Programme Specialist - Learning Passport (P-4), PG Education, New York HQ (Temporary Appointment 6months) # 00127010

Under the guidance of the Education Specialist - Learning Passport, the Programme Specialist is accountable for programme, planning, design, implementation and administration of specific projects within the major Learning Passport programme, in accordance with the larger Annual Work Plan of the Education team in Programme Group, NYHQ, and reflecting UNICEF's Priorities.

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.

Note: "Ideally, this position will be based in New York. However, the position has the option for a fully remote work modality. This will be determined based on the preferred candidate's location and availability to relocate. In the event, that a remote work modality is selected, no installation to the duty station will be applicable and relevant entitlements will be adjusted based on lower of the two costs between the remote work location and the duty station."

The Learning Passport (LP) is the flagship Digital Learning Programme of UNICEF, developed as a partnership between UNICEF and Microsoft. The Learning Passport delivers digital learning experiences to children around the world, in both connected and unconnected environments. While working on the offline deployment model for unconnected learners, the program initiated an online, web-based deployment in response to the global COVID-19 emergency, as the closure of schools, institutions, and facilities resulted in the need to reach children outside of school with educational content. As a result there is now a vibrant LP online community of 3.5m+ learners across 30 countries, each with specific content needs and support. In addition, the Learning Passport offline program continues, with pilot countries coming on through 2023 as we seek to enter a scale phase in 2024

For every child, Education for all……

Under the guidance of the Education Specialist - Learning Passport, the Programme Specialist is accountable for programme, planning, design, implementation and administration of specific projects within the major Learning Passport programme, in accordance with the larger Annual Work Plan of the Education team in Programme Group, NYHQ, and reflecting UNICEF's Priorities.

In close collaboration with country and regional offices and cross functional teams in UNICEF, the Programme specialist role will be critical to the successful deployment of UNICEF’s Learning Passport online and offline portfolio and the development of new businesses to scale the programme.

Central aspects of the role include strategizing and establishing implementation plans for Learning Passport deployments, managing consultations with potential business owners, and systematizing and streamlining internal processes. The role will also entail building internal team capacity and managing KM, disseminating best practices and onboarding resources to ensure efficient and effective deployments at the regional and country level.

How can you make a difference?

Programme development and scale:

• Set strategic direction and implementation plans for Learning Passport countries
• Systematize and streamline internal processes and workflows
• Develop and onboard new businesses to scale the online and offline Learning Passport, and advise other UNICEF sectors and external partners to ensure sustainable programme deployments
• Analyze and optimize costs structures for Learning Passport business models
• Manage consultations with potential business owners
• Represent LP in external fora and in public and media engagements

Capacity building and knowledge management

• Manage enterprise KM and scale capacity as demanded by COs 
• Develop new onboarding documentation and processes for new businesses and continuously update existing documentation to support regional and country offices
• Institutionalize and disseminate best practices and knowledge learned to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes
• Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals
• Onboard and train new team members

Strategy and technical guidance

• Collaborate with CO, RO and HQ in providing technical guidance, analyzing and advising representatives and country teams on the development of appropriate education policies, strategies and implementation frameworks to deliver a comprehensive package of education services, relevant to the educational needs, national policies and overall Learning Passport portfolio and strategy. These strategies will also consider existing country programmes and long-term national priorities.
• Advise and support definition and setting up monitoring mechanisms.
• Identify capacity needs for UNICEF staff and agencies engaged in the Learning Passport programming and support appropriate capacity development activities and resources.
• Coordinate and direct organizational Learning Passport contributions to Education Clusters or other emergency mechanisms to ensure effective response to emergencies, where relevant.
• Participate in the development of joint education technology policies and technical guidelines for appropriate provision of education response in emergencies, in coordination with other UN agencies, relevant NGOs and institutions, sector/cluster coordination mechanisms, via UN Country Teams.

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

• Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, International Development, Political Science, Education, Public Administration, Economics, or another relevant field is required.
• A combined minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in relation to the key functions of the assignment including programme management and coordination, knowledge management and stakeholders engagement is required.
• Thorough understanding of Education programming and/or relevant technical fields.
• Knowledge and understanding of methodology of programme/project management.
• Experience with the use of education technology and global implementations of platforms.
• The ability to clearly communicate ideas through writing.
• It is preferable that the individual has experience with, or in, multilateral institutions, UNICEF or another UN Agency, Fund or Programme. Knowledge of UNICEF context essential.
• Experience with the Learning Passport is an asset.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, French or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA), and sustainability

Please click Here to view UNICEF's core values and Here to view our competency framework.

UNICEF competencies required for this post are.

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

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 including 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 benefits to our staff, a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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, 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. 

Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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 only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”

For more information on remuneration and benefits, please visit UNICEF’s Entitlements’ page.  If you would like to find estimates for entitlements, you may use the online Salary Estimate Calculator

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