India Country Office is seeking an experienced Education Specialist for their Field offices in Mumbai and Gandhinagar who will be responsible and contributes to the development and preparation of the education programme and is accountable for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on education interventions. The role focuses on providing technical guidance and management support across all stages of programming to ensure the achievement of sustainable results in line with organizational strategies, results-based management approaches, and accountability frameworks, with particular attention to improving learning outcomes and advancing equitable and inclusive education for marginalized and disadvantaged children.

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

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.
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the Organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing 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 favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — their rights are violated. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing 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.
India is home to more than 1.4 billion people, the second largest population in the world. Over 28.6 per cent of the population is under the age of 141 and half of the population is under 28.7 years of age. Having one of the largest child and youth population, the young people in the country are among the most at risk of the impacts of climate change, threatening their health, education, and protection.
Extreme climate-related events and hydrometeorological disasters like flood, cyclone and drought - affect more than 85 per cent of the country’s population. Children in India are at extremely high risk of the impacts of the climate crisis as India ranks 26 among the list of 163 countries where children are at extremely high risk of the impacts of the climate crisis3. Rising global temperatures and changing weather patterns have put the futures of millions of children living in climate-vulnerable areas in India at constant risk. Worse, before they can recover from one disaster, another one strikes, reversing any progress made.
How can you make a difference?
Purpose for the job

Under the guidance and general supervision of Chief of Field Office and with technical guidance of the Chief Education (Level 5), India Country Office, the Education Specialist supports the development and preparation of the Education (or a sector of) programmes and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting the progress of education programmes/projects within the country programme. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of results on education programmes/projects to improve learning outcomes and equitable and inclusive education, especially for children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded in society. The position requires a candidate with ability to apply differentiated strategies (convening, converging, catalysing, influencing, advocating, leveraging, monitoring, building senior-level partnerships, south-south cooperation) to education programming in an upstream context.

The Education Specialist contributes to achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Education Specialist, NO 3,FT, ICO Mumbai GN.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

        • Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Education, Economics, Psychology and any other related fields.
        • Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Education, Planning, Programme Management, Research, Result based Management, Policy Dialogue, Policy advocacy.
        • Skills: Education planning, management, and/or research using results-based management approaches in education is required. Experience in translating education analytical evidence into policy dialogue, and knowledge products for governments and partners. Proven experience of drafting high quality education analytical papers, policy briefs, programme documents, reports and donor proposals. Experience of influencing and advocating effectively in education priorities with senior levels of government. Experience of working on convergent approaches (e.g. Social Policy, Child Protection, Nutrition, Health, WASH) is required. Working with senior stakeholders and partners Data evidence policy and advocacy.
        • Language Requirements: Proficiency in English

Desirables:

      • Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
      • Experience of leveraging partnerships and financing in support of scaling programmes is desirable Experience in related programme/project development in a UN system agency or organization is an asset. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. EiE experience is an asset.
      • Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

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 encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

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 either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

  • This position is based in Gandhinagar and Mumbai, India, and is open for Indian Nationals or internal candidates who possess a valid work permit for India.
  • The selected applicant will have an initial two (2) years fixed-term contract for Gandhinagar and one (1) year fixed-term contract for Mumbai, with the possibility of extension, subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory performance. 
  • UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. Eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.
  • UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. 

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.