Innovation Specialist (Ed. Tech Portfolio), P-3, Fixed-Term, Office of Innovation, Helsinki, Finland (Post #127456)

UNICEF works in a number of the world’s hardest locations, to achieve the world’s most deprived youngsters. To save lots of their lives. To defend their rights. To assist them fulfill their potential.

Throughout 190 international locations and territories, we work for each youngster, in every single place, every single day, to construct a greater world for everybody.

And we by no means quit.

For each youngster, innovate

The UNICEF International Studying Innovation Hub, beneath the UNICEF Workplace of Innovation (OOI) would be the residence of the architects of the way forward for studying. The Hub, primarily based in Helsinki has a objective of bringing collectively the worldwide group to construct recreation altering options in training that may assist remedy the educational disaster and innovate for the way forward for studying now. The UNICEF Studying Innovation Hub will help the UNICEF Reimagine Training initiative by accelerating equitable entry to world-class digital studying options by testing and scaling frontier applied sciences and improvements hand-in-hand with UNICEF Nation Places of work. On the similar time, it’ll create a secure playground for disruption, inviting UNICEF and the educational group to search for options exterior the normal sphere and be part of tech entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, knowledge ninjas, fiction writers, designers, enterprise leaders and others to discover new studying journeys, pedagogical approaches, areas and artifacts that assist unleash every youngster’s full potential. The UNICEF Studying Innovation Hub will deliver to the entrance the voice of younger individuals in regards to the expertise they need to purchase to develop into entrepreneurs of their very own life and develop into forward-thinking powerhouse that re-imagines and builds brilliant different futures turning studying into a captivating journey for all youngsters.

How will you make a distinction?

Underneath the supervision of the Innovation Supervisor (Portfolio Studying), in UNICEF Studying Innovation Hub, you’ll establish and help a portfolio of digital studying improvements, performing as advisor and dealer with the intention of supporting improvements to positively affect the lives of tens of millions of youngsters and younger individuals within the international south.

1. Supporting the set-up and administration of the Blue Unicorn Farm Studying Innovation Portfolio from designing the sourcing technique, to the pilot, speed up and scale-up phases. 

• Design and handle the sourcing technique to the Blue Unicorn Farm Studying Innovation Portfolio to make sure various and high-quality pipeline cutting-edge EdTech options. This contains help to set-up the Studying Cupboard that may function EdTech instruments assessed utilizing a complete, rigorous standards. The incumbent will help the curation of EdTech instruments for the Studying Cupboard which serves as pipeline for the Blue Unicorn Farm Studying Innovation Portfolio; and likewise help the identification of different potential entry pathways comparable to innovation challenges and EdTech awards.
• Set-up and handle the applying, due diligence and funding processes for the Blue Unicorn Farm in shut coordination with the UNICEF Provide Division and with the Hub’s Training Staff who works carefully with UNICEF Nation and Regional Places of work and HQ Digital Studying Staff. This contains help to set-up wanted mechanisms comparable to eligibility standards, utility templates, KPIs, monitoring dashboards, constructing on the perfect practices together with from UNICEF’s Enterprise Fund and different affect pushed Enterprise Capital funds, in alignment with UNICEF’s due diligence insurance policies. The incumbent will help the due diligence processes for investments and use OOI’s 5D Innovation Mannequin, and be sure that the EdTech instruments match the wants of UNICEF Nation Places of work, which shall be companions all through the choice course of.
• Help the pilot, speed up, and transition to scale phases, together with the venture administration and common coordination with EdTech suppliers within the Blue Unicorn Farm. This contains working carefully with the Hub’s Engine Room/Training group in addition to Nation Workplace groups implementing the EdTech instruments from the Blue Unicorn Farm.
• Help setting-up of sturdy and agile monitoring system to measure and monitor the outcomes of the Studying Innovation Hub within the space of sourcing and choice.

2. Supporting the scale-up of the Blue Unicorn Farm tasks by offering technical steerage in enterprise mannequin design, product market match greatest practices and development methods to make sure equitable entry for all youngsters.

• Present technical experience to tell funding technique and funding selections all through the entire funding journey.
• Present and dealer technical recommendation for the tasks inside the portfolio, together with frontier applied sciences, enterprise fashions, product market match, development methods, proof constructing. This can embody repeatedly assembly with portfolio tasks and offering direct recommendation or technical help together with brokering help from different stakeholders inside OOI / UNICEF / externally.
• Help the event of enterprise instances for the Blue Unicorn Farm tasks to help acceleration and scale-up in a number of international locations.
• Present technical inputs to the event of a scale-up technique and pathways for  scale for Studying Innovation Hub and broader OOI portfolio investments.
• Contribute to the continued growth of the Studying Innovation Hub funding focus and technique and EdTech panorama evaluation.

3. Brokering and dealing along with OOI groups/items: Ventures; Portfolio, Tradition and Scale (PCS); WASH Hub and different potential hubs, to supply help to particular person options inside the portfolio, in addition to the general Blue Unicorn Farm portfolio. 

• Work carefully with the OOI Ventures group to design and construct structured pathways between Enterprise Fund investments and the Blue Unicorn Farm Studying Innovation Portfolio. Dealer common exchanges and facilitate change of learnings from OOI groups/items, that may very well be utilized to the Blue Unicorn Farm and Hub funding processes and selections.
• Contribute to the event of UNICEF OOI innovation processes, that define stage gates, standards and course of for entry and exit into the innovation pipeline, and that finally drive uptake and adoption of crucial improvements. Dealer and facilitate mobilization of technical consultants from different OOI groups/items that would function potential mentors to Blue Unicorn Farm tasks and Nation Places of work implementing these tasks.

4. Supporting partnerships constructing, efficient information administration and monitoring and analysis for the Blue Unicorn Farm and broader Studying Innovation Hub work Help identification and constructing partnerships with new networks, accelerators, thought leaders, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and different related stakeholders to help the search and choice of new cutting-edge options within the EdTech and Studying Innovation areas, together with within the Finnish ecosystem.

• Help potential innovation challenges and EdTech awards to be led by the Studying Innovation Hub and its companions.
• Help analysis on rising expertise areas within the EdTech and Digital Studying areas and potential funding areas/firms for the Blue Unicorn Farm.
• Help the monitoring of the digital studying panorama, together with specializing in the Hub’s downside statements. Help the upkeep of a database of innovators (start-ups, academy, and so on.) from related markets working in cutting-edge EdTech answer areas as they relate to the wants of UNICEF’s Nation Programmes.
• Help efficient monitoring, analysis and documentation of learnings linked to the Blue Unicorn Farm tasks and implementation in international locations. This might embody area visits.
• Help the preparation of donor stories and proposals, in addition to shows in regards to the Blue Unicorn Farm and the Studying Innovation Hub’s broader work, together with assessment conferences with key stakeholders.

To qualify as an advocate for each youngster you should have…

• A complicated college diploma (Grasp’s or larger) in finance, economics, entrepreneurship, enterprise administration, social research or different related area is required.
  *A primary College Diploma in a related area mixed with 2 further years {of professional} expertise could also be accepted in lieu of an Superior College Diploma.
• A minimal of 5 (5) years of related skilled expertise in entrepreneurship, portfolio administration, startup accelerator, startup incubator, enterprise capital, innovation, a few of which needs to be in a world setting.
• Expertise in managing portfolios of improvements or investments into expertise is required. Information of entrepreneurial ecosystems and networks, notably in edtech, together with in UNICEF programme international locations is required.
• Expertise in managing large-scale utility, choice and procurement processes for tasks, investments or grants is a bonus. Understanding of frontier applied sciences, and their functions to UNICEF’s priorities in training is desired.
• Expertise in facilitating engagements round improvements with UNICEF Nation Places of work and UNICEF Divisions, together with expertise working with UNICEF at nation stage is a bonus. Information of {and professional} networks within the Finnish training, EdTech and broader ecosystem is a bonus.
• Sturdy verbal and written communication expertise and the aptitude to deal with competing priorities with a number of audiences.
• Expertise in growing and sustaining partnerships.
• Information of worldwide growth, expertise for growth and key challenges affecting youngsters in growing international locations desired.
• A powerful understanding of UNICEF programmes, objectives and ideas, and expertise in a UNICF programme nation is a bonus.
• Expertise working in advanced, useful resource poor contexts is a plus.
• Technical competencies have to be demonstrated within the following areas:
• Some understanding of the general international developments in training and worldwide engagement methods, together with the applying of the fairness lens and human rights views to programming.
• Understanding of key ideas and processes linked to digital expertise improvements, together with portfolio administration, startup accelerators or incubators, and so on.
• Some understanding of entrepreneurial ecosystems and networks.
• Some skill to help engagement with companions from totally different sectors, together with from bilateral and multilateral organizations, INGOs, CSOs, academia, enterprise, and so on.
• Some understanding of gender, fairness and inclusion points in relation to training and growth.
• Fluency in English is required. Information of one other official UN language (Arabic, Chinese language, French, Russian or Spanish) or an area language is an asset.

For each Baby, you reveal…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Belief and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin all the pieces we do and the way we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Constitution: UNICEF Values

 

UNICEF competencies required for this publish are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and moral consciousness (3) Drive to attain outcomes for affect (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

Throughout the recruitment course of, we check candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize your self with our competency framework and its totally different ranges: competency framework here.

UNICEF is right here to serve the world’s most deprived youngsters and our international workforce should mirror the range of these youngsters. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, regardless of their race/ethnicity, age, incapacity, gender id, sexual orientation, faith, nationality, socio-economic background, or some other private attribute.
We provide a wide range of benefits to our staff, together with paid parental go away, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages using versatile working preparations.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance coverage on conduct that’s incompatible with the goals and aims of the United Nations and UNICEF, together with sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is dedicated to advertise the safety and safeguarding of all youngsters. 

Remarks:

UNICEF appointments are topic to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host nation of the obligation station, which shall be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are additionally topic to inoculation (vaccination) necessities, together with in opposition to SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Do you have to be chosen for a place with UNICEF, you both have to be inoculated as required or obtain a medical exemption from the related division of the UN. In any other case, the choice shall be cancelled.

All chosen candidates will endure rigorous reference and background checks and shall be anticipated to stick to those requirements and ideas. Background checks will embody the verification of educational credential(s) and employment historical past. Chosen candidates could also be required to supply further info to conduct a background examine.

Authorities staff which are thought of for employment with UNICEF are usually required to resign from their authorities earlier than taking over an project with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the correct to withdraw a suggestion of appointment, with out compensation, if a visa or medical clearance shouldn’t be obtained, or needed inoculation necessities will not be met, inside an affordable interval for any motive.

Solely shortlisted candidates shall be contacted and advance to the following stage of the choice course of.

Contact: For any queries, please contact: [email protected]