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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 Innovation

How can you make a difference?

The Innovation Specialist - Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) is to be based in the Office of Innovation, where the RITEC programme is a component of the Youth & ADAP, Gender Equality and Initiatives Portfolio. The Innovation Specialist reports to the Innovation Manager, Youth & ADAP, Gender Equality Initiatives Portfolio (Office of Innovation).

Purpose of the job:

Under the guidance of the Innovation Manager GE, Youth & ADAP, the Innovation Specialist will coordinate the next phase of UNICEF’s Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) programme, ensuring that its evolving workstreams remain responsive to the needs of children, partners, collaborators and donors. The role will support the integration of RITEC learnings, tools and implementation approaches across the Office of Innovation and UNICEF Country Offices and National Committee, while expanding RITEC’s engagement, advocacy and influence with industry, academia, governments and other stakeholders. This is a 364-day temporary appointment (extendable up with additional 365 days, subject to performance and funding). The Innovation Specialist will act as the primary UNICEF focal point for RITEC’s implementation and external engagement, with particular attention to the Nordic ecosystem and opportunities to advance responsible technology and children’s digital wellbeing. Given the need for frequent collaboration with the Office of Innovation team and for participation in meetings, convenings and events on short notice in the Nordic region, the position is based in Stockholm and requires regular in-office presence.

Under the leadership of the Innovation Manager, Youth & ADAP, Gender Equality Initiatives Portfolio the Innovation Specialist will perform the following key duties and tasks;

1. Project Coordination and delivery across full project cycle, including planning, implementation, budget monitoring, monitoring of results and reporting in line with agreed workplans and partnership requirements.

2. Serve as the technical focal point role for RITEC, supporting quality assurance, partner engagement, and knowledge management across all internal and external stakeholders.

3. Coordinate and facilitate RITEC’s evolving workstreams, including a new integrated industry engagement stream bringing together leadership convening and model-company engagement led by the Game Changers Coalition lead; an academic co-creation stream focused on developing practical roadmaps with universities and design schools; and Communities of Practice with the Joan Ganz Cooney Center and festivals and events with Games for Change and other collaborative mechanisms, ensuring coherence, timely delivery and alignment with RITEC objectives.

4. Contribute to external representation, industry engagement, advocacy and coordination with communications.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD_Innovation Specialist P3_135967__.pdf

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements

Education: Master’s degree in social sciences, economics, business, international development, human rights, sociology, international law, or another relevant field.
Work Experience: Minimum five (5) years of professional experience related to children’s rights.
Skills: Proven experience managing complex multi‑stakeholder partnerships including coordinating diverse viewpoints and maintaining constructive working relationships. Demonstrated experience working in highly collaborative, cross‑functional and/or matrixed teams, including facilitating joint planning, resolving differences constructively and ensuring follow‑through on shared decisions. Experience representing an organization in external forums (events, panels, workshops) with partners and funders, with a strong track record of professional and respectful engagement. Demonstrated experience working in a fast-moving innovation environment where programmes, partnerships and delivery approaches evolve in response to emerging evidence, stakeholder needs and strategic opportunities.
Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables

Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
Demonstrated experience translating research into practitioner ready tools, curricula, guidance, or learning materials (e.g., toolkits, e-learning, design briefs) is desirable.
Experience with responsible technology, child wellbeing by design, or adjacent technology sector roles (such as UX, game design, trust & safety, policy or compliance) is highly valued.
Experience working in international/multistakeholder environments and familiarity with UN Procedures is highly valued.
Education in Technology or digital disciplines would also be an asset.
Experience engaging technology, gaming, digital policy, academic or private-sector ecosystems is an asset.
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

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 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:

This position is based in Stockholm, Sweden. The incumbent is expected to work from the Office of Innovation premises at least three days per week. The role requires flexibility to participate in meetings, events and partner engagements in Stockholm and the wider Nordic region, including on short notice. Remote work may be authorized under UNICEF's flexible work arrangement policy.

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.

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.

Innovation Specialist, P-3, Temporary Position, GPD/Office of Innovation, 364 days, Solutions, OOI, #00135967

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