Chief Education, P-4/FT, Antananarivo, Madagascar#10525

UNICEF is looking for a Chief Education (P-4) to lead its Education programme in Madagascar. In this role, the incumbent will be responsible for designing, managing, and implementing education initiatives that promote equity and gender equality for all children. The Chief Education will oversee a team, coordinate with external partners, and ensure alignment with national and international education goals. This position requires strategic leadership to drive effective programme delivery, manage resources, and advocate for policies that improve educational outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged children. The Chief Education will also play a crucial role in managing UNICEF’s Education sector response, fostering partnerships with key stakeholders, and ensuring that the education programme is responsive to emerging challenges, including in emergency situations. The position demands strong managerial skills, a deep understanding of the education landscape, and the ability to innovate and collaborate across various sectors to achieve the best outcomes for children in Madagascar.

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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, equity

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

To learn more about UNICEF work in Madagascar, please visit the country website:

Education | UNICEF

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How can you make a difference? 

Under the general guidance of the Deputy Representative, the Chief Education of UNICEF Madagascar is responsible for the formulation, design, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of the Education programme to ensure overall efficiency, effectiveness and accomplishment of the programme management, delivery, and objectives of equity and gender equality. He / she is accountable for optimal team management, with an emphasis on the virtual supervision of the fieldbased staff. The incumbent ensures the repositioning of UNICEF in an evolving political context and fosters effective partnerships. He / she ensures the sectorial work plan reflects UNICEF contribution as part of the coordinated support of external partners to national efforts to achieve the MDGs 2 and 3. Overall responsible for fundraising and maintenance of effective donor relations and leveraging resources to reach the programme goals.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Managerial leadership
2. Programme development and planning
3. Programme management, monitoring and quality control of results including in emergency contexts
4. Advisory services and technical support
5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: [ VA Chief Education-TMS.pdf]

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

Minimum requirements:

Education : 

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, economics, psychology, sociology or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience: 

• A minimum of eight years of professional experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education at the international level is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Experience in coordination of the Education sector and or Education cluster is an asset.
• Familiarity/background with emergency is considered as an asset.
• Experience with the Global Partnership For Education (GPE) is an asset

Skills:  

• Strong and demonstrated people management skills is a must.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in French and English is required

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 
• Understanding of the overall global development context, including issues
• Good knowledge of global developments in education and international engagement strategies,
• Ability to support policy dialogue & sector analysis capacity.
• Capacity to support engagement with partners
• Good understanding of gender and inequity issues in relation to education sector

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 is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and candidates with disabilities 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.

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.