Tech Content Development Specialist

Volunteering Teaching & Training IT & Telecom

Overview

Support the implementation of Accessible Digital Textbooks for inclusive education initiatives.

You have:

• Three years of progressively responsible professional work experience in content development, EdTech management, digital content publication or a relevant field.
• Proven experience in developing or implementing digital learning solutions, particularly in the areas of accessible digital content production, education technology, or web-based applications.
• Experience working with accessible technologies and web-based content development, including designing or deploying accessible digital learning materials for children with disabilities.
• Experience in using or supporting digital content production tools and workflows, including structured content development, EPUB3, HTML, or other accessible digital publishing formats.
• Experience working with or managing relationships with the Ministry of Education, National Institute of Education, and/or other government counterparts in Sri Lanka.
• Exposure to international settings and understanding of accessibility would be an advantage.
• Strong understanding of accessibility standards and inclusive design principles in digital learning, including familiarity with assistive technologies such as screen readers and text-to-speech tools.
• Experience supporting capacity building or delivering technical training to government institutions, educators, or technical teams on digital tools or content production systems.
• Familiarity working with digital learning content development, including interactive content, multimedia integration, and accessible educational materials.
• Strong familiarity with the education landscape of Sri Lanka. Knowledge of digital education initiatives and inclusive education efforts in the South Asia region is considered an asset.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to troubleshoot technical issues and translate technical concepts into practical solutions for non-technical stakeholders.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to prepare clear technical documentation, user guides, and progress reports.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including educators, government institutions, technical teams, and development partners.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision, and ability to manage multiple technical tasks under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated interest in accessible digital learning, education technology, open-source tools, technology for development, and the work of the United Nations system.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

UNICEF Sri Lanka Country Office (CO), in collaboration with the UNICEF Learning Innovation Hub, is supporting the Ministry of Education (MOE) and national stakeholders to strengthen digital learning systems and expand equitable access to quality education for all children through Accessible Digital Textbooks for All Initiative (ADT). In pursuit of UNICEF’s vision of inclusive education for every child, the ADT initiative is fostering inclusion, tackling systemic challenges through an iterative co-creation process with teachers and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, leveraging cutting-edge technology, and addressing data gaps as its top priorities. The initiative supports education authorities and other relevant stakeholders in streamlining standardization, production, and distribution of accessible digital learning materials through digital learning platforms, deployment of devices in schools, teacher training, and provision of technical assistance in introducing Universal Design for Leaning principles (UDL) into education systems, policy and curricula. These efforts aim to ensure that all learners, including children with disabilities, can access inclusive and engaging learning materials.

This initiative will support the integration of digital learning platforms, the deployment of devices in schools, and the development of accessible digital textbooks and learning resources. These efforts aim to ensure that all learners, including children with disabilities, can access inclusive and engaging learning materials. The UN Volunteer will support technical implementation of these initiatives including device preparation, digital content creation and integration, monitoring of device usage, and ensuring digital learning materials meet accessibility and usability standards. The UN Volunteer will work closely with the Ministry of Education, National Institute of Education (NIE), provincial education authorities, schools, and other stakeholders to support effective implementation and documentation of digital learning initiatives for future scaling. For More information: https://www.accessibletextbooksforall.org/

In catering to the two main local languages of instruction which is Sinhala and Tamil, 2 UNVs are required for the task. Under the overall guidance of UNICEF Sri Lanka Chief of Education in close collaboration with ICT/T4D Section in UNICEF Sri Lanka and the global ADT team, the UNVs will carry out the following key tasks: 1. Lead the technical implementation of Accessible Digital Textbooks (ADT) production using ADT Studio in Sri Lanka: a. Deploy and maintain the ADT Studio environment and related technical infrastructure required for accessible textbook production. b. Support the configuration and operationalization of ADT Studio workflows to convert existing curriculum materials into accessible digital formats. c. Coordinate with the Ministry of Education and NIE to identify priority textbooks and learning materials for ADT conversion. d. Implement technical pipelines for extracting content from source files (e.g., PDF textbooks), structuring content, and preparing materials for accessible digital publishing. e. Ensure that ADT production workflows follow global technical standards and best practices established by the UNICEF global ADT initiative.

2. Support the production and technical development of accessible digital learning content: a. Use ADT Studio to convert existing curriculum textbooks into structured accessible digital content formats. b. Integrate accessibility features including text-to-speech, alternative text for images, structured navigation, simplified reading modes, and multimedia elements. c. Support integration of additional accessibility components such as sign language videos, audio narration, and interactive learning elements. d. Ensure digital content compatibility across devices including tablets, laptops, and digital learning platforms used by the Ministry of Education. e. Conduct quality assurance and technical validation of ADT outputs before deployment.

3. Build national and provincial capacity for accessible content production a. Develop technical training modules and materials on the use of ADT Studio for accessible content production. b. Deliver hands-on training workshops for national and provincial education officials, technical teams, and curriculum developers. c. Provide ongoing technical mentoring and coaching to government counterparts involved in ADT production. d. Support the establishment of national and provincial technical teams capable of independently producing accessible digital textbooks. e. Contribute to the development of sustainable workflows within government institutions for long-term ADT production

4. Provide technical support to the Ministry of Education for content production and validation a. Work closely with curriculum developers and subject specialists to prepare textbook content for digital conversion. b. Support the validation process of ADT content with technical teams, teachers, and relevant government authorities. c. Facilitate user testing of ADT content with teachers and students to assess usability, accessibility, and pedagogical relevance. d. Incorporate feedback from testing and validation processes into improvements of digital content. e. Ensure that final digital learning materials meet accessibility and curriculum quality standards.

5. Support integration of ADTs within national digital learning platforms and ecosystems: a. Work with relevant government teams to integrate ADT content into national digital learning platforms and repositories. b. Ensure compatibility of ADT content with existing learning management systems and digital learning infrastructure. c. Support the packaging and deployment of ADT materials for use in schools and other learning environments. d. Coordinate with digital learning initiatives supported by UNICEF to ensure alignment and interoperability.

6. Knowledge management, technical documentation, and reporting: a. Document the ADT Studio implementation process including technical workflows, tools, and configuration settings. b. Produce technical documentation and user guides to support long-term use of ADT Studio by government partners. c. Identify and document lessons learned, challenges, and good practices from the ADT production process. d. Support the development of knowledge products and case studies highlighting ADT implementation in Sri Lanka. e. Share regular technical progress updates with UNICEF Sri Lanka, regional offices, and the global ADT technical team.

7.  Any other related tasked assigned by the section.
   

The core values of UNICEF of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability needs to be maintained at all times. The functional competencies required are: • Builds and maintains partnerships • Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical-awareness • Drive to achieve results for impact • Innovates and embraces change • Manages ambiguity and complexity • Thinks and acts strategically • Works collaboratively with others

• Three years of progressively responsible professional work experience in content development, EdTech management, digital content publication or a relevant field. • Proven experience in developing or implementing digital learning solutions, particularly in the areas of accessible digital content production, education technology, or web-based applications. • Experience working with accessible technologies and web-based content development, including designing or deploying accessible digital learning materials for children with disabilities. • Experience in using or supporting digital content production tools and workflows, including structured content development, EPUB3, HTML, or other accessible digital publishing formats. • Experience working with or managing relationships with the Ministry of Education, National Institute of Education, and/or other government counterparts in Sri Lanka. • Exposure to international settings and understanding of accessibility would be an advantage. • Strong understanding of accessibility standards and inclusive design principles in digital learning, including familiarity with assistive technologies such as screen readers and text-to-speech tools. • Experience supporting capacity building or delivering technical training to government institutions, educators, or technical teams on digital tools or content production systems. • Familiarity working with digital learning content development, including interactive content, multimedia integration, and accessible educational materials. • Strong familiarity with the education landscape of Sri Lanka. Knowledge of digital education initiatives and inclusive education efforts in the South Asia region is considered an asset. • Excellent analytical skills with the ability to troubleshoot technical issues and translate technical concepts into practical solutions for non-technical stakeholders. • Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to prepare clear technical documentation, user guides, and progress reports. • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including educators, government institutions, technical teams, and development partners. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision, and ability to manage multiple technical tasks under tight deadlines. • Demonstrated interest in accessible digital learning, education technology, open-source tools, technology for development, and the work of the United Nations system.

Sri Lanka is an island nation located off the south coast of India. An estimated population of around 21 million people is sheltered in this multi-ethnic, multi- cultural and multi- religious country. Colombo is situated in the Western Province of Sri Lanka and is the commercial capital of the country. The city is located on the west coast of the island, adjacent to the administrative capital, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. Bandaranaike International Airport is located 35km from Colombo and is served by the main international airlines. Sri Lanka is a tropical country with moderate temperature and high humidity all throughout the year.

Average temperature in Colombo ranges between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius. The island experiences two main monsoon seasons, where heavy rainfalls occur, from May to August and October to January. Rice and curry comprise the main dishes. Sri Lankan cuisine tends to be quite spicy. There are hotels and other types of accommodation options available in Colombo. Supermarkets, banking, and medical facilities are present within the city.

In addition to the specific requirements set out above, candidates for these volunteer assignments will be subject to background checks, confirmation and clearance provided by the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS). Candidates who do not pass this security clearance are prohibited from serving as a UN Volunteer for UNICEF in Sri Lanka.

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Added 1 month ago - Updated 23 days ago - Source: unv.org