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

Join UNICEF's Global Programme Division in Nairobi and play a leading role in advancing learning and skills assessment across education systems worldwide. As part of UNICEF's Centre of Excellence model, you will work with governments, Country Offices, Regional Offices and global partners to strengthen national assessment systems, improve education and skills outcomes, and support evidence-based policy and financing decisions. The role contributes directly to UNICEF's Every Child Learns Education Strategy 2019-2030 and the Strategic Plan 2026-2029, helping countries equip children and adolescents with the transferable, digital and green skills needed to thrive in school, work and society. Through high-level technical assistance, partnerships and innovation, you will help shape education system transformation and improve opportunities for the most disadvantaged learners globally.

How can you make a difference?

You will play a key role in advancing UNICEF's global agenda on learning and skills assessment by providing technical leadership and support to governments, Country Offices, Regional Offices and partners. Through the design, implementation and strengthening of assessment systems and evidence-generation initiatives, you will help improve learning outcomes and skills development opportunities for children and adolescents. Working across countries and regions, you will contribute to policy dialogue, capacity development, knowledge generation, partnerships and innovation that support education system transformation and ensure that all learners, particularly the most disadvantaged, acquire the skills needed to thrive in school, work and life.

Join UNICEF's Global Programme Division and help shape the future of learning and skills development for children and adolescents worldwide. As a Programme Specialist (Learning and Skills Assessment), you will provide technical leadership and strategic support to strengthen learning and skills assessment systems, generate evidence for policy and decision-making, and advance UNICEF's global education priorities. Working closely with governments, UNICEF Country and Regional Offices, and development partners, you will contribute to improving learning outcomes and skills development opportunities at scale. Key responsibilities include Technical Leadership and Programme Support; Knowledge Generation and Evidence Building; Partnerships and Advocacy; Capacity Development and Technical Assistance; and Innovation, Monitoring and Quality Assurance. Through this work, you will help countries strengthen education systems and ensure children and young people acquire the skills needed to thrive in school, work and life.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File JD_Education Specialist - Learning and Skills Assessment (P4)_00133267

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in psychometrics, education, statistics, economics, learning and skills measurement, social sciences, or a related field is required.
Work Experience: Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience ls in learning and skills assessment, education and labor market monitoring, or related is required.
Language Requirements: Knowledge of English language at a Proficient/Fluent is required.

Desirables:

Language: Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
Proven experience in supporting the design and implementation of national and large-scale learning and skills assessments or tracer studies.
Experience in developing tools for assessing transferable skills, digital skills, green skills, or secondary education learning outcomes
Working knowledge in psychometrics, test development, and sampling.
Working knowledge of global reporting frameworks such as SDG 4.1.1a/b and 4.7 indicators.
Strong technical expertise in data analysis and visualization using statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R) and Visual Basic for Applications.
Solid understanding of the broader education policy landscape, including sector planning and financing, monitoring frameworks, and the use of learning, skills and employment data for system reform.
Demonstrated ability to contribute to and engage in policy dialogue with governments and partners on skills assessment, linkages between education outcomes and labor market demands and education system strengthening.
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
Experience with learning and skills assessments in emergency, displacement, or fragile contexts.
Excellent communication, writing, and presentation skills, including the ability to translate technical findings into actionable policy recommendations.
Familiarity with digital assessments, computer-based testing, or remote learning assessments.
Understanding of intersectional equity issues in learning and skills assessment (e.g., disability-inclusive measurement, gender responsive assessments).
Experience collaborating with global and regional assessment programs (e.g., LLECE, PASEC, SACMEQ, SEA-PLM, PISA).
Proficiency in data visualization platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) and innovative communication of learning data.

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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable.

Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks.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 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.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

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

Education Specialist (Learning and Skills Assessment), P-4, #00133267, Fixed Term Position, Global Programme Division - Education CoE, Nairobi