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 a Champion

How can you make a difference?

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organisation would like to hear from you.

Reporting to the Chief of Field Office and with technical guidance from the Chief of Education in the India Country Office, as an Education Specialist, you will support the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF’s education programme, with a strong focus on improving learning outcomes and advancing equitable and inclusive education for the most disadvantaged children.

You will work closely with government and partners to strengthen education systems, translate evidence into policy dialogue and advocacy, and build strategic partnerships to deliver sustainable results at scale.

The role also involves advancing UNICEF’s 3Cs for Every Child — Convene, Converge and Catalyze — by bringing together partners across sectors and helping shape education priorities through evidence, collaboration and influence.

Key functions and accountabilities:

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

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File JD - Education Specialist.pdf

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

Minimum requirements: 

Education: An advanced university degree (Master`s degree or equivalent) in one of the following fields is required: education, economics, psychology, or another relevant technical field.
Work Experience:
- A minimum of five years of professional experience in education planning, management, and/or research using results-based management approaches in education is required.
- Experience in translating education analytical evidence into policy dialogue, policy advocacy, and knowledge products for governments and partners is required.
- Proven experience of drafting high-quality education analytical papers, policy briefs, programme documents, reports and donor proposals is required.
- Experience of influencing and advocating effectively in education priorities with senior levels of government is required.
- Experience of working on convergent approaches (e.g. Social Policy, Child Protection, Nutrition, Health, WASH) is required.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language (Hindi) is an asset.
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.
Education in Emergencies (EiE) experience is an asset.
Previous supervisory experience is 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

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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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.

The role focuses on upstream engagement through policy advocacy, systems strengthening, partnership building, and advancing UNICEF's 3Cs for Every Child approach Convene, Converge, and Catalyze; to achieve sustainable improvements in education.

National officer positions require candidates with local knowledge, established networks, and the ability to engage effectively with Government partners.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Education Specialist (NO-3), FT, #10661, Patna, India - APR (for nationals of India only)