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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 Future

How can you make a difference?

Ukraine continues to face significant humanitarian, demographic, social and economic challenges arising from the full-scale war. These challenges have increased poverty, displacement and vulnerability, while highlighting the critical role of social protection systems in response, recovery and long-term resilience.

The Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity (MoSPFU), is implementing reforms to modernize and strengthen the social protection system, improve inclusion of vulnerable populations, increase system efficiency and resilience, and support Ukraine's recovery and European integration agenda.

UNICEF supports these efforts through the Social Protection for Inclusion, Resilience, Innovation and Transformation (SPIRIT) programme. SPIRIT supports evidence generation, social protection reform, institutional capacity strengthening, coordination of technical assistance and the progressive transfer of capacities to national institutions. The Social Recovery Office (SRO) serves as a key mechanism for providing coordinated technical assistance, policy analysis, reform support and evidence generation in support of MoSPFU priorities.

Purpose for the job:

Under the supervision and strategic direction of the Social Policy Manager / Deputy Team Lead, the Social Policy Specialist serves as Technical Lead of the Social Recovery Office.

The incumbent provides technical leadership, coordination and quality assurance for reform support activities implemented under SPIRIT. The position supports scoping and strategic direction of technical assistance in accordance with evolving government reform priorities, evidence generation, policy analysis and reform implementation; coordinates technical experts and institutional contractors; manages the substantive aspects of technical contracts and deliverables; and supports internal and external communication related to the Social Recovery Office's reform support portfolio.

The incumbent advises the Social Policy Manager / Deputy Team Lead on technical matters, emerging policy reforms, evidence and implementation challenges and deputises during periods of absence on technical and operational coordination matters within delegated authority.

Overall strategic direction, programme governance, donor relationship management, senior government engagement, staff management and final management decisions remain the responsibility of the Social Policy Manager / Deputy Team Lead and SRO Team Lead, as applicable.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Technical leadership and coordination
Technical support to social protection reforms
Management of technical contracts, experts and deliverables
Quality assurance of evidence and technical products
Communication and coordination across SPIRIT and UNICEF
Reporting, knowledge management and technical documentation
Deputising for the Social Policy Manager / Deputy Team Lead

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Job Description Social Policy Specialist (Technical Lead of Social Recovery Office), P3, Kyiv, Ukraine.doc

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

Minimum requirements

Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Economics, Public Administration, Social Science, International Development, Political Science, Law, social policy, public policy, international development and any other related fields.
Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Social Policy, policy analysis, programme coordination, stakeholder engagement, government relations, reporting, knowledge management, social protection or any other related fields.
Skills: Coordination, Social Protection, Policy Analysis & Reform, Stakeholder Coordination and Evidence Based Programming.
Language Requirements: English - Proficient/Fluent.

Desirables

Language: Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language.
Demonstrated experience working in developing countries and conflict-affected or fragile settings, with strong knowledge of the Ukrainian context, child-sensitive social protection programming, and humanitarian response and recovery initiatives.
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

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 candidates with disability 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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

Social Policy Specialist (Technical Lead of Social Recovery office), P-3, Temporary Appointment, Ukraine, 6 months, Kyiv, Ukraine, #00138466