rights and/or Human Rights and/or experience in public policy or having worked in Malaysian Government.

A strong advantage for candidates who in addition has familiarity with the Malaysian business sustainability and public policy landscape and has experience in large scale project management and stakeholder coordination.

Excellent organizational, communication and coordination skills.

Excellent oral and written skills, particularly excellent drafting and reporting skills.

Solid overall computer literacy, proficiency in various MS Office applications (Co-Pilot, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)

Presentation and graphic design software (Adobe InDesign, Canva) is an asset.

Strong research and analytical skills.

Experience in organizing events or capacity building initiatives.

Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.

Positive personality; self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Have affinity with or interest in volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.