Sport Events Coordinator -  Ministry of Health

Vacancy Notice: SEC_01_GR/25_23

ABOUT ICMC

The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) is an international non-governmental organization, whose mission is to protect and serve children as well as uprooted people, including refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, victims of human trafficking, and migrants - regardless of faith, race, ethnicity, or nationality.  ICMC started a partnership with UNICEF in Greece to deploy a highly qualified affiliated workforce to assist UNICEF Greece Country Office.

SCOPE OF WORK

UNICEF became operational in Greece in early 2016 as an outposted team from the Regional Office of Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) to respond to the significant influx of refugee and migrant children and their families at that time. Following several years of engagement with national stakeholders, UNICEF and the Government of Greece made a decision in January 2020 to formalize the agency’s presence in the country as a full-fledged Country Office. The office falls under the auspices of the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia located in Geneva, which supports the work of 22 Country Offices within its geographical scope, reporting in turn to global headquarters in New York. Within the framework of a mandate for all children in Greece, UNICEF and Greece are now working to address the needs of all vulnerable, marginalized and left-behind children in the country.

In the context of the Country Programme for Greece (2022-2026) approved by the UNICEF Executive Board in February 2022, UNICEF and the Government of Greece have agreed on national targets for children, concerning health, education, social protection, child protection, justice and youth employability. Regarding the health and nutrition agenda, and within the context of the National Action Plan on Public Health 2021-2025 and the National Prevention Programme ‘’Spyros Doxiades’’, UNICEF is scaling up programming to address the high prevalence of childhood obesity in the country through the following pillars:

(i)advancement of an enabling environment including strengthening regulations, policies, and strategies to promote healthy diets, practices, and services for the prevention of childhood obesity

(ii)programs that strengthen the primary prevention of childhood obesity, including actions to improve nutrition in infancy and early childhood, prevention intervention programs at the school and community/municipal level, as well as developing awareness raising campaigns for social and behavioral change

(iii)interventions to enhance secondary and tertiary prevention and response programs

(iv)establishment of a European Regional Initiative on Childhood Obesity as a platform to enable exchange of lessons learned, good practices, and proven effective approaches to address childhood obesity among and within EU member states

(v)development of strategies and programs focusing on achieving social and behavioral change so that children and their caregivers across Greece make more informed lifestyle choices.

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT:

In close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF is seeking to recruit a Sport Events Coordinator to support the sports activities carried out by UNICEF Implementing Partners and the Healthy Eating Events organized with local authorities and actors. The overall event engagement includes Social Behavioral Change activities related to nutrition, physical activity, health promotion and health education that are taking place in the framework of the National Action against Childhood Obesity Program.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the guidance of the UNICEF Programme team, the incumbent will report directly to the UNICEF Programme Officer (Sports Activities) and will play a critical role in supporting the National Action Against Childhood Obesity in Greece. This will involve assisting in the design, implementation, dissemination, and monitoring of sports-based interventions aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills of children, adolescents, their families, and educators. The focus will be on promoting healthy eating, physical activity, and reinforcing the importance of nutrition and exercise in improving overall well-being. The Events Coordinator will:

The incumbent will be assigned contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following duties: 

• Assist the UNICEF Programme team in overseeing and guiding Implementing Partners (IPs) and Contractors in the design, piloting, and quality assurance of sport-based activities. 

• Collaborate with IPs and Contractors to ensure that the activities are age-appropriate, culturally relevant, and aligned with local contexts. 

• Facilitate communication with key stakeholders, including sports federations, the Ministry of Health (MoH), municipalities and sports clubs, to ensure smooth implementation. 

• Contribute to the organization and delivery of training workshops and seminars aimed at strengthening the capacity of physical education teachers and sports club coaches across the country in promoting healthy living, well-being, and life skills. 

• Develop concept notes, proposals, presentations, and reports related to the implementation and progress of sports-focused activities. 

• Analyze programme-related issues and policies from a physical education and children's rights perspective, providing recommendations to enhance programme outcomes. 

• Support communication efforts to promote the objectives of the sports-related activities programme and foster partnerships with internal and external counterparts, including other UN agencies, national stakeholders, and health professionals. 
• Support in the organization and facilitation of the sport events that are held by UNICEF Implementing Partners and Contractors, and adjust their structure according to feedback received and effective physical activities per location.
• Technically contribute and support to the development of the sports activities application and related software

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Education 

• An advanced university degree (Master’s) in Sports Science, Physical Education, Education, Sports Communication or a related field, with a focus on promoting healthy lifestyles, physical activity, and sport for development will be considered an asset.  

Experience 

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in promoting sports participation, physical health, childhood obesity prevention, sport events organization and/or youth development and participation. 

• Experience in developing and implementing sports-based programmes aimed at improving health behaviors, promoting physical activity, or life skills development for children and adolescents is highly desirable. 

• Experience in organizing sport events for children, training and capacity building for educators, sports coaches, or health professionals is an asset. 

• Familiarity with multi-sectoral collaboration and working with government ministries is an asset. 

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English and Greek is required.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit a detailed CV of maximum four pages in English, a motivation letter and two professional references with full and up to date contact details via email, to: Mr. Akis Papakonstantinou, ICMC HR Officer at [email protected].

The closing date for receipt of applications is 23/10/2025

The Vacancy Notice number SEC_01_GR/25_23 and the applicant’s full name must be quoted in the email subject line.

Applications will be evaluated upon reception.

DATA PROTECTION

By submitting an application, you agree that ICMC collects and manages the information that you provide. You also agree that your data may be shared with UNICEF. Your personal information will be used for recruitment purposes only. Your application will be treated with strict confidentiality.

Owing to the volume of applications, ICMC regrets that only applicants short-listed for an interview will be notified.

ICMC is committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants. ICMC does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, national origin, religion, physical or mental ability, marital status and age. Applications will be treated with strict confidentiality.

ICMC is committed to a Zero-Tolerance Policy toward sexual exploitation, abuses and all forms of unlawful harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment. Screening of applications includes the vetting for records of prior misconduct and reference checking. By submitting your application, you declare your consent for your former employer to disclose any details concerning criminal convictions or misconduct. ICMC can take other necessary measures to ensure that people involved in substantiated cases of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment are not recruited.