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 resilience.

How can you make a difference?

The overall purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen school leadership, governance and educational inclusion through the development, testing and documentation of scalable approaches in three interconnected areas:

1. Support to newly appointed headteachers, including assessment of needs, mentoring and recommendations for strengthening the national induction programme;

2. Development of the resource school model, including capacity building, peer-support mechanisms and tools to support educational inclusion, particularly for schools serving Roma and migrant children;

3. Targeted technical assistance on student mental health and wellbeing, including support to education stakeholders in identifying and promoting effective school-based responses to emerging mental health needs.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0005789 External ToR.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

Education (Bachelor’s) in sciences, public policy, social sciences, political sciences, language and literature, philosophy, communication sciences, journalism, natural sciences

Work Experience:

At least 10 years of relevant experience in education sector planning, coordination and policy formulation, particularly in Croatia.
Proven experience in supporting the development and implementation of educational policies

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

A good knowledge of regulations and ordinances related to the functioning of schools, of school administration and organisation
Good reputation in capacity development in schools, including facilitation of structured group work and individual coaching and mentoring activities.
Good command of change theories and experience in change management.
A strong commitment to inclusive education, child-centred learning and diversity
Knowledge of issues related to the inclusion of children into education who speak Croatian as an additional language

Language Requirements:

Effective communication skills, with fluency in written and spoken Croatian and English
Good analytic and report writing skills
Good facilitation and presentation skills

Desirables:

Experience working with school staff and parents
Classroom teaching experience

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 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 reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
Cover letter
A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) TMC0005789 Financial proposal template.xlsx

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Inclusive National Education Consultant, Zagreb, Croatia, 14.6 months, Remote with travel