Senior Education Programme Specialist

OVERVIEW

Post Number : IEP/PA/143

Grade : P-4

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Project Appointment

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 01-FEB- 2024

 

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

 

Duration of contract: 1 year renewable. Extension of contract is subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

 

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

 

Under the overall authority of the Director of IIEP and the Technical Cooperation Team lead, and under the direct supervision of the Policy, Planning and M&E (PPME) Cluster Lead, the incumbent contributes to the management and implementation of a variety of funded projects and activities that support the capacity of Ministries of Education to better plan and manage their education sector.

 

All IIEP’s technical experts provide direct technical support to governments on planning and management, while also contributing to research and analytical work, training programmes, and knowledge sharing activities. Candidates should have experience in managing large and complex programs and projects to support the planning and management capacity of ministries of education, including in crisis affected settings. More specifically, candidates should display proven expertise in the following areas:

 

1. Education Sector Analysis: Expertise in conducting and supporting various analyses for Education Sector Analysis including access, cost and financing, quality, system capacity management, and equity, including analysis related to gender, equity and refugees and internally displaced persons.
2. Education Sector Planning: Expertise in supporting evidence based, multi-stakeholder decision-making processes in Ministries of Education, using variety of planning and management tools and approaches (including, education sector plan, multiyear operation plan, Partnership Compact development, MEL framework, etc.).
3. Crisis sensitive planning and Education in Emergencies: Expertise in crisis sensitive planning including climate change, and experience and knowledge of planning mechanisms for education in emergencies and crisis-affected contexts.
4. Capacity Development for Education Sector Planning and Management: Expertise in design and management of integrated    programs (combining research, training, and technical support) to support the management and planning capacity of Ministries of Education at the national and subnational levels.

Long Description

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The incumbents will lead technical cooperation and research and development activities and projects. In particular, the incumbents will:

 

• Lead country-facing projects to support governments in conducting education sector analyses and national and sub-national planning and management, and to deliver on expected results across these activities and ensuring appropriate quality assurance, planning, management, and accountability for their delivery.

 

• Support the PPME Cluster lead for the cluster management, quality assurance, cluster reporting and partnership, ensuring that programs and projects benefit from cutting innovation and technical advances in sector planning and management.

 

• Collaborate closely with the Data and Evidence cluster in the Technical Cooperation Team to implement innovative approaches in the analysis, planning, and management of the education sector.

 

• Work with the Training team to deliver a strong training offer in their area of technical expertise, including by engaging in direct instruction within IIEP’s training programs.

 

• Support regular consultation across IIEP’s Offices and with IIEP partners (Member States, Donors, external institutes, etc.) about IIEP’s country facing research, capacity development and technical cooperation activities.

 

• Contribute to IIEP’s specialized committees and ad-hoc workgroups to the benefit of IIEP strategic planning and programme implementation in their capacity as a member of middle management.

 

 

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Communication (C) Accountability (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) Building partnerships (M) Driving and managing change (M) Leading and empowering others (M) Managing performance (M) Making quality decisions (M) Strategic thinking (M) - For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

 

Education

•  Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in the field of educational planning and management, education policy, education in emergency, international development, social sciences, economics or related fields, with a strong foundation in quantitative data analysis.

               

Work Experience

• Minimum seven (7) years of relevant experience in technical cooperation, in the analysis, diagnosis, planning and/or evaluation of education especially in crisis-affected settings.
• Experience in the Education Sector Analysis and Planning as a practitioner in supporting evidence based, multi-stakeholder decision-making processes in Ministries of Education, using variety of planning and management tools and approaches in an international organization, or national or international NGO.
• Experience in crisis-sensitive planning and education in emergencies (EiE), including development of Transitional Education Plan (TEP) to bridge the emergency response planning and mid-term/long-term planning. Strong knowledge of planning approaches and mechanisms in emergency settings. Conversant with EiE approach and landscape to help bridge the development and humanitarian nexus.
• Experience in design and management of capacity development programs to develop capacities for the management and planning of Ministries of Education at the national and subnational levels.
• Experience in leading and managing a team of experts and support staff with diverse backgrounds at national or international levels.

Long Description

Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrate knowledge of the issues surrounding education in the context of developing and crisis affected countries.
• Demonstrable knowledge of contemporary developments in the global education arena and of effective strategies for improving educational planning and management, including in crisis-affected contexts.
• Demonstrable knowledge of stakeholders and processes for planning and managing education in emergency settings.
• Proven competency and proficiency in quantitative and qualitative analytical work.
• Proven ability to design and implement training programmes and courses, including strong analytical and synthetic skills for preparation of training materials and policy briefs.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly on mission in complex environments. 
• Ability to develop coalitions and partnerships with a wide range of relevant actors within and outside IIEP-UNESCO.
• Ability to think strategically and support IIEP’s leadership position in education planning and management.
• Ability to communicate with confidence and explain complex issues to senior audiences.
• Excellent IT skills, including knowledge of MS Office Suite and statistical software (e.g. STATA, R, SPSS).

 

Languages

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of French and English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

 

Skills/Competencies

• Expertise in effective partnership with humanitarian stakeholders including UNHCR, Education Cannot Wait and UNICEF for improving educational planning and management, including in crisis-affected and low-income country contexts.

 

Languages

• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish).

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc.

The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 118 386 US $.

For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.