National Database Officer

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Kabul

Classification of duty station: [[filter12]]

Standard Duration of Assignement : [[filter13]]

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Level : Level 4

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 28-Jan-2024

 

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

 

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

 

UNESCO is implementing the System Capacity Grant (SCG) funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to strengthen the education sector's capacity to facilitate access to quality education service delivery in Afghanistan. A key component of the project is to create a unified database and dashboard to help partners and stakeholders monitor and report on education activities at national and subnational levels based on the monitoring and evaluation framework of the Afghanistan Education Sector Support Plan (AESSP) 2024-2025.

Long Description

The Database Officer will be responsible for designing, managing, and maintaining an education sector-wide database and associated dashboard to track the progress of AESSP’s implementation. The focus is on efficient data handling, encompassing the development of conceptual, logical, and physical data models. The Database Officer will also oversee database operations, ensuring optimal configuration and fostering interoperability with partners' and stakeholders' systems.

 

Roles and Responsibilities:

 

Under the overall authority of the Officer-in-Charge of the UNESCO Office in Kabul, the overall supervision of the Head of the Education Unit, and the direct supervision of the Project Officer of the System Capacity Grant, the Database Officer will be responsible for the following:

Long Description

• Database Development and Management:
  • Lead the development of a robust database system tailored to the unique requirements of the education sector in Afghanistan and the AESSP 2024-2025.
  • Work closely with the contractor (if any) to ensure the deliverables align with SCG project needs, education partners’, and stakeholders’ expectations.
  • Lead the designing of data entry forms, workflows, and validation checks for streamlined data input and feedback processing.
  • Implement and uphold best data security, backup, and recovery practices.
• Data Integration and Quality Assurance:
  • Establish seamless data feeds and integration processes with education sector partners and stakeholders.
  • Conduct regular data quality assessments and enforce standards to maintain accuracy and reliability.
• Dashboard Development:
  • Design and implement a user-friendly, real-time education sector-wide dashboard for systematic monitoring and reporting against key education indicators defined in the AESSP 2024-2025.
  • Customize dashboard features based on user requirements, ensuring adequate data visualization and analysis.

Long Description

• Collaboration and Coordination:
  • Liaise with partners to understand their data requirements and ensure alignment with SCG project goals.
  • Collaborate with data specialists from UNESCO and Education Sector partner organizations to integrate data seamlessly from various sources, fostering a cohesive data environment.
• Documentation and Reporting:
  • Maintain comprehensive documentation of database structures and processes for transparency and future reference.
  • Generate regular and ad-hoc reports for UNESCO management and education sector stakeholders on the progress of the AESSP implementation.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Accountability (C) Communication (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) - For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

 

Education:

 

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology (IT), Computer Science, or a related field.

 

Work Experience:

 

• Possess at least 5 years of hands-on experience in database development, management, and visualization.  
• Experience in designing, managing, and performance-tuning database management systems.

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies:

 

• Solid knowledge of database management systems, including MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, etc.
• Proficient understanding of database architecture, design, and normalization.
• Skilled in data visualization tools, including Microsoft Power BI and Tableau.
• Understanding of security planning for database operations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, facilitating effective collaboration.

 

Language:

 

• Exhibit an excellent command of written and spoken Dari, Pashto, and English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

 

Education:

 

• Master’s degree or above in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.

 

Work Experience:

 

• Possess at least 7 years of experience in database development and data visualization in education-related projects.

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies:

 

• Strong SQL skills for database querying, optimization, and effective troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with scripting languages (e.g., R or Python) for automation tasks.

 

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.