Internal Vacancy - Early Childhood Development Specialist - P3 Geneva - Switzerland (ECARO)

Overview

Provide technical guidance and quality assurance in early childhood development.

You have:

• An Advanced University Degree in health, nutrition, human development, child development, family studies, or other social science field is required
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development.
• Proven knowledge of EU social policies, particularly in relation to childcare, early childhood development, education, healthcare and housing
• Prior experience with successful programming for child poverty reduction, particularly for high-risk groups
• Successful experiences at the mid-career level or higher with project management, monitoring and reporting
• Prior exposure to and engagement with the European Commission is a strong advantage
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset
• Fluency in written and spoken English and another European language is required

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 137,877 USD and 180,539 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, an opportunity

The overall purpose of this position is to provide critical technical guidance and quality assurance in the area of early childhood development (ECD) in priority countries engaged in the Child Guarantee project (4 implementation countries -Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, and Italy; and 4 policy development countries -Germany, Lithuania and Spain) as well as in neighboring countries where relevant work is taking place. This position also contributes directly to all aspects / work streams related to UNICEF’s engagement on child poverty reduction in European Union countries, ensuring ECD is reflected and prioritized in relevant activities, documents and events.

This position will also contribute to and support the broader regional ECD portfolio specifically in two of the regional ECD priority areas relevant to the Child Guarantee, namely early childhood intervention and quality, inclusive pre-primary education. The position contributes to achievement of concrete and sustainable results on ECD related programs/projects according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

How can you make a difference?

• Programme for Innovation, Scale Up, and Sustainability:
• Result: Successful implementation of ECD related activities in priority countries

• Result: Successful implementation of child poverty reduction activities and overall Child Guarantee project

• Advocacy, Partnerships, and Convening Capacity:

• Result: Technical partnerships to support the effective delivery of ECAR’s ECD agenda developed, maintained, and/or strengthened.

• Oversight, Evaluation, and UN Coherence:

• Result: Budget, human resources, and programme management are effectively delivered in line with regional and global policies.

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

• Education: An Advanced University Degree in health, nutrition, human development, child development, family studies, or other social science field is required
• Experience:
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development. Experience should include policy development, programming, monitoring and evaluation in early childhood development and/or related areas, management of cross-sectoral policy, experience at the national and/or international levels in middle income and low-income countries. Professional experience in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Proven knowledge of EU social policies, particularly in relation to childcare, early childhood development, education, healthcare and housing.
• Prior experience with successful programming for child poverty reduction, particularly for high-risk groups.
• Successful experiences at the mid-career level or higher with project management, monitoring and reporting
• Prior exposure to and engagement with the European Commission is a strong advantage.

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

• Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and another European language is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

• Core Values: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust & Accountability
• Core Competencies
• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)

• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

• Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (3)
• Deciding and Initiating action (2)
• Applying technical expertise (3)

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background 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.

Remarks:

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

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Potential interview questions