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, education

The Mexican education system still faces challenges regarding skills development in adolescents. In terms of foundational skills, primarily literacy and mathematics, in the 2022 edition of the PISa study which reviews the performance of 15 year old students in maths, language and science, Mexico ranked 35th among the 37 OECD member countries that were evaluated. While on average OECD member countries obtain a score of 478 points, Mexico reached an average score of 407. Mathematics is the area in which Mexico has the greatest disadvantage, with a difference of (-)77 points compared to the OECD average, followed by Sciences with a difference of (-)75 points, and Reading Comprehension, with ( -)61 points.

Without fundamental, socio-emotional and digital skills, educational gaps accumulated throughout the educational trajectory, combined with other factors such as poverty and violence, can lead over-age, absenteeism and even school dropout: only 6 out of 10 students between the ages of 15 and 17 are enrolled in upper secondary education, the official age to attend this level, and the drop out rate is almost 9% (SEP, 2023).

The Education Officer (NO-1) will be primarily responsible for the design, development, and implementation of programs focused on socio-emotional learning and life skills, utilizing a life-cycle approach. This includes facilitating the school-to-work transition and promoting STEM education for girls. The incumbent will be based at the UNICEF Country Office in Mexico City and is expected to coordinate the education program’s activities in the State of Mexico.

For more information related to the work of our office in Mexico, please visit our website: UNICEF Mexico, the video of our amazing results in 2023: A good six-year term for children: Un buen sexenio para la niñez or read our Annual Report 2023: Informe Anual 2023 UNICEF México.

How can you make a difference?

If you are selected as an Education Officer (NO-1), you will work within the Education team in close coordination with the Adolescent Participation and Development Programme (ADAP) team as well. Those would be your core responsibilities:

1. Support to programme development and planning related to socio-emotional learning and life skills development, as well as school-to-work transition
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.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  ToRs Education Officer (NO-1) -TA.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education

• A university degree (Bachelor’s degree), preferably in one of the following fields is required: education, psychology, sociology, or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of one (1) year of progressively responsible work experience in education, with proven experience supporting programme activities.
• Expertise in working on adolescent education, socio-emotional learning, life skills development or in school-to-work transition.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Spanish.
• An intermediate level of English. If the person hired is not fluent, they will have to commit to improving their English skills in the first months of work.

Desirables:

• An advanced university degree in education or additional education certificates relevant to this assignment.
• Experience working with the public education system of Mexico.
• Experience working with UNICEF, or another UN agency.
• Fluency in English.

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. Specially, for this position, eligible and suitable people with disabilities 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.

UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.

Please note that this is a temporary position expected to last for 364 days. 

THIS IS A NATIONAL POSITION. PLEASE NOTE THAT only CANDIDATES WITH A MEXICAN NATIONALITY WILL BE CONSIDERED.