Job Title: Education
Research Coordinator (Service Contract)
Organization:
UNESCO
Parent
Sector : Field Office
Duty
Station: Santiago, Chile
Classification
of duty station:
Standard
Duration of Assignment :
Job
Family: Education
Type of
contract : Non Staff
Level :
Duration of
contract : 1 year
Recruitment
open to : External candidates
Application
Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 25-sep-2023
UNESCO Core
Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity,
Professionalism
Only
Nationals of Chile or candidates who have the right to work in Chile may apply
for this position.
Service
contract initial duration is for 3 months probation until 31.12.2023 with
possibility of extension of 12 months subject to availability of funds and
satisfactory performance.
Modality:
Full time and in person
OVERVIEW
A-Background
UNESCO is
the specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for leading the Global
Education Agenda 2030 through the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) within
the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UNESCO
Regional Bureau for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (OREALC/UNESCO
Santiago) mission is to lead, monitor, and provide technical support to the
countries in the region through each of its lines of action.
OREALC/UNESCO
Santiago pursues a dynamic applied research agenda to inform education policies
and policy dialogue across the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. Its
largest and most longstanding research initiative is the ERCE (Regional
Comparative and Explanatory Study). ERCE is a large-scale regional student
assessment program, led by UNESCO’s LLECE* that measures learning
outcomes in Mathematics, Language, and Sciences across LAC countries, also
identifying contributing factors. As part of the ERCE study LLECE also conducts
comparative studies on curriculum, on socio-emotional competencies, and on school
and context learning correlates.
Another
important research focus in OREALC is teachers and the teaching profession
which is integral to UNESCO's LAC regional strategy in this domain and to the
advancement of SDG4.
B.
Objectives
OREALC/UNESCO
Santiago is presently seeking an education researcher-principal investigator
(PI) to lead/support its research program, including ERCE and related
LLECE´s studies, and research related to the teachers’ and teaching profession
line of action.
C.
Functions:
Under the
authority of the Director of OREALC/UNESCO Santiago, and the supervision of the
Chief of Education and LLECE’s coordinator, the contract holder will perform
the following duties:
LLECE (approx. 50% of time dedication):
Under the coordination
of LLECE´s general coordinator the incumbent will lead the technical dimension
of the LLECE studies by:
-Provide
technical inputs, expertise and oversight to the design, instruments,
methodology, data collection, analysis and reports of all new and ongoing
studies - ERCE2025, ERCE postpandemia, ERCE escuelas-, in order to ensure they
follow the highest research standards.
-Act as
LLECE’s principal technical counterpart to national country teams,
implementation partners and high-level technical team (CTAN).
-Prepare
presentations and represent LLECE in academic and technical international
conferences.
-Represent
LLECE in technical meetings involving other UNESCO internal and external
partners.
-Prepare
terms of reference for services that may be necessary to hire in relation to
the functions established for the position and follow up on their effective
hiring and execution.
-Provide
technical and administrative support for the publication process according to
UNESCO guidelines and collaborate with UNESCO HQ and other stakeholders to
disseminate findings to a global audience.
Teachers
and teaching of profession line of action (approx. 50% of time dedication)
Under the
supervision of the Chief of Education:
-Contribute
to the analysis of policies related to teachers, their education, and
professional development and the teaching profession at the regional and Chilean
level, through document review, systematization of experiences, qualitative and
quantitative information collection, and monitoring of national and regional
instruments and regulations.
-Advise and
guide the development of current and future research projects led by the
OREALC/UNESCO Santiago office.
-Design a
comprehensive research framework considering both assessment metrics and
qualitative studies and supervise the data collection processes, ensuring
integrity, accuracy, and timeliness.
-Oversee
budgeting and resources allocation for the study and ensure ethical
considerations are maintained throughout the research process.
-Collaborate
with education institutions, teacher associations, and policymakers.
-Organize
and facilitate workshops, webinars, and focus group discussions.
-Analyse
global and regional trends in teacher training, retention, and professional
development.
-Facilitate
cross-team collaboration within the office, ensuring synchronization between
the student assessment and teacher-focused studies as well as developing
detailed reports, policy briefs, and recommendations based on research
findings.
-Support
the development of the regional teacher strategy of OREALC/UNESCO Santiago and
its implementation plan, in line with relevant global and regional strategies
for the area.
-Liaise
with relevant external collaborating partners in the section's projects related
to teacher policy, supporting the definition of the terms of collaboration,
necessary deliverables, and promoting successful management and implementation.
-Provide
technical and administrative support for the publication process according to
UNESCO guidelines and collaborate with UNESCO HQ and other stakeholders to
disseminate findings to a global audience.
-Prepare
terms of reference for services that may be necessary to hire in relation to
the functions established for the position and follow up on their effective
hiring and execution.
-Support
the writing of reports, materials, communication resources, and correspondence
in Spanish and English.
-Carry out
any other task related to the functions established for the position, at the
request of his/her supervisor.
The
incumbent will be expected to work in close collaboration with all colleagues
of OREALC/UNESCO Santiago and liaise with UNESCO Offices and institutes in
Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the related sections in
Headquarters.
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
-Postgraduate
studies (PhD, or equivalent) in Education, Pedagogy, Sociology, Anthropology,
Economics, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or another related discipline.
-More than
7 years of extensive previous experience in research (qualitative, quantitative,
or both) at a comparative and international level.
-Proven
experience in the design, monitoring, implementation, and analysis of
large-scale international education studies.
-Proven
substantive work experience in project coordination and management (design,
content, planning and execution of activities, technical support and
supervision, evaluation, progress reports and budgets).
-Proven
substantive work experience in teacher policies and frameworks, teacher
training (pre-service and in-service), teacher practices and teacher working
conditions in Latin American and Caribbean countries.
-Experience
in international resources mobilization and stakeholder engagement.
-Superior
skills in self-management, teamwork, and interpersonal relationships.
-Experience
in synthesizing and publishing technical materials, with demonstrated ability
to manage the analysis and systematization of quantitative and qualitative
results.
-Experience
in results dissemination with a wide range of stakeholders, e.g. policymakers,
researchers, and practitioners.
-Excellent
skills in clear and effective communication (written and oral).
-Excellent
language proficiency in Spanish and English (written and oral).
-Excellent
presentation skills for various stakeholders to consult with them and review
and/or disseminate project-related materials.
DESIRABLE
QUALIFICATIONS
-Experience
in senior managerial and administrative roles at an international and/or
intergovernmental institution.
-Experience
working at an UN agency or at an international and/or intergovernmental
institution.
-Work
experience in teaching topics at an international and/or intergovernmental
level.
-Publications
on teaching topics in general, and specifically related to teacher training
(pre-service and in-service), practices and working conditions.
-Knowledge
of Portuguese or French.
BENEFITS
AND ENTITLEMENTS
Leave Annual leave Annual leave shall be
granted at the rate of 2½ days for each completed month of service, which is
credited to the individual from the first day of his/her contract. The annual
leave entitlement must be taken in full during the contract period, however up
to 10 days can be carried forward if the contract is renewed. Compensation
shall not be paid for unused leave at the end of the contract; and contracts
must not be renewed solely for the purpose of allowing the SC contract holder
to take unused annual leave from a previous contract. If UNESCO terminates the
contract of an SC holder before its expiry date, and he/she has any unused
accrued annual leave, the contract holder shall take such leave before he/she
is separated. If exigencies of service do not allow any such leave to be taken
before separation, compensation for any untaken annual leave shall
exceptionally be paid. In the event of the SC holder’s resignation, any untaken
annual leave shall be taken before the separation; under no circumstances shall
compensation be paid for untaken accrued annual leave. If termination is the
result of the contract-holder’s improper conduct or violation of any term of
the contract, the SC may receive financial compensation for any untaken accrued
annual leave.
Sick
Leave SC
holders are entitled to 2 (two) working days of paid sick leave per completed
month of service, equivalent to 24 days (including certified and uncertified
sick leave) per complete year of service. The total amount of sick leave shall
be credited on the first day of their contract. During the first 2 (two) years
of contract, up to 24 days of unused sick leave may be carried forward if the
contract is extended. To qualify for paid sick leave, absences of more
than three consecutive working days taken by SC contract holders must be
supported by a medical certificate. Medical certification is also required
after three uncertified sick leave days in any 6 month period.
Maternity
leave SC
contract holders are entitled to 16 weeks maternity leave, subject to provision
of a medical certificate from a qualified practitioner which indicates the
expected date of confinement. Once the period of maternity leave has started,
no SC contract holder shall be separated during the period of maternity leave:
the contract must be extended to cover the full period of maternity leave. For
the purposes of this entitlement, maternity leave should not start less than 2
weeks before the expected date of childbirth and finish not less than 10 weeks
after the expected date of childbirth.
Social
Security SC
contract holders are not eligible for participation in UNESCO’s Medical
Benefits Fund or UN Joint Staff Pension Fund, nor are they covered by UNESCO’s
Staff Compensation Plan*. *except for former staff members already participating
in either or both MBF/Pension Fund. The social security arrangements for the SC
contract-holder must be clearly set out in the SC contract, whether they are
registered in a local scheme or receiving an additional payment for registering
in a private medical and/or pension scheme. The arrangements must be drawn to
the attention of the individual before the contract is signed. The contract
holder must provide the proof of affiliation to local or private social
security scheme.
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.
Apply now »
* Laboratorio
Latinoamericano de Evaluación de la Calidad Educativa
