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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, hope

UNICEF Ukraine

2. Join Education team at UNICEF Ukraine! (youtube.com)

How can you make a difference?

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

The Education Officer for ECE operates within a Fielf Office (FO) context where the Early Childhood Education programme is a crucial part of the broader education agenda within the Country Programme. The role is primarily focused on collaborating with local authorities to enhance access to and quality of ECE services, especially in conflict-affected and underserved communities.

Job organizational context: The Education Officer GJP is to be used in a Country Office (CO) where the Education Programme is a component of the Country Programme (or UNDAF). The Education Officer reports to Education Specialist in Odesa Field Office who is at Level 3.

Purpose for the job: Under the supervision of  the Education Specialist, the Education Officer for early childhood education (ECE) provides technical, operational, and administrative support throughout the programming process for ECE initiatives within the Country Programme. This includes contributing to development planning, facilitating the implementation of diversified ECE services, and ensuring effective monitoring and reporting of results at the local level. The role involves working closely with local authorities to implement ECE pilot projects, such as mobile kindergartens and community-based early learning spaces, aligning efforts with the national ECE reform agenda while addressing local needs and challenges.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities: 

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

1. Support to programme development and planning

• Contribute to the preparation and updating of the situation analysis for ECE, focusing on accessibility, inclusion, and quality. This includes research on war-affected areas and underserved regions to inform programme design.
• Support the development of goals, objectives, and strategies for ECE programmes in line with the national ECE reform agenda by analyzing trends and data, such as access gaps, curriculum alignment with European standards, and funding needs.
• Provide technical and administrative support throughout the planning processes, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Results-Based Management (RBM) approach and the new law on Preschool Education.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results. 

• Work closely and collaboratively with internal colleagues and partners to collect, analyze and share information on implementation issues.
• Suggest solutions on routine programme implementation and submit reports to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decisions. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow up action by higher management and other stakeholders.
• Monitor the use of programme resources, ensuring alignment with the diversified ECE service standards and the optimal use of existing infrastructure.
• Prepare draft inputs for donor reporting, focusing on progress toward improved ECE access and quality.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Conduct field visits to assess progress on ECE initiatives such as the “2 by 2” programme and mobile teams, reporting on critical issues and bottlenecks to stakeholders.
• Provide technical support to MoES, local partners, and other stakeholders in applying UNICEF’s policies and best practices in areas like inclusive ECE, play-based learning, and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).
• Ensure alignment of ECE activities with the National Learning and Preschool Education Standard and the Minimal Quality Service Standard.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Establish and maintain effective partnerships with government counterparts and local stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of ECE reforms, including curriculum updates and the expansion of inclusive services.
• Draft advocacy materials to promote awareness and support fundraising for diversified ECE services on local level, including public-private partnerships and the optimization of ECE infrastructure.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Contribute to identifying and sharing lessons learned from ECE pilots, such as new service models and updated standards, to support continuous improvement.
• Promote the use of innovative approaches in ECE, including digital tools like the Mriia app for monitoring progress, to enhance service delivery.
• Research and report on best and cutting edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

Impact of Results

The effectiveness of support provided by the Education Officer in ECE contributes to expanded access and improved quality of early childhood education across Ukraine. This role is crucial in addressing the learning gaps caused by the war and ensuring that all children have the opportunity to engage in safe, nurturing, and stimulating environments that foster their overall development. Success in these efforts strengthens UNICEF’s reputation as a key partner in promoting equitable education for all young children, supporting their resilience, social-emotional competencies, and long-term educational success.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, psychology, sociology or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of two years of professional experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in early childhood education (ECE) or education is required, with a focus on working directly with local authorities and community-based partners

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
• Experience in implementing ECE programmes in challenging contexts, such as conflict-affected or underserved areas, is highly desirable.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization, especially in the area of ECE or education, is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language 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

The 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 is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable women 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.

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.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

This position is based in Odesa and the incumbent will be expected to work on-site. However, depending on the security conditions and advisory, s/he will be required to relocate within Ukraine.