Project Officer (Education Survey)

Job Title: Project Officer (Education Survey)

Organization: UNESCO

Post Number : 1CAUIS0086PA

Grade : P-3

Parent Sector : UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

Duty Station: Montreal, Canada

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) : 18-AUG-2023 

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

Duration of contract: 1 year with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
Established in 1999, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) serves as UNESCO’s statistical agency for its 193 member states (MS) and 12 associated members. UIS’ mandate covers cross- national comparable data for global, regional and development agendas, in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication and information. In addition, the UIS also delivers the technical support for MS to produce transformative data based on its 3 pillars (Standards and methodologies; Data production; Brokering and outreach). The UIS’ vision, described in its 2022-2029 Medium Term strategy, is to ensure that countries’ policies and decision-making are informed by sound statistical information; that they can benchmark progress towards national and international goals and learn from the experience of others. The UIS is seeking to build a management team that will lead the successful implementation of that vision.
The UIS provides the data and technical inputs for global, regional, and funding mechanisms for education work, such as the UN Transforming Education Summit, the Global Education Cooperation Mechanism (GCM), G7, G20 and the GPE results framework. The UIS meets data needs for emerging priorities, for example through its work with UNICEF, World Bank, OECD and the GEMR on the Joint Survey of national education responses to COVID 19. Within the mandate of strengthening reporting, the UIS in partnership with the Global Education Monitoring report (GEMR) achieved consensus on the adoption of an SDG 4 benchmarking process and supports countries in setting and monitoring targets for 2025 and 2030 as co- leaders of the data and monitoring function of the GCM.   
Under the overall authority of the UIS Director and the direct supervision of the Head of Education Section (ADM DATA), the incumbent manages the work of the Education Survey Unit, delivering all the functions related to collection, production, validation, and internal processes pertaining to education data from official administrative sources, including education finance data. The incumbent is also responsible for systematically monitoring and reporting data quality, methodological and survey issues (in collaboration with other units such Methodology and Standards), improving and maintaining the international education database, including metadata, and ensuring that international statistical standards are met. 

Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:  

• Supervise and manage the development and implementation of data collection strategies, planning, budgeting, defining, and designing data collections (in collaboration with Education Standards and Monitoring): developing questionnaires and running data collections (in collaboration with UIS IT services and the regional field network); capturing, processing validating and disseminating data to users, including UIS teams in charge of producing international education indicators. 
• Streamline the integration of key external data sources into UIS processes, including population data (UNDP and national sources) and macroeconomic and public expenditures data from the IMF.
• Coordinate and establish clear processes with external partners on joint surveys, such as the UIS-OECD Education data collection (UOE)
• Propose a business intelligence framework, associated KPIs and business analyses for  UIS’ performance related to education surveys: interprets the data and detect trends and problems, produces regular analytical reports to the Head of Education (ADM Data) highlighting successes, challenges and potential solutions. 
• In partnership with the regional field network and other units of the Education section, contribute to the design and delivery of regional workshops and capacity building support to Member States.
• Maintain close liaison and cooperation with other teams across the Institute and UNESCO, and with international and national institutions to ensure a high level of collaboration and coordination.
• Supervise and manage the unit's staff, including producing individual workplans and setting objectives for each team member; Assume project management responsibilities for assigned projects, encompassing backstopping, technical, financial, and human resources management.
• Perform any additional activities that may be required in support of the UIS’s mandate and to ensure the success of the team’s work programme.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

Communication (C)

Accountability (C)

Innovation (C)

Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)

Planning and organizing (C)

Results focus (C)

Teamwork (C)

Professionalism (C)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree in statistics or a closely related quantitative discipline (such as demography, economics or mathematics) or in the field of education or social sciences with a substantial applied statistics component. 

Work Experience

• Minimum 4 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in applied social statistics, preferably education within a UN or similar agency or in a government ministry/agency, of which preferably 2 years acquired at the international level.
• Experience in designing and implementing large-scale official data collection and dissemination.
• Experience with relevant programming languages (e.g., Python, R), data visualisation tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) and database management (SQL).
• Experience working with and reconciling data from multiple sources. 

Skills and Competencies

• Familiarity with SDG 4/global, regional and national education monitoring frameworks.
• Sound understanding of data quality and processes at all stages of the data chain.
• Demonstrated ability to explore innovative options to deliver data, including understanding how to leverage emerging methodological opportunities.
• Demonstrated capability to plan and manage projects; develop and manage partnerships development; to work effectively and collaboratively in a multi-cultural team environment. 

Languages

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS 

Work Experience

• Experience in establishing and implementing data-related business intelligence.
• Experience working on/in countries in Africa.
• Experience in the UN system or a similar agency.
• Record of publications based on quantitative education data analysis and / or statistical modelling. 

Languages

• Good knowledge of French.

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 USD 84,206.

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.

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.

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