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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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, the right to a future

UNICEF works where children need it most. Through our Cooperation Programme with Ecuador, we promote the creation of equitable opportunities for children and adolescents. We are present in the areas where they face the greatest challenges, including poverty, violence, chronic malnutrition, and limited access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

UNICEF’s Cooperation Programme is implemented through five programmatic areas that address the main needs of children in the country: Health and Nutrition, Education, Child Protection, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Climate Change, and Social Inclusion. These areas work together to ensure that every child has the opportunity to survive, thrive, learn, and reach their full potential.

Learn more here: UNICEF│Ecuador

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF is looking for a dynamic and strategic leader to drive transformative Early Childhood Development and Human Capital programmes that shape the future of children. This role will lead innovative, integrated solutions across health, nutrition, education and social protection, helping deliver lasting impact, reduce chronic child malnutrition, and create equitable opportunities for every child to thrive.

Under the guidance of the Deputy Representative, the NOC Specialist leads the programme pillar on ECD and Human Capital, driving the strategic development, coordination and implementation of integrated programmes with a strong focus on early childhood development. The role promotes systems-strengthening approaches that improve quality, equity and coverage across health, nutrition, education and social protection, ensuring measurable and sustainable impact at scale.

The position plays a critical role in advancing UNICEF’s contribution to national priorities by strengthening governance, public policies, financing and service delivery systems, while fostering cross-sectoral integration and partnerships across government, IFIs, private sector and civil society.

The Specialist acts as a key national-level convener and technical leader, driving evidence-based advocacy, programme coherence and innovation to accelerate results for children, in line with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, the Country Programme and the organization’s New Business Model.

The role contributes to achieving measurable and sustainable results through a focus on equity, systems transformation, and national ownership, ensuring that interventions are scalable, efficient and aligned with government-led solutions, with a strong focus on early childhood development, prevention of chronic child malnutrition, and integrated service delivery across health, nutrition, education and social protection systems.

Key functions and accountabilities:

1. Knowledge Management for Programmes
2. Programme Development and Management
3. Optimum Use of Programme Funds
4. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations
5. Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach
6. National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability
7. Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the National, Community and Family Levels
8. Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration
9. Leadership and Team Management

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD_Programme Specialist_ECD Human Capital_NO3 FT.pdf

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completed advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, Public Health/Nutrition, Early Childhood Development, Health research, health policy and/or management, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or another relevant technical field.
• Work Experience: A minimum of Five years of relevant professional work experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public health/nutrition, ECD, social policy, planning and management or finances.
• Skills: Demonstrated experience in supervising people is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency/Proficiency in Spanish and English is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French or Russian) is a plus.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Background/familiarity with emergencies is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in an UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts 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

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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children's data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates 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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. 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.