Senior Education Programme Specialist
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
P-4 Mid-level Professional Full-time Internationallly Recruited Closing soon: 5 Jun 2025
Post Number : IEP/PA 162
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 : External candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 05-JUN-2025
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
Duration of contract: 1 (one) year renewable with a six (6) months probationary period. Extension of contract is subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
As the only specialized organization with the mandate to support educational policy, planning and management, the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) plays a unique role within the United Nations system. IIEP was established in 1963 as an integral part of UNESCO. It supports ministries of education and their partners around the world to plan and manage education systems through four types of capacity development programs: training, technical assistance, research and development, and knowledge sharing. The Institute launched its current Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) (2022-2025) in November 2021, and is, at present, developing a new MTS. IIEP has offices in Paris, Dakar, and Buenos Aires. IIEP draws on voluntary contributions from core donors and project funding to achieve its goals and objectives.
Under the overall authority of the Director of IIEP and under the direct supervision of the CSESI Programme manager, the Senior Education Programme Specialist will lead implementation and contribute to the management of the Climate-Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI) and activities that support the capacity of Ministries of Education to better plan and manage their education sectors for climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability. 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, the candidates should display proven expertise in the following areas:
1. Education Sector Planning: Expertise in supporting evidence-based, multi-stakeholder decision-making processes in ministries of education, using a variety of analysis and planning tools and approaches (including climate risk analyses for the education sector, education sector analyses, education sector plan development processes, as well as operational planning and MEL framework development).
2. Capacity Development for Education Planning and Management: Expertise in design and management of integrated programs (combining knowledge management, training, and technical support) to enhance the management and planning capacities of ministries of education at the national and subnational levels.
3. Crisis sensitive planning and risk management in the education sector. Expertise in crisis sensitive planning including for climate change adaptation, and experience and knowledge of planning mechanisms for risk management in the education sector.
The incumbent will lead a portfolio of technical cooperation, training and knowledge generation activities within the framework of the Climate-smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI). In particular, the incumbent will:
Education
Work Experience
Skills & Competencies
• Demonstrable knowledge of the issues surrounding education in the context of developing and/or emerging countries, or those related to educational planning and management.
• 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 crisis-sensitive educational planning and management.
• Proven ability to design, and implement training programmes and courses.
• Proven ability to design and implement action research.
• Proven competency and proficiency in quantitative analytical work.
• Strong analytical and synthetic skills and good capacity to undertake analytical and synthetic writing, including preparation of training materials and policy briefs.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly on mission in complex environments.
• Ability to lead, develop and motivate a diverse team and to be accountable for results.
• 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 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, SPSS, etc.)
Languages
• Fluency in English, French and Spanish (oral and written).
Languages
• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish).
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 126,499 US $.
For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.
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 an 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.
Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization.
