• Duration: Permanent

• Salary: £42,000 per annum

• Job Level: 4

• Hours: 35 hours per week. Other flexible arrangements will be considered.

• Disclosure Level: Enhanced. This role involves direct work with children.

• Reports to: Strategic Lead – Youth Engagement

• Location: Working from home and at 1 Westfield Avenue, London E20 1HZ

At the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), we pull together to achieve the best possible results for children in danger around the world.  We believe in an inclusive workplace and in the power of fulfilled colleagues who share the same values and goals, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children. 

Our work is guided by the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which recognise the universality of children’s rights.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Youth Voice Specialist will sit within the multifaceted Advocacy, Programmes and Safeguarding Directorate (APS). The directorate effectively protects, promotes, and upholds the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) by mobilising multiple stakeholders, influencing key decision-makers, and driving direct change, to effectively deliver positive outcomes and lasting impact for children in the UK and around the world.

The role is part of the Child Rights in Sport, Safeguarding & Participation Team. This is a highly specialised team of technical experts who work cross-organisationally to embed UNICEF UK’s work on safeguarding, youth voice and participation, and child rights in sports.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Children and young people are growing up, adapting to life in an ever-changing world that doesn’t always recognise their rights or listen to their voices. Digital platforms are not only a tool for advocacy, but also serve as a space for gathering, networking, and providing mutual support among young people with common interests and facing similar challenges in the physical world.

The Youth Voice Specialist is an exciting new role in the Youth Voice team, who are all working to embed a UNICEF UK culture that is influenced by, and actively amplifies, children and young people’s voices.

This role will help ensure that children and young people growing up in the UK are informed and empowered, can shape, influence and drive change.

This role will develop a proposition that means wherever they live, whoever they live with, however they identify, children and young people growing up in the UK can develop a relationship with UNICEF UK and see us as an organisation they want to be part of.

Find out more about UNICEF UK’s work with children and young people in the UK, here.

What we will expect you to achieve:

• Undertake a thorough review of the existing online platforms for children and young people in the UK to find connection and community, identifying how UNICEF UK could complement these. Provide recommendations for how UNICEF UK can establish a safe, meaningful and innovative proposition for young supporters, where they can learn about and take action on children’s rights.

• Design, launch, and manage an inclusive proposition to build this virtual community, taking a child-rights based and participatory approach at all times, adhering to all relevant accessibility, safeguarding and data compliance requirements.

• Ensure the opportunity to engage is holistic and provides a mutually beneficial exchange between community members and UNICEF UK – providing learning and skills development opportunities as well as, for example, opportunities to fundraise or sign petitions.

• Monitor and analyse data relating to the engagement and impact of the new proposition, implementing learning to drive improvement and growth, and communicate this to a range of internal and external stakeholders.

• Support the Strategic Lead for Youth Voice to scope funding opportunities for the new proposition’s long-term future.

• Participate in cross-organisational working groups to build positive relationships and champion youth voice.

• Contribute to the effective facilitation of UNICEF UK's Youth Voice and Influence activities to support the delivery of our new youth voice strategy.

• Uphold our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion commitments and work consistently, compassionately, and collaboratively to support a psychologically safe, inclusive, and holistic culture where we can achieve our best work for children.

• Develop and maintain strong and collaborative relationships with colleagues to understand ongoing operational demands.

• Demonstrate and model a commitment to our shared values, behaviours and inclusive practices (known as Our Shared Commitment) in all aspects of your work with children and young people, and your interactions with colleagues.

BEHAVIOURS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

This section contains the essential behaviours, experience, knowledge, and skills needed in order to be effective and successful in this role. All criteria in this section are essential.

Effective behaviours

Achieving Change:

• Demonstrates a solution-focused approach to overcoming the barriers to change.

Analytical:

• Analyses available information to make logical and sound judgements.

Collaboration:

• Consults others and shares expertise, know-how and ideas with colleagues for best results.

Creating and innovating: 

• Responds proactively to changes, trends and best practice in the youth engagement and digital environments.

Positive Relationships:

• Nurtures professional relationships with colleagues at all levels and with external contacts and partners to support the achievement of objectives.

• Reflects on own thoughts, feelings and actions and is aware of own impact on relationships.

Results focussed:

• Prioritises and sustains focus on work that will have the greatest impact on agreed aims.

Relevant experience

• Demonstrable experience working with online communities and using a variety of digital tools to engage and empower community members.

• Demonstrable experience of working directly with children and young people, in a safe and equitable way, upholding professional boundaries and following safeguarding principles.

• Demonstrable experience launching a new initiative, ensuring it achieves agreed aims, is delivered on time and within budget.

Specific knowledge and skills

• Comprehensive technical knowledge to support online engagement with children and young people.

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of safeguarding legislation and standards of best practice for data compliance and safeguarding, inclusive of online environments.

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of effective project management tools and methodology.