Early Childhood Development Specialist, P-4, PD, NYHQ #95700

The Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programme Specialist reports to the Chief of Section for general guidance and direction. In close collaboration with relevant sectors, the ECD Programme Specialist is responsible for coordinating the design, development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of ECD programmes.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child, an education.

The Millennium Development Goals, ratified by all UN member states, provide the world's governments with clear and tangible targets to combat poverty and raise the standard of living for the world's people by 2015. Early Childhood Development (ECD) contributes to the achievement of the goals. Seven of the eight goals directly relate to child survival, growth and development. Research has shown that the most effective interventions to improve human development and break the cycle of poverty occur in children's earliest years. Prevention is more cost-effective than treating a problem later.

As more and more children are surviving, ECD is becoming increasingly important to ensure that the children who survive are able to reach their full potential and become productive members of society. The same factors that influence survival also influence development in the continuum of life. ECD is intricately linked to sustainable development and is therefore critical for the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

For more information on the ECD programme click here

How can you make a difference? 
The Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programme Specialist reports to the Chief of Section for general guidance and direction. In close collaboration with relevant sectors, the ECD Programme Specialist is responsible for coordinating the design, development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of ECD programmes.

This will involve:

1. Technical leadership in ECD programming
2. Strategic management, monitoring and delivery of results on ECD programs
3. Advisory services, quality oversight and technical support
4. Advocacy, networking and partnership building
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

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

• An Advanced University Degree in education, public administration/health, economics, psychology, sociology, or other social science field is required
• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in social planning and management in early childhood development and related areas at the international level some of which preferably in a developing country.
• Relevant experience in education and related areas, program/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. To view our competency framework, please click here.

This position is classified as "rotational" which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty,

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.