Innovation Data and Product Consultant

Office of Innovation – Systems & Services – Insights & Evidence function – Stockholm, Sweden & Remote, with possible travel

12 months

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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.

Purpose of Assignment

To provide hands-on, specialized expertise in data and systems integration, application and workflow development, automation and applied AI to the UNICEF Office of Innovation (OOI). The Consultant will play a critical role in advancing OOI’s Insights & Evidence function by designing and deploying data tools, analytics, knowledge systems, and intelligent workflows that help UNICEF better leverage data and knowledge for innovation.

Scope of Work

We are looking for Innovation Data and Product Consultant to join the Insights and Evidence team at UNICEF's Office of Innovation (OOI). You will help OOI better leverage data and knowledge to support innovation, by developing systems and applications and using innovative analytical methods, including AI and large language models, so that timely insights reach the colleagues and decision-makers who need them across UNICEF and, where relevant, the wider humanitarian and development community.

The role covers the full cycle from problem exploration to deployment and adoption, including helping users build the know-how and confidence to use these tools and solutions effectively. You will work under the guidance of the Knowledge Management and Data Analytics Lead, in close collaboration with OOI's Systems & Services and Solutions sections and other UNICEF offices.

The work combines strong technical execution with thoughtful product design grounded in systems thinking and Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles. The aim is to bring leading product and data/AI engineering practices from industry into the UNICEF context, while keeping solutions cost-effective, lean and appropriate for the contexts in which UNICEF works. We work in a build-test-learn way, moving quickly from ideas to minimum viable products and iterating based on real-world use. It will suit a versatile builder who enjoys moving between data, technology and product design to develop practical solutions to complex problems.

User research and product discovery

Apply systems thinking and HCD methods to deeply understand user pain points and use cases for data, knowledge and AI solutions.
Gather reliable evidence to test assumptions and articulate design decisions throughout the product lifecycle.

Data systems and products

Design and build data models, databases, pipelines and data entry workflows that connect different sources into a reliable base of information.
Develop dashboards, applications and other data and knowledge products for OOI, UNICEF and partners, including solutions tailored to specific Country Offices and innovation teams.

Automation and AI

Build and automate workflows for capturing, processing, and using data and knowledge, including through AI.
Apply LLMs, text analytics, and other AI techniques to analyze large volumes of unstructured text such as reports and documents.

User adoption

Implement tailored approaches to help teams adopt and integrate data and knowledge solutions into their daily work.
Produce user guides and demos and run hands-on sessions that support effective user adoption.

All work is deliverable-based, supporting defined initiatives and outputs rather than ongoing staff functions. This is a home-based role, ideally with good overlap with Stockholm (CET) working hours.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: ToRTMC0006924.pdf

Minimum requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Information Systems, Human-Computer Interaction, Digital Technology, Business Analytics, Economics, Service Design, or another relevant field.

Work Experience: At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in systems and data integration, application development, business intelligence, data analytics, workflow automation or applied AI.

Demonstrated experience taking a solution from user research and prototyping through development, testing, launch and adoption, evidenced through a portfolio or examples of previous work.

Skills: Hands-on technical skills building applications and workflows using Power Platform, low-code tools, Python or AI-assisted development, including underlying data models

Systems thinker, able to connect the dots across data, user insight and business context to uncover problems and opportunities

Familiar with Human-Centered Design, able to move from ambiguous problems to working solutions and iterate as new evidence and user insight emerge

Some design eye, creating solutions that are intuitive, simple and well designed, not just technically functional

Forward-thinking and digitally curious, with an instinct for how technology can solve business problems

Clear and persuasive communicator, including with senior leadership and external partners

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

Desirables: Using AI to analyse unstructured text/information and identify themes, patterns and insights

Data visualisation and dashboards using Power BI, Airtable or similar
Microsoft Dataverse and Copilot Studio agent-builder
UX and prototyping tools such as Figma or AI-assisted prototyping (vibe-coding)
Graphic design tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud or Canva, or experience with Claude Design

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.

An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
Cover letter

A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal TMC0006924.docx

Technical proposal requirement: Portfolio of 2 or 3 tools the candidate has built, such as links, demos, screenshots or short videos, explaining the problem, the users and the candidate’s role for each. Candidates may include it in their application but not mandatory yet. It will be required from shortlisted candidates at the assessment stage.

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

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.

Innovation Data and Product Consultant, Office of Innovation – Systems & Services – Insights & Evidence function – Stockholm, Sweden & Remote, with possible travel, 12 months, # 596211