Veterinarian
- Narrow Requirements: Requirements appear unusually specific: multiple very specific experience duration requirements; unusually detailed qualification requirements.
- Short Posting Period (13d): 13 days between posting and deadline — shorter than the typical 2–4 week window for UN professional positions.
Job Highlight
About the Region
The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.
About the Country/Multi-Country Office
The New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) manages UNOPS' New York-based portfolios, delivering project and programme management, procurement, HR, and financial services to global partners, from the UN Secretariat to Member States. NYPO strategically positions UNOPS with these partners, fostering collaboration to achieve growth and leveraging expertise in global portfolio design and implementation. We support the broader SDGs and 2030 Agenda, primarily assisting the UN Secretariat and other New York-based UN entities with a global reach. NYPO encompasses the Peace and Security Cluster (PSC), focusing on explosive threat management, and the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC), providing diverse operational support to the UN system in New York.
Job Specific Context
The veterinarian will provide key inputs on the requirements for the scale-up of existing animal care practices, procedures, and future plans for various implementing partners worldwide. By covering functional areas including humanitarian demining and canine services, the primary objective is to clarify operational requirements regarding infrastructure, procurement, and training to establish a solid foundation for project implementation.
This is a home based retainer vacancy/contract. A retainer contract provides for the engagement of services on a need-driven basis, with remuneration based on actual time worked or deliverables completed. Travels will be required.
UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
Role Purpose
Provides specialized veterinary expertise to assess, standardize, and strengthen canine health systems across humanitarian demining programmes, ensuring consistent operational quality and partner capacity.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Reporting to the Global Technical Advisor or to the designated Programme’s representative, the PSC Veterinarian will ensure the quality of animal health and veterinary support provided by the implementing partner and make recommendations to the Global Technical Advisor. The Veterinarian will contribute to enhancing partner canine care capacity by contributing to the establishment of proper processes for animal care, facilities, handling and training. Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for the following during critical needs assessments and project implementations:
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Skills
Competencies
Education Requirements
Required
An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Veterinary Medicine or related fields, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, is required; OR
First-level University degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in Veterinary Medicine or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience is required.
Experience Requirements
Required
- Relevant experience is defined as experience in veterinary medicine or related fields.
- Minimum 5 years of professional experience in veterinary medicine.
- Experience working in conflict, post-conflict, or humanitarian operations.
- Proven experience working with dog trainers and handlers.
- Demonstrated experience in supporting the development of animal care plans and programs
- Experience in providing recommendations on animal care procurement and infrastructure design.
Language Requirements
| Language | Proficiency Level | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| English | Fluent | Required |
| French | Fluent | Desirable |
| Chinese, Mandarin | Fluent | Desirable |
| Russian | Fluent | Desirable |
| Arabic | Fluent | Desirable |
| Spanish | Fluent | Desirable |
Additional Information
- Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
- Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
- Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
- UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
- UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
- We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
- For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
- For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here [link removed].
- For more details about the contract types, please click here. [link removed]
- All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
- It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
