Senior Legal Child Protection Consultant, Athens, Greece, Hybrid (On-site&Remote), for Nationals

Contract Duration – 12.25 months

Working arrangement: Hybrid (On-site and Remote)

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

The Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs (MoSCFA), in partnership with UNICEF and the European Commission Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (SG REFORM), is implementing a Technical Support Instrument (TSI) project aimed at strengthening child protection governance and child rights monitoring in Greece.

To support this work, UNICEF seeks to engage a Senior Legal Child Protection Consultant to provide specialized legal and institutional analysis and contribute to the development of legal and regulatory reform recommendations.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0003140 External ToR.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Law, Human Rights Law, Public Law, International Law, or related field.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of responsible professional experience in child protection law, child rights, governance reform, public policy, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience conducting legal, policy, and institutional reviews, as well as stakeholder consultations.
• Experience supporting legislative reform processes, public policy development, and the design or implementation of national action plans and strategies.
• Proven experience working with government institutions, EU bodies, international organizations, and/or UN agencies.
• Experience drafting legal analyses, analytical reports, policy papers, and recommendations.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Strong expertise in legal and institutional analysis, particularly in the field of child rights and child protection.
• In-depth knowledge of international and European child rights standards, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and relevant EU frameworks.
• Strong understanding of the Greek child protection, social welfare, and governance systems.
• Experience supporting legislative and policy reform processes at national level.
• Excellent analytical, research, drafting, and facilitation skills.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, consultation processes, and qualitative research methodologies.
• Ability to synthesize complex legal and policy information and formulate practical recommendations.
• Strong communication and coordination skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Greek (written and spoken).
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken).

Desirables:

• Experience working with the Greek public administration and/or providing technical legal support to key line ministries.
• Previous experience working with UNICEF, other UN agencies, or international organizations.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal TMC0003140 Financial proposal 2.docx

Remarks:

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.