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 learn

DELIVERALBLES/TASKS/MILESTONES:

1. Career guidance and counselling

• Technical inputs to the design or refinement of career guidance frameworks and methodologies tailored to the needs of migrant and refugee youth from Ukraine and supported by UNICEF partners (Government and NGOs). (ongoing support to partners)
• Developing guidance notes or practical recommendations on strengthening career guidance for adolescents and youth (by October 2026)
• Brief summaries documenting progress, challenges, and lessons learned from supported career guidance initiatives (by September 2026)
  
  

2. Technical support to employability, learning to earning (LTE) transitions

• Provide capacity strengthening, technical support and guidance to partners on employability skills and alternative skills development pathways for young people, as well as school-to-work transitions. (ongoing support to partners and leading discussions with the MoNE on youth agenda)
• Actively collaborate with partners involved in the Skills Alliance and contribute to coordinated actions by identifying and articulating core advocacy priorities related to formal school enrolment, skills development, and school-to-work transition of young people. (regular coordination meetings of the Skills Alliance Poland)
  
  

3. Skills Alliance in Poland and Skills Alliance Ukraine

• Support coordination notes, meeting summaries, and action trackers related to Skills Alliance in Poland activities. (on monthly basis)
• Provision of inputs to joint plans or partnership frameworks under the Skills Alliance in Poland. (on monthly basis)
• Provision of inputs to Skills Alliance Ukraine on the implemented upskilling and vocational education and training initiatives. (as required)
• Support the coordination between UNICEF and the Government of Poland on the Skills Alliance meeting (Ukraine Recovery Conference) that will be held in Poland in Q3 of 2026.
  
  

4. Coordination and support to two implementing partners on skills building

• Prepare and submit progress reports, financial reports, and updates on project activities to both internal and external stakeholders, including MoNE, UNICEF, ensuring accuracy and compliance with UNICEF Procedures.
• Develop and oversee detailed work plans, timelines, and project schedules, ensuring alignment with MoNE and UNICEF guidelines and objectives;
• Track progress and ensure timely completion of project deliverables (Work plans developed; progress on project deliverables tracked; Reports regularly submitted; Technical guidance provided as per HACT/partnerships requirements)

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

Minimum requirements:

[Include the vacancy requirements aligned to the category and level of the position. You can see examples in the branded VA example.]

• Education: At least Masters in Project management, Psychology, Pedagogy, or other related fields including Education
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in project management/coordination.
• Skills: 
  - Proven experience collaborating with central public education bodies and contributing to national education policy processes
  - Proven experience in working on skills, career guidance and employability
• Language Requirements: Fluency in Polish and English required. Excellent language skills in both oral and written. (Knowledge of Ukrainian language will be an asset.)
• Previous Experience with UNICEF or UN organization will be 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

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 

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. For this position, eligible and suitable male 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.

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.