Research Manager (Education) – P-4 – Global Office of Research and Foresight – Florence, Italy – #117148

Under the guidance and general supervision of the Chief of Education (Level 5), the Research Manager – Education will lead the Systems Strengthening research workstream. The research manager will provide technical leadership for the research of the workstream and strategic guidance, manage day to day operations of the research team and manage partnerships related to the research portfolio, including but not limited to the What Works Hub for Global Education (WWHGE) strategic partnership, and Building Evidence in Education (BE2) initiative.

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, answers

UNICEF Innocenti undertakes and commissions research on emerging or current issues of relevance for children and child rights. The office links research and global trends analyses to influence policies, programming, and advocacy, as well as innovations, and to drive future strategies and vision of the organization and the child rights agenda more broadly amongst governments, private sector, and other institutions.

UNICEF Innocenti uses foresight to set the agenda for children uncovering emerging trends and deepening understanding of key issues facing girls and boys and serving as a go-to office for advising UNICEF and a diversity of actors, including governments, the United Nations, private sector, civil society and children and young people themselves in the face of the continually changing global economy, political and security environment.

UNICEF Innocenti also strives to lead global discourse by creating an enabling environment and platform for children and young people along with global influencers and decision-makers to transform their contributions into future strategies, policies and actions of UNICEF and the world. Thereby positioning children and UNICEF at the centre of the global conversation through prominent external engagement, communication, and influence.

How can you make a difference? 

UNICEF Innocenti has a dedicated education unit focused on producing high-quality research and evidence to inform and improve education programmes and systems. Since 2018, the team has been leading and supporting education research in over 40 countries around the world. The education unit has a strong focus on generating research to inform improvements in foundational learning. Research undertaken by the education unit at UNICEF Innocenti follows a co-creation approach working closely with Ministries of Education, and local partners, as well as UNICEF programmatic colleagues from country offices, regional offices, other headquarter units, and a host of external education and research partners. The education unit in UNICEF Innocenti is comprised of two major workstreams:

1) The systems strengthening workstream co-creates research with Ministries of Education to understand how different policies and practices can improve education systems to be more equitable, inclusive and learning focused. It focuses on identifying key levers to improve education systems from the national, middle-tier and local levels, including gathering evidence on local solutions from schools and teachers themselves. This workstream includes research projects including the Data Must Speak (DMS) projects, Teachers for All (T4A), and Women in Learning Leadership (WiLL) projects.

2) The programme strengthening workstream embeds research into programmes, innovations, and initiatives, to understand what works, and how they work to inform improvements in programme delivery and design in real time. Research is undertaken across a number of different types of programmes focused on improving foundational skills including, accelerated and differentiated learning programmes, digital learning, early childhood education, and inclusive education for children with disabilities programmes.

Under the guidance and general supervision of the Chief of Education (Level 5), the Research Manager – Education will lead the Systems Strengthening research workstream. The research manager will provide technical leadership for the research of the workstream and strategic guidance, manage day to day operations of the research team and manage partnerships related to the research portfolio, including but not limited to the What Works Hub for Global Education (WWHGE) strategic partnership, and Building Evidence in Education (BE2) initiative.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Research Manager (Education) – Level 4 – Systems Strengthening JD.pdf

Additional information on working at UNICEF Innocenti can be found here

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 education research, social science research, education programming or related fields.
• Skills: Strong experience in statistical analysis utilizing large data sets, is required. Demonstrated people management skills and the ability to forge and manage partnerships. Proven experience drafting quality research outputs for different stakeholders and audiences is required. Experience working in a development setting, managing programmes and / or research is required. Knowledge of econometric models and identification strategies to test impact of programmes required. Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Experience with qualitative data collection methods and analysis techniques highly desirable.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Familiarity/ background with emergency contexts is considered as an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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. 

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.

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.