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

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights not just as a job, but as a calling. UNICEF offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.

Job Purpose

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 to strengthen child protection governance and child rights monitoring in Greece. To support this critical initiative, UNICEF seeks to engage a Senior Legal Child Protection Consultant. This role is essential for providing specialized legal and institutional analysis, and for contributing significantly to the development of robust legal and regulatory reform recommendations. The consultant will play a key part in enhancing the child protection framework within Greece, ensuring that the rights of children are effectively safeguarded and promoted through strengthened governance and monitoring mechanisms.

Responsibilities

The Senior Legal Child Protection Consultant will be responsible for conducting in-depth legal and institutional analysis related to child protection in Greece. This includes reviewing existing legislation, policies, and institutional frameworks to identify gaps and areas for improvement. The consultant will contribute to the development of concrete legal and regulatory reform recommendations, ensuring alignment with international and European child rights standards, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and relevant EU frameworks. A significant part of the role involves engaging with various stakeholders, including government institutions, EU bodies, international organizations, and civil society, to gather input and build consensus. The consultant will also support legislative reform processes, assist in the development of public policy, and contribute to the design or implementation of national action plans and strategies for child protection. Furthermore, the consultant will be expected to draft comprehensive legal analyses, analytical reports, policy papers, and provide clear, actionable recommendations to facilitate the effective implementation of child protection reforms.

Work Experience

Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in child protection law, child rights, governance reform, public policy, or related fields. Demonstrated experience in legal, policy, and institutional reviews, stakeholder consultations, and supporting legislative reform processes is required. Experience working with government institutions, EU bodies, international organizations, or UN agencies is also essential.

Skills

Legal and institutional analysis in child rights and protection, International and European child rights standards, Greek child protection, social welfare, and governance systems, Legislative and policy reform processes, Analytical and research skills, Drafting legal analyses and reports, Facilitation skills, Stakeholder engagement and consultation, Qualitative research methodologies, Synthesizing complex information, Formulating practical recommendations, Communication and coordination skills

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