International Consultant on Career Guidance for Education Section, Kyiv, Ukraine, 6 months (Remote)

To provide technical support to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine in developing a scientifically grounded, gender-responsive, and coherent framework for implementing career guidance in general secondary education through: 1) Conducting a comprehensive desk research on international best practice in school-based career guidance, systems with attention to elimination of gender-based stereotypes in career exploration and providing recommendations for Ukraine. 2) Reviewing and aligning Ukraine’s current legislative and regulatory documents with these practices, ensuring coherence with global standards.

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.

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For every child, the right to hope.

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Background: 

Purpose of assignment:

Work assignment overview:

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Master’s degree or higher in Public Policy, Education, Social Sciences, Economics, International Development or related fields.

Work Experience: 

• At least 10 years of proven international experience in: 
  • Education policy analysis and development. 

  • Designing or evaluating national frameworks, regulations, standards, or competency models. 

  • Conducting desk research, comparative policy studies, and preparing analytical policy reports. 

  • Advising governments or national institutions on reforms in general secondary education, career guidance, or skills development. 

• Experience working with EU education approaches and frameworks on education and skills development (OECD, ETF guidelines, etc). 

• Previous experience collaborating with ministries, national institutes, or multi-stakeholder task forces on policy alignment. 

Skills and competencies:

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with demonstrated ability to produce clear, evidence-based policy recommendations. 

• Proven ability to review, compare, and align legislative and regulatory documents with international standards. 

• Ability to synthesize complex information and present it concisely for decision-makers. 

• Strong understanding of career guidance systems, youth skills development, or EU-aligned education reforms. 

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, especially in high-level policy environments. 

• Ability to work independently, manage deadlines, and deliver high-quality outputs with minimal supervision. 

• Familiarity with UNICEF’s mandate and child-rights-based approaches is an advantage. 

Language Requirements:

• English: Proficient/Native [C2].

Desirables:

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
• Experience working in post-conflict, transition, or reforming education systems is an asset. 
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s mandate and child-rights-based approaches is an advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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…

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

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 promote 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 credential(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.

Remarks:  

Please indicate your all-inclusive (lump sum) fees in USD against the deliverables listed above, including all associated administrative and travel costs (if applicable). The office selects the individual based on best value for money.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected consultant is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected consultant are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. The vaccine mandate, does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.