Consultancy: Strategic Design Lead, Office of Innovation – Learning Innovation Hub, Helsinki, Finland (13 months)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, innovate

UNICEF has a 70-year history of innovating for children. We believe that new approaches, partnerships and technologies that support realizing children’s rights are critical to improving their lives.

The Office of Innovation is a creative, interactive, and agile team in UNICEF. We sit at a unique intersection, where an organization that works on huge global issues meets the start-up thinking, the technology, and the partners that turn this energy into scalable solutions.

The UNICEF Global Learning Innovation Hub, established in Helsinki, has a mission to radically transform education around the world by making it a wonderful adventure for every child. Working with corporates and non-profit partners, the Learning Innovation Hub supports governments in accelerating access to digital learning; invests from pilot to scale on game-changing edtech innovations and explores how new innovative pedagogies and technologies can create environments where children can learn, unleash their unique talent, and become true entrepreneurs of their life. It is part of Reimagine Education initiative and has the bold ambition to become a global “home for the architects of the future of learning”.

How can you make a difference? 

UNICEF’s Global Learning Innovation Hub is looking for an experienced Strategic Design Lead to bring demonstrable design leadership and expertise to key initiatives of the Learning Innovation Hub.  A successful candidate has the ability to act as a decisive design team lead, product owner, mentor, trainer, team player and partner, crafting thoughtful concepts driven by strategic insight and demonstrating how unconventional thinking can lead to world-class sustainable solutions. You master the human centered design process and methodologies inside and out and are also able to transfer that knowledge to the team through guidelines, templates and training. When needed, you create prototypes, facilitate workshops, and offer design support as necessary, while keeping your eye on ultimate strategic goals.

Background

The Learning Innovation Hub has a few key initiatives including the following:

1. The Learning Pioneers Programme is a partnership between the Hub and UNICEF Country Offices (COs) and their respective governments to bring innovative approaches and harness the power of technology to transform learning by piloting and accelerating digital learning tools towards improved children’s learning and developmental outcomes.
2. EdTech for Good initiative through the EdTech for Good Framework and the Learning Cabinet. The Framework provides a structured approach to evaluating and selecting EdTech products. Education decision-makers can use the Framework as reference for deciding which EdTech tools to use in schools, while EdTech providers can use it to design ethically sound and impactful solutions. The Framework is also being used to curate EdTech tools featured in the Learning Cabinet, an online EdTech discovery platform. 
3. Blue Unicorn Farm is the Hub’s portfolio of EdTech tools that will participate in an acceleration journey and be piloted for scale in the Learning Pioneer countries (see #1 above).  Solutions in this portfolio receive access to UNICEF’s and its partners’ education expertise, technical support, mentorship and networking opportunities with like-minded innovators, experts and entrepreneurs.
4. Spacecraft and Playground. This covers the Hub’s work around developing thought-provoking research and think pieces on new learning futures, as well as learning and evidence on the integration of technology in education; and identifying and testing innovative approaches of using EdTech use in education that pushes the boundaries towards shaping the future of learning.
5. Accessible Digital Textbooks (ADT) initiative currently implemented in 11 countries aims to overcome the inaccessibility of core learning materials that follow Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and use accessible technology. ADTs are an adapted version of curriculum-based textbooks and are digital, accessible, and versatile, allowing users to customize and combine diverse features like narration, sign language videos, interactivity, the audio description of images, text-to-speech, and other functions, to suit different preferences or access needs. UNICEF with its partners is leveraging the potential of Generative AI to develop and pilot an open-source solution that could significantly cut the time and resources required to create ADTs that could significantly impact the learning of children with disabilities in the hardest-to-reach places.

Your main responsibilities will be:

The Strategic Design Lead consultant will ensure integration of human-centered design elements into all key initiatives of the Hub in particular, the following:

1.       Learning Pioneers Programme

1.1    Update the design journey, processes and package for onboarding a second cohort of Learning Pioneer Countries based on lessons from the first cohort. 

1.2   Design and support the delivery of the Innovation Camp for the second cohort of Learning Pioneer countries. The one-week immersive Innovation Camp will include participants from UNICEF Country Offices and partner governments. 

1.3   Lead the Landscape of Possible Learning Futures analysis in each of the 2^nd cohort of Learning Pioneer Countries which will include a desk review, remote interviews, country visit, and deliver the Architects of Digital Learning Futures Workshops in each of the countries. Using futures design thinking methodologies, the workshop will help imagine what alternatives learning journeys can be built, and back cast into the present to identify the different interventions needed to achieve so. 

1.4   Support the review and presentation of evidence generation from the piloting of EdTech tools in the first cohort of Learning Pioneer countries, ensuring design elements are taken into account. Support the Learning Pioneer countries and EdTech companies update the acceleration design and journey map based on the evidence.

2.       Learning Cabinet and EdTech for Good Framework

2.1 Provide strategic guidance for new iterations of the Learning Cabinet, including design of new features and functionalities, based on user feedback. 

2.2 Guide the further development of the EdTech for Good Framework, leveraging user feedback to refine and improve design of public-facing documents, e.g. PDFs, presentations, etc. 

2.3 Design and support the facilitation of workshops with UNICEF partners and other relevant stakeholders, aimed at defining the strategy, avenues for growth and scaling of the Framework and Cabinet.  

3. Blue Unicorn Farm

3.1 Provide support to update the strategic design of the portfolio management approach for the Blue Unicorn Farm.

3.2 Design, implement and iterate toolkits, leveraging HCD methodologies, lean start-up and systems thinking, directed at supporting EdTech tools in the Blue Unicorn Farm (cohorts 1 and 2) to help them progress in their acceleration journey (pilot and accelerate phase) and ensure the achievement of defined milestones and KPI.

3.3 Design and support the delivery of workshops, ideation sessions and community events for individual or cohort-wide tools in the Blue Unicorn Farm’s cohorts.  

4. Spacecraft and Playground

4.1 Support the integration of design methodologies and tools in the research and think pieces the Hub will produce, including on learning futures.

4.2 Help identify experts and potential speakers on design studies and future studies and its application in education.

4.3 Support the integration of design methodologies and tools in the Hub’s “Playground” initiatives, including the design, journey map, templates and tools for piloting and acceleration in countries.

 5. Accessible Digital Textbooks

5.1 Work with the ADT lead team and Innocenti to produce lessons learned from the implementation in countries by reviewing draft reports and bringing in design elements.

5.2 Support the updating of the ADT guidelines and methodology by bringing in design elements considering the lessons learned and the new GenAI solutions. This will inform new and current implementing countries on how to proceed with piloting, accelerating, and scaling up.

6. Overall hub functioning and work

Overall Strategic Design support to the Learning Innovation Hub by bringing ideas to life through an iterative, human-centric approach and engage project teams through the entire project journey, including facilitating Hub brainstorming sessions, prototyping and design sprints, and designing Hub materials, presentations, etc.

6.1   Design and deliver trainings on HCD methodologies, including HCD workshop facilitation and trainings for the Learning Innovation Hub team, partner countries and other collaborators to build key skillsets in line with the Hub’s mission.

6.2   Work with the Hub’s leadership team to support the development of new service offerings and improvements to current offerings that align with the Hub’s mission, including ensuring that the Hub’s narrative and outputs align with the broader strategic goals of UNICEF, providing HCD-driven insights and feedback into partnership strategies and proposals.

6.3   Provide overall design support to enhance the Hub’s visuals and templates when/as needed.

For more information on the responsibilities, please download the Terms of Reference attached:  TOR_Strategic Design Lead_Learning Innovation Hub.docx

The tasks above are for a duration of 13 months with the possibility of extension.

Travel:

• The consultant is expected to travel during the assignment, this will be planned and agreed with the supervisor.
• The consultant is responsible for arranging his/her own travel as part of the assignment, including visa and travel insurance.
• Travel costs will be covered by UNICEF as per standard UN travel procedure.

Payment details and further considerations

• Payment of professional fees will be based on the submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant. 
• Consultant is responsible for their own health and travel insurance

How to apply:

• Applicants are required to enclose a portfolio of related design work (strategic design / service design / ux/ui / futures design / visual design) that they have worked on / delivered, specifying the applicant’s specific role in each product / project, and including links to the product / project website / report etc. where applicable.
• Interest applicant is required to submit a financial proposal with all-inclusive fee.  Please see the financial proposal template.
• Financial proposal must include travel costs (economy class) and daily subsistence allowance, if travel is required as per TOR and any other estimated costs: visa, travel/health insurance
• Applications without a financial proposal will not be considered.  Consultancy Financial Offer template.docx

General Terms and Conditions:

 Please review UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for Consultants here for important information regarding contract obligations, including medical insurance, SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) vaccination, and income tax requirements.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• An advanced University Degree in Design (Strategic Design, Information Design, Interaction Design, Service Design, UX or related field). A first degree + 2 years of additional experience would be considered in lieu of a master’s degree.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in applicable fields, such as strategic consulting, growth-focused work, insight, entrepreneurship.
• Proven experience in planning, designing, facilitating and synthesizing workshops.
• Proven experience with driving and applying user-centered design processes. 
• Proven experience creating experience maps, user journeys, service blueprints, flows, and wireframes.
• Working knowledge of “Futures Design” methodology.
• Fluency in industry-standard design applications (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Sketch, Mural, Miro, Google Slides, PowerPoint).
• Experience working on and leading diversely skilled teams, and navigating the translation needed across disciplines and organizations.
• Knowledge of the environment in which UNICEF operates and understanding the constraints of working in a developing-world environment.
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s mission and the education space is an asset
• The applicant must have legal authorization to reside and work in Finland as the consultancy is based in Finland. UNICEF will not be responsible for processing visas or supporting travel to Finland to take up this consultancy.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. 
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility jobs-near-me.org UNICEF.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

If you have any further questions, please contact us at [email protected]