Education Specialist, Temporary Appointment (364 days), P-3, Kharkiv, Ukraine, #134662

Under the guidance and general supervision of the Chief of Field Office and technical guidance of the Chief of Education, the Specialist is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting the progress of the education & skills programme portfolio within a respective Field Office. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of humanitarian and recovery results within the education & skills programme, ensuring that all Ukrainian children, including adolescents, acquire the competencies required for their well-being and development. The Specialist contributes to achievement of results in their respective field office according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework

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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Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to hope

 UNICEF Ukraine

How can you make a difference? 

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 — 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 fulfill 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 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.

Education and skills development in Ukraine have faced repeated disruption—first from the COVID-19 pandemic, and since 2022, the full-scale war. Displacement, school closures, damaged infrastructure, limited digital access, and prolonged stress have caused widespread learning loss and rising mental health concerns among children and young people. The impacts in this sector are disproportionately affecting girls, students from the poorest families, and those living in rural areas. An uneven accumulation of learning losses since the start of the pandemic in 2020 and since February 2022 is putting Ukraine’s reconstruction in jeopardy, as human capital is expected to be a key driver of the country’s recovery.

Job organizational context: The Education Specialist GJP is to be used in a Country Office (CO) where the Education Programme is a component of the Country Programme (or UNDAF). The Specialist reports to the Chief of Field office with a dotted line to the Education Chief.  

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to programme development and planning
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
4. Networking and partnership building
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

1. Support to programme development and planning

• Support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the education & skills programme to ensure that current and comprehensive data on education issues is available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy, advocacy, intervention and humanitarian efforts on education programmes.
• Assist in defining priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans for their respective field office and as aligned with the country programme strategy. Keep abreast of humanitarian and development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery.
• Support in designing humanitarian response plans based on identified needs and priorities, and in alignment with the HNRP and HAC.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of humanitarian and recovery results within the education & skills programme. Formulate, design and prepare programme proposals for the sector, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and Country Programme and coherence/integration with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and national priorities, plans and competencies. Ensure that Education in Emergency interventions are aligned with the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies Minimum Standards (INEE MS) and other global humanitarian standards, guidelines and tools.
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies and implementation plans for programme delivery in the respective Field Office using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM).
• Work closely and collaboratively with internal colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine priorities to ensure the achievement of concrete humanitarian and recovery programme results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of the education & skills programme with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated
•  
• 2.  Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
• Lead and implement workplans and collaborate with internal colleagues and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector on education programmes.
• Work with other programme sector teams to support integrated EiE programming that prevents and mitigates protection risks and addresses multi-dimensional, age and gender specific barriers to education for children, including adolescents.
• Promote a coherent education response along the humanitarian–development–peace nexus, ensuring that emergency interventions lay the foundations for recovery, resilience, and sustainable education outcomes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and weaknesses in programme management.
• Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits and surveys, and exchange information with stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems, and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity, ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme reports for section and management, to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and country office partners and donors on interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches on education and related issues to support programme management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Participate in education programme meetings including programme development and contingency planning to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
• Draft, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use.
• Lead and adapt education programming in the respective field office to ensure it effectively addresses Education in Emergencies, early recovery, and longer-term system strengthening - including access, quality, and equity dimensions.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders, global partners, donors, and academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results in the education & skills programme.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO/ Field Office programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund raising for the education & skills programme.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate area based inter-agency discussions on education and related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on humanitarian planning and preparation of programmes/projects ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the process in programme planning and agenda setting

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.

• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in education management. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.

• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results on education and related programmes/projects.

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, sociology, or another relevant technical field
• Work Experience:  A minimum of five years of professional experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education is required.
• Experience of working in humanitarian contexts, including with humanitarian or development sector coordination structures, and collaboration with education authorities
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset

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…

(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 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

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.

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.

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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to internal staff only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

This position is based in Kharkiv and the incumbent will be expected be work on-site. However, depending on the security conditions and advisory, s/he will be required to relocate within Ukraine.