Current vacancies

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, A VISION

Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. As established in its Hosting Agreement with UNICEF and detailed in the ECW Operational Manual, the Fund is governed by two interlinked bodies: a High-Level Steering Group (HLSG), which provides strategic direction and political leadership; and an Executive Committee (ExCom), which oversees operational and financial decision-making. The ECW Secretariat, hosted by UNICEF, is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the Fund’s strategy, coordination of partners, delivery of results, and accountability to governance bodies.

The Director of ECW leads the Secretariat and serves as the primary executive responsible for implementing the Fund’s strategy, policies, and investments. The Director plays a central role in translating global commitments into tangible results for crisis-affected children and youth, overseeing all aspects of ECW’s operations, partnerships, and performance. The Director reports to UNICEF for administrative purposes and is accountable to the HLSG Chair for implementation of the ECW workplan and budget, in close consultation with the Chair(s) of the ExCom, as per the Hosting Agreement.

How can you make a difference? 

The Director provides strategic leadership to ensure ECW delivers on its mandate to mobilize political commitment and financial resources to deliver safe, inclusive, quality education for children and youth affected by conflict, displacement, and disasters. The Director leads a multi-disciplinary team and oversees implementation of ECW’s investments, including multi-year programme, emergency funding mechanisms, and catalytic initiatives.

As a non-resident fund without legal personality, ECW depends on strong leadership to maintain a coherent vision, accountability to partners, and impact at country level through joint efforts with UN agencies, civil society, host governments, and donors. The Director plays a key representational role in positioning ECW within the global aid and multilateral architecture, ensuring alignment with broader education, humanitarian, and development priorities.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

The Director of Education Cannot Wait is responsible for the strategic, operational, financial, and managerial leadership of the Fund. The Director leads the Secretariat and ensures the effective implementation of ECW’s strategy, in line with guidance from the High-Level Steering Group (HLSG) and Executive Committee (ExCom), and in accordance with the Operational Manual and Hosting Agreement between UNICEF and ECW.

1. Strategic Leadership and Governance Support

• Provide overall vision and strategic leadership to guide ECW’s priorities, policies, and delivery models.
• Support the HLSG in fulfilling its role as the strategic oversight and political leadership body of ECW.
• Support the ExCom in reviewing and approving operational plans, budgets, investment decisions, and policy frameworks.
• Ensure timely reporting, documentation, and high-quality inputs to enable governance bodies to make informed decisions.
• Implement decisions and recommendations of the HLSG and ExCom, ensuring accountability and follow-through.

2. Secretariat Management and Operational Oversight

• Lead and manage the ECW Secretariat, ensuring effective coordination across functions including programme support, partnerships, finance, grant management, monitoring and evaluation, and communications.
• Ensure internal coherence, staff performance management, and team wellbeing within a results-based and values-driven culture.
• Oversee operational systems and processes to ensure efficiency, compliance with UNICEF rules, and delivery on ECW’s workplan.
• Manage risk, safeguard integrity, and ensure fiduciary oversight across all activities and country-level investments.

3. Programme Oversight and Results Delivery

• Ensure effective design, implementation, and monitoring of ECW’s investments, including the Multi-Year Resilience Programmes (MYRPs), First Emergency Response (FER) grants, and other strategic initiatives.
• Oversee development of investment guidelines, quality assurance processes, and monitoring systems to track delivery and impact.
• Champion innovation and learning to improve ECW’s delivery model and catalytic role in the education in emergencies sector.

4. Resource Mobilization and Financial Stewardship

• Lead the development and execution of a global resource mobilization strategy for the next strategic phase 2027-2030 in coordination with the HLSG Chair and ExCom.
• Cultivate partnerships with traditional and non-traditional donors, including governments, philanthropic foundations, and the private sector.
• Ensure effective management of ECW’s financial resources in accordance with approved budgets and donor agreements.
• Report transparently to governance bodies and donors on ECW’s financial status, fundraising performance, and return on investment.

5. Partnerships, Advocacy, and Representation

• Serve as the principal representative of ECW to governments, donors, multilateral organizations, civil society, and the private sector.
• Promote ECW’s visibility, credibility, and influence within the broader global education, humanitarian, and development communities.
• Foster alignment with key partners, including the Global Partnership for Education, UN agencies, international NGOs, and youth-led organizations.
• Advocate for education in emergencies as a political and financing priority in global fora.

6. Hosting and Institutional Relationship Management

• Serve as the focal point for the relationship between ECW and UNICEF, the hosting entity, ensuring mutual accountability and alignment.
• Ensure Secretariat staff operate in full compliance with UNICEF’s administrative, legal, and financial frameworks.
• Liaise with relevant UNICEF divisions and offices to facilitate administrative support, HR services, and financial operations.

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

The Director of ECW must demonstrate exceptional capabilities in strategic leadership, partnership engagement, fundraising, and advocacy, while managing a high-performing Secretariat in a complex, politically sensitive, and results-driven environment. The role requires sound judgment, adaptive leadership, and a relentless focus on delivering results for crisis-affected children and youth.

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Ability to define and drive a bold vision for education in emergencies and protracted crises within a shifting global aid landscape.
• Capacity to lead long-term strategy development and translate global goals into implementable priorities, aligned with ECW’s governance framework.
• Aptitude for steering organizational positioning within the broader multilateral and global education architecture.

 Resource Mobilization and Advocacy

• Strong record of success in mobilizing substantial financial resources from governments, philanthropic institutions, and the private sector.
• Ability to design and lead multi-year fundraising campaigns, articulate compelling investment cases, and build sustained donor confidence.
• A credible and persuasive public voice who can speak with authority and inspiration on global stages, in media, and in political settings to elevate the cause of education in crisis contexts.
• Proven ability to align political advocacy with technical objectives and funding strategies.

Stakeholder Engagement and Political Acumen

• Diplomatic skill and political sensitivity to navigate governance dynamics and multi-stakeholder partnerships at global and national levels.
• Capacity to build strategic alliances and foster collective ownership among donors, host countries, UN agencies, civil society, and youth organizations.
• Experience in engaging high-level political leadership, including ministers, UN principals, and parliamentary champions.

Management and Organizational Leadership

• Demonstrated success in leading diverse, high-performing teams across disciplines and geographies.
• Ability to foster a values-based, inclusive, and results-oriented workplace culture.
• Experience in managing institutional change, organizational development, and performance frameworks.

Results-Based Programme and Financial Oversight

• Strong command of programme design, grant management, risk mitigation, and results-based management systems.
• Experience overseeing large, multi-partner investment portfolios with a focus on accountability, impact, and learning.
• Financial acumen to align strategic priorities with budget realities and donor reporting obligations.

Resilience, Integrity, and Accountability

• Personal resilience and ability to lead under pressure, in politically complex and high-stakes environments.
• Demonstrated integrity, ethical judgment, and adherence to transparency and safeguarding principles.
• Commitment to the core values and humanitarian principles of the United Nations and UNICEF, including equity, inclusion, and sustainability.

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master’s degree (or equivalent) in one or more of the following disciplines: social sciences, business administration or management, public administration, education, or other related fields. First level university degree may be considered with two  additional years of experience.
• Work Experience: A minimum of 13 years of progressively responsible experience that combines strategic and managerial leadership in administration, business management, planning and operations in a large international and/or corporate/social enterprise organization. Experience working with diverse stakeholder groups or multi-stakeholder partnerships is highly desirable. 
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English. Another U.N. working language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Proven ability to deliver results in complex emergencies, ensuring timely, high-quality, and coordinated education investments.

• Strong strategic advisory skills to support governance bodies with evidence-based decision-making.

• Credibility in resource mobilization and accountability, with the capacity to sustain and grow donor confidence.

• Exceptional partnership-building and political acumen to leverage UN, government, civil society, and private sector collaboration for collective impact.

• Global leadership stature to position ECW as a credible and complementary actor within the international education and humanitarian landscape.

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 

(8)  Nurtures, Leads and Manages People

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. 

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.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

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

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.

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.