Innovation Specialist P-3

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF employs a passionate workforce dedicated to serving children and communities worldwide, fostering a culture of inclusion and growth, and providing an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The Innovation Specialist position at UNICEF Malawi is pivotal in leading and mainstreaming innovation and digital technology-enabled programming throughout the country program. The role involves providing technical leadership and support for innovation planning, technology-enabled design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design, implementation, monitoring, and documentation across various program sections and with partners. The specialist will coordinate innovation and digital transformation priorities, advise government counterparts on enhancing child-centered digital transformation, responsible AI governance, and technology policy implementation. Additionally, the role includes supporting the testing, scaling, and institutionalization of innovative products and technology-enabled solutions, strengthening results tracking, evidence use, and knowledge management, building staff and partner capacity in innovation and digital impact, and fostering partnerships with government, UN, NGOs, academia, private sector, and technology actors. The position aims to drive innovation across UNICEF Malawi by advancing scalable solutions and digital impact initiatives that improve outcomes for children.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Innovation Specialist include:

• Leading the planning and implementation of innovation and digital technology initiatives across UNICEF Malawi's programs.
• Providing technical guidance on innovation planning and technology-enabled program design.
• Coordinating program-wide innovation and digital transformation priorities.
• Advising government counterparts on child-centered digital transformation and responsible AI governance.
• Supporting the testing, scaling, and institutionalization of innovative products and technology solutions.
• Strengthening results tracking, evidence use, and knowledge management within programs.
• Building capacity among staff and partners in innovation and digital impact.
• Supporting sustainable financing approaches for scaling promising solutions.
• Fostering partnerships with various stakeholders, including government, UN, NGOs, academia, and the private sector. 1
• Collaborating with UNICEF's Digital Impact Division and other relevant offices to drive innovation initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Innovation Specialist position include:

• A Master’s degree or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Innovation and Technology Policy, Public Policy, Business Administration, Digital Transformation, Information Technology, International Relations, or a related field.
• Additional certification in innovation, technology and/or AI governance, innovative and sustainable financing, or related fields is desirable.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in ICT management, business analysis, program management, monitoring and evaluation, innovation and digital impact, child-centered digital governance, digital health, digital education, training and capacity building, project management, and partnership management.
• Experience in innovative/sustainable financing, resource mobilization, and proposal/partnership development is desirable.
• Strong skills in partnership building, resource mobilization, and innovative/sustainable financing, along with excellent writing, communication, negotiation, influencing, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as Innovation and Technology Policy, Public Policy, Business Administration, Digital Transformation, Information Technology, or International Relations. Additional certifications in related areas are considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's profile for this role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of professional experience in relevant fields, including ICT management, business analysis, program management, and digital impact initiatives. Experience in scaling and institutionalizing technology-enabled programs, particularly in digital education and health, is highly valued. Candidates should also have a background in advising government counterparts on digital governance and responsible AI frameworks, as well as experience in partnership management with various stakeholders.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration within diverse teams and with various stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is a fixed-term role with UNICEF, and candidates are expected to comply with medical clearance and vaccination requirements as mandated by UNICEF. The organization promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applications from underrepresented groups. UNICEF does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and ensures reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities. The role may involve mobility as part of international professional employment with UNICEF, and all staff may be called upon to support humanitarian responses as needed.