Programme Officer

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 personal and professional development. UNICEF prides itself on a culture that helps staff thrive and provides an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The Programme Officer will coordinate UNICEF Ukraine’s work on youth employment, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship, contributing to the Adolescent Development & Participation (ADAP) strategy’s economic opportunities and livelihoods outcomes. This role involves designing, implementing, and scaling evidence-based models that increase access to decent work and entrepreneurship pathways for young people, particularly focusing on vulnerable groups such as displaced youth and NEETs. The Officer will collaborate closely with national and local government partners, private sector, civil society organizations, and UN partners to create integrated, sustainable, and replicable youth employment solutions aligned with the EU Youth Guarantee and national recovery priorities. The position is pivotal for strengthening systems, scaling impact, and ensuring continuity in youth economic programming, enabling the development of specialized expertise and fostering stronger strategic partnerships.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Technical Guidance and Coordination: Co-create, test, and validate youth employment models with various stakeholders. Support the development and implementation of strategies with government and partners, ensuring alignment with ADAP’s Theory of Change. Design integrated learning-to-earning pathways and provide technical support on youth employability interventions. Monitor program implementation and partnerships, identifying bottlenecks and co-developing solutions.
• Partnerships, Networking and Stakeholder Engagement: Develop strategic relationships with government, private sector, and youth networks. Strengthen partnerships with employers to expand apprenticeship opportunities. Conduct field-based monitoring and prepare reports for stakeholders.
• Strategic Programming and Technical Expertise: Introduce robust approaches to enhance youth employment and entrepreneurship. Research and scale international best practices in youth employment. Draft evidence-based recommendations to advocate for youth-centered economic opportunities.
• Advocacy, Communications, and Knowledge Management: Support the development of advocacy materials and document lessons learned from implementation. Generate policy-relevant evidence to inform youth policy and labor market reforms.

Required Qualifications:
Minimum requirements include a university degree in social science or a relevant field, such as Economics or Development Studies. An advanced degree is an asset. Mandatory work experience includes a minimum of 2 years in designing and implementing youth employment programs, with a robust understanding of labor markets and entrepreneurship schemes. Desirable experience includes engaging with key ministries and developing partnerships in skills and youth employment.

Educational Background:
A university degree in social science or a relevant field is mandatory, with an advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) being an asset. Relevant fields include Economics, Education, Development Studies, Public Policy, Social Work, Labor Market Studies, or Human Capital Development.

Experience:
A minimum of 2 years of experience in designing, planning, and implementing youth employment and entrepreneurship programs is required. Experience with labor market data, skill gap analyses, and multi-stakeholder partnerships is desirable. Relevant experience in a UN agency or similar organization is also beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Kyiv and requires on-site work. Depending on security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security conditions, the incumbent may need to relocate within Ukraine. UNICEF emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from individuals with disabilities. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims, including discrimination and abuse. Background checks will be conducted for selected candidates.