The Programme Officer (Early Years) will provide professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the ECD programmes/projects through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analysing and presenting technical programme information while learning organizational rules, regulations and procedures to support the development and formulation of the ECD Programme within the Country Programme. The Programme Officer (Early Years) will support cross-sectoral coordination of the ECD portfolio across all sections, in close collaboration with Chiefs of Section and under the global guidance of the Deputy Representative.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfil 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, hope.

The goal of the new Country Programme (2026-2030) of UNICEF in Serbia will be to support national efforts to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals, advance child rights in Serbia, implement key reforms in line with the European Union accession requirements. UNICEF Serbia will support national efforts through policy and expert advice, targeted capacity-building, advocacy for child-focused policies, budgets and plans, and leveraging of public and private partnerships for greater scalability and impact, with a focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized boys and girls. UNICEF new Country Programme Document (2026-2030) describes how UNICEF will support Early Childhood Development (ECD) to ensure that every child enjoys nurturing care during their early years, including health, adequate nutrition, safety, responsive caregiving and stimulation, and learning, through targeted support to health, pre-school education, and social protection sectors. UNICEF Serbia will provide targeted support to the health, preschool education and social protection sectors, so that ECD, family-centred early childhood interventions and parenting services are well integrated, of good quality, inclusive and responsive to the needs of children and families.

How can you make a difference? 

The Programme Officer (Early Years) provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the ECD programmes/projects through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analysing and presenting technical programme information while learning organizational rules, regulations and procedures to support the development and formulation of the ECD Programme within the Country Programme. The Programme Officer (Early Years) will support cross-sectoral coordination of the ECD portfolio across all sections, in close collaboration with Chiefs of Section and under the global guidance of the Deputy Representative.

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

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A university degree in education, public administration, public health, nutrition, economics, psychology, sociology, human development, child development, family studies or another relevant technical field.
• Work Experience: A minimum of one year of professional experience in social development planning and management in early childhood development related areas.
• Language Requirements: Advanced knowledge of English and fluency in Serbian.

Desirables:

• Proven professional experience in project management, multi-stakeholder coordination, partnership management, capacity building, evidence-based advocacy and communication on ECD policies (which can include either health, ECE, CP, and/or parenting).
• Ability to coordinate and facilitate cross-functional efforts, advocacy and networking to advance children rights agenda.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and coordination skills.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Knowledge and experience of ECD policies (which can include either health in early years, ECE, CP in early years, and/or parenting).
• Proven Programme and Partnerships Management Skills in the areas of ECD with focus on cross-sectoral coordination and capacity building in the health, education, social welfare, and youth sectors.  
• Proven experience and ability to manage, partner and engage with different governance levels (national, local, institutional partners), including line ministries and local self-governments.
• Contextual knowledge of government structure and functioning, including understanding and experience with national and local level ECD policy planning and implementation processes in the areas relevant to ECD including parenting (this can include either health, education and/or CP sectors and cross-sectorality).

Will be considered as an asset:

• Experience in working on national policies, laws, and coordination mechanisms at the national and local levels, on ECD.
• Experience in leading large scale reform processes and initiatives in ECD (either ECE, health, or child protection systems).
• Experience in fostering partnerships with national and local authorities, private sector, and civil society organizations.
• Experience in inclusive approaches for most vulnerable children including those with developmental delays & disabilities, and Roma.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, 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 

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 cancelled.

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.

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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.