Chief of Unit on Quality and Lifelong Learning

OVERVIEW

Post Number : 3CLED0034RP

Grade : P-4

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Santiago

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Fixed Term

Duration of contract : 2 years

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 9-NOV-2020

 

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

 

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Education (ADG/ED), and the direct supervision of the Director of the UNESCO Office in Santiago, Chile and Regional Bureau for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (hereafter referred to as OREALC), the incumbent, within the broad regional reference framework of SDG4-Education 2030, will serve as Chief of Unit to lead and manage the Unit on Quality and Lifelong Learning, a key working area in a region characterized by a “learning crisis” and inequalities that have been further aggravated by COVID-19.  His/her responsibilities will support the efforts of OREALC to refocus its strategies and programmes to respond to education needs and trends within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG-4 (Education). 

Concretely, the incumbent  will perform the following essential responsibilities:

Long Description

Programme design, management and assessment:
•    Lead and manage OREALC’s programs on education quality and lifelong learning using a Results Based Management approach, which include areas such as teacher development and policies, curriculum, school improvement, early and adult literacy, ICT in education, higher education and distance learning. 
•    Identify and tap into external expertise to build task-teams to support the work of the unit. 

Policy advice:

•    Generate and manage knowledge on topics covered by the Unit, including teachers, ECCE, distance learning, and other topics related to quality, school improvement  and lifelong learning, and provide specialized policy and technical advice to the Member States in the region. 
•    Engage in policy dialogue and programming with education authorities and other stakeholders in Chile and elsewhere in LAC.

Networking, Communication, Knowledge Management and Partnerships:
•    Represent OREALC and participate actively in UN national and regional interagency initiatives related to the Unit’s topics. 
•    Represent UNESCO/OREALC in national and international fora.
•    Coordinate and ensure high quality synergies with all other OREALC sections and work streams.  
•    Ensure and maintain a consistent collaboration with UNESCO Offices and Institutes in the region and with the relevant Sections/Units/institutes at HQ and globaly. 

Resource mobilization:
•    Contribute to the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive communication and resource mobilization strategy with particular reference to the assets, potential and outreach of the Unit under his/her supervision.

 

Project, Activities and Team Member Management, Assessment and evaluation:
•    Supervise, manage and lead a small multi-disciplinary team of staff and experts to respond in a timely and effective manner  to requirements of internal and external  stakeholders in quality and life-long learning-related issues .
•    Perform other duties as deemed appropriate by the Director.
 

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) Making quality decisions (M) Managing performance (M) Strategic thinking (M) - For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in the field of education policy, teacher education or education management ore related field.

Work experience

• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible, relevant professional experience in the field of education of which preferably 3 years acquired at the international level.
• Demonstrable professional knowledge and experience in the field of education in Latin America.  
• Proven experience in  analyzing, informing and monitoring education improvement  policies, strategies and programmes in areas such as teachers, curriculum, ICT in education, early and adult literacy and learning, distance education, among others.
• Experience in managing multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience working with government counterparts and organized education stakeholders.
• Proven experience in education research, evaluation and data-driven reporting

Skills/competencies

• In-depth knowledge of LAC education systems, issues and challenges.
• Proven ability to draft high quality, clear, concise, data driven documents and reports.
• Demonstratred skills in resource mobilisation through negotiation and effective engagement with development partners and donors. 
• Excellent coordination, interpersonal, teamwork  and communication skills. 
• Demonstrated leadership, management and organisational skills. 
• Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to deal with uncertainty and change.

Languages

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

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced University degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in the field of education, education policy, teacher education, education management or related fields.   

Work Experience

• Familiarity with the work and functioning of the UN System including key mechanisms and instruments such as the UN Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF), UN Country Team (UNCT), and other joint UN Programming and UN inter-agency initiatives.
• Experience in a field duty station with proven experience in providing technical and policy advice in education quality improvement  in the LAC region.

Skills/competencies

• Good knowledge of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Capacity to build, develop and maintain partnerships and collaborate with a range of partners and to ensure high level coordination and cooperation among staff and stakeholders. 
• Very good IT skills 

Languages

• Good knowledge of French.

ASSESSMENT

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.

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.

For more information in benefits and entitlements, please consult ICSC website.

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