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?

UNICEF Innocenti has a dedicated research team specialized in generating evidence on the impacts of digital technologies on children's rights and wellbeing. Since 2015, the Digital Engagement and Protection (DEP) Unit has designed and led primary data collection efforts around the world to understand the risks and opportunities children face online. The current portfolio of work involves research in more than 50 countries, primarily in low- and middle-income countries through the Global Kids Online and Disrupting Harm projects, and through the new Navigating Childhood in a Digital Age research implemented in the United Kingdom.

The DEP unit is seeking to recruit a Research Officer (Temporary Appointment) to support the Unit’s research on online protection and digital engagement. The Research Officer will primarily contribute to completing ongoing research on technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse, and supporting the inception phase of a new project exploring longitudinally the risks and opportunities children face in a digital world.

Under guidance of the Research Specialist, Digital Engagement and Protection, the Research Officer (Digital) will mainly be responsible for leading statistical analysis of survey data related to technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as supporting the quantitative research design for the inception phase of a new longitudinal research project. Support will also be needed for mixed-methods integration and analysis related to the unit’s qualitative research under these projects, with support from the supervisor and team members. The Research Officer will draft various publications, including research reports, policy briefs and/or journal articles, using primary and/or secondary data to respond to strategic priorities and dialogue within UNICEF and globally related to children’s digital engagement and protection.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Research Officer (Digital) P2 TA OSE Florence Italy.pdf

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

Minimum requirements

- 1. 1. Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Sociology, Psychology, Public Health, Epidemiology, Social Science, Statistics or other related fields.
    2. Work Experience: At least 2 years of relevant work experience in research, child protection, digital safety, quantitative research, statistical analysis, survey research, data management, policy analysis, or other related fields.
    3. Skills: The candidates should have strong expertise in quantitative and qualitative research, including mixed-methods analysis, and be proficient in statistical software such as R and Stata, as well as structural equation modeling (SEM). Experience in research related to children’s digital engagement and a solid understanding of safeguarding and protection issues, including sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), are also required.
    4. Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables
1. 1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
  2. Experience with the following software and datasets is considered an asset: NVivo, MaxQDA, Global Kids Online, Disrupting Harm, OECD PISA. Developing countries experience and/or multicultural environment experience are an asset.
  3. 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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

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 from non-high-income countries 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.

Research Officer (Digital), P-2, Temporary Position 364 days, Florence, Italy, Office of Strategy & Evidence - Innocenti, #00138231 (Remote - Home Based)