Education Specialist,

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

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organisation does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasising the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children's rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society's most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realising the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference? 

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organisation would like to hear from you.

Purpose of Job:

The Education Specialist reports to the Chief of Section (Level 5) for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the coordinated development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of ECD, FLN AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION programmes within the Country Programme in an upstream context. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of results at scale on ECD, FLN AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION related programmes.

The Specialist contributes to the achievement of concrete and sustainable results on ECD, FLN AND inclusive education-related programmes according to plans, allocation, results-based management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF's Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:

1. 
   
2. Support to ECD, FLN AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION programmes/projects development and planning.
3. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results on ECD, FLN AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION programmes.
4. Technical and operational support to programme implementation.
5. Networking and partnership building.
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Education Specialist NO-C.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, economics, psychology, or another relevant technical field.
• Two years of additional relevant work experience that was gained after obtaining a bachelor's degree may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree 

Work Experience:

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in education planning and management in early childhood development, foundational literacy and numeracy, and inclusive education using results-based management is required.
• Demonstrated ability to support and lead education programming in differentiated contexts is required.
• Proven experience in drafting high-quality education analytical papers, policy briefs, programme documents, donor reports and donor proposals is required.
• Ability to influence and advocate effectively on education priorities with senior levels of government, partners and with donors is required.
• Experience with fostering high-level education partnerships and convening multi-stakeholder for a including for South-South cooperation, is required.
• Experience in a convergent programme (e.g. Women and Child, Social Policy, Child Protection, Nutrition, Health, WASH) is required.
• Ability to lead and support multiple thematic areas of work and achieve high-quality results by the deadline is required.

Desirables:

• Good understanding of research methods to support evidence generation and documentation of ECD, FLN and inclusive education programmes is desirable.
• Experience of leveraging financing in support of scaling programmes is desirable.
• Relevant experience at the country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

UNICEF's 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 are…

• 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)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarise yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here. 

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 organisation. We strongly encourage applications from women, trans* and gender non-conforming people and persons with disabilities.

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 , UNICEF has committed to increasing 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 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. Background checks will include the verification of academic credentials (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 must either be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

Remarks:

• This position is based in New Delhi, India.
• This position is open for all Indian Nationals and for internal candidates possessing a valid work permit for India. 
• This VA is open to internal UNICEF staff only i.e. UNICEF staff holding permanent, continuing, and fixed-term appointments.  
• The selected applicant will have an initial one (1) year fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension, subject to satisfactory performance. 
• Verbal Feedback shall be provided to unsuccessful internal candidates upon the completion of the recruitment process.
• UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. Eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• 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. 
• 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 applicants' bank account information.   
• UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognised in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at  

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.