The United Nations Children’s Fund, also as UNICEF, announces vacancy opening for the position of Technical Specialist (Education) in the capital city of Denmark, Copenhagen. The Technical Specialist (Education) assists in establishing technical specifications, standards and guidelines for educational and related commodities as per the needs of UNICEF programs, or specialized UN agencies, governments and non-governmental organizations on a procurement services basis. The Technical Specialist (Education) also identifies commodity sources and evaluates technical appropriateness of commodities with a focus on sustainable procurement.

Key Responsibilities 

• Reviewing and developing technical specifications and requirements to ensure completeness and appropriateness. Advising requesting offices on technical matters relating to the commodity of specialization.
• Clarifying inadequate specifications with requesting offices, proposing substitute or alternative items as necessary.
• Collaborating with Programme Division, Country Offices and/or other UN agencies in promotion and improvements in use, availability, and appropriateness of products. Support in convening industry and global partners around access to education products.
• Supporting development of a supply strategy in support of global education strategy 2030 with a focus on emerging products, technologies and new delivery platforms for supplies via integrated programming.
• Conducting market research, providing analyses, background information, recommendations for improving the suitability, sustainability, ensure the products are culturally suitable to be used globally.
• In collaboration with the Innovation unit reviewing the existing commodity group to identify product gaps and propose improvements for disability inclusiveness.
• In collaboration with Programme Division, Regional Offices and Country Offices supporting localized approaches to education supplies and identifying opportunities for partnership, as well as capacity development of governments in setting standards, sourcing, and selection around education supplies.
• Investigating global markets, maintaining resource files on a global basis. Recommending new areas of purchase for optimal currency utilization.
• Also, ensuring regular review and update on Education material webpages and UNGM. Maintaining network with Programme Division and other UN agencies to keep abreast of commodity trends and technical evolution of the Education commodity group.

Additional Responsibilities 

• In conjunction with the Quality Assurance Section, establishing a list of potential pre-qualified suppliers for the requisition, and ensure to maintain/update vendor list as required by Contracting Function for purchasing action.
• Similarly, in partnership with the Quality Assurance Center and Contracting Function, evaluating supplier performance and acceptability and delivery record, and general information including financial, historical and managerial.
• Visiting major suppliers, prescribing inspection criteria for commodities within specialized knowledge, and assessing manufacturers’ quality control facility and capacity.
• In partnership with Quality Assurance Centre and Warehouse ensuring Education material lists are kept updated while coordinating material depletion or write off where necessary.
• Researching, evaluating and promoting new products, and promoting development of new technologies when appropriate, to meet program requirements, especially focusing on sustainability and disability inclusiveness.
• Reviewing the range of commodities under the Education Unit’s responsibility, as well as the Education Emergency List.
• Supporting the supply function in field offices by assisting in the preparation of special projects that may arise.

Requirements 

• An advanced university degree is required in Quality Assurance, Product Design, Engineering, or related discipline.
• At least five years of progressively relevant professional experience dealing with technical specifications of products.
• In addition to that, experience in institutional procurement of general education and/or relief products.
• Experience implementing Educational programs in UNICEF (or other agencies) is desirable.
• Similarly, specialist knowledge of education and/or relief commodities desirable.
• Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Furthermore, knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

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