OVERVIEW
Post Number : IEP 824
Grade : P-5
Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station: Paris
Job Family: Education
Type of contract : Fixed Term
Duration of contract : 2 years, renewable
Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 29-AUG-2025
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
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. 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 and direct supervision of the IIEP Director and within the framework of IIEPโs Medium-Term Strategy, the incumbent will lead IIEPโs program of Knowledge Generation and Mobilization (KGeM). He/She will also coordinate IIEPโs foresight function and will provide technical support in his/her areas of expertise.
More specifically, the incumbent will undertake the following responsibilities:
Long Description
1. Setting clear objectives to IIEPโs programme of work related to research, publications, knowledge curation, communication and reporting.
Formalizing IIEPโs quality assurance standards and operating procedures for its research projects and knowledge products across the three offices, ensuring quality assurance and evaluation for all related deliverables. Providing advice and assistance to all IIEP Programme Specialists contributing to research activities, projects and programmes. Coordinating the visiting researcherโs programme.
2. In coordination with the Director, develop IIEPโs foresight function, explore new topics, and promote innovations, by:
Coordinating the production of flagship publications or reports. Commissioning papers in preparation of the publication of working papers and other publications related to the Instituteโs foresight function. Coordinating the work of the Innovation task force. Organizing Strategic Debates.Long Description
3. Lead IIEPโs research, technical assistance and capacity development work in the area of digital governance, transparency and accountability in education, by:
4. Advocates convincingly for IIEPโs mission externally, seeking to improve the profile and impact of the organization, by:
Strengthening academic partnerships with universities and international networks around evidence-based policy, as well as governmental or non-governmental, international or national institutions. Organizing and attending high level events, forums, workshops, seminars, meetings, or other capacity building activities organized by IIEP or at the Invitation of Member States, partner organizations, research networks, universities, CSOs, or donor agencies.5. Ensure a performance management culture, by:
Supervising and motivating personnel. Monitoring progress and development, providing regular feedback and following up in line with the performance management cycle. Managing budget and ensuring other administrative tasks, such as oversight of documents in line with existing rules and regulations. Participating as a member of the IIEP management team and contributing as needed to overall IIEP management activities.
6. Additional activities that may be required to ensure the success of the work team.
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)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 (Masterโs degree or equivalent) Education, Economics of Education, Public Policy or Public Administration, Sociology, Political Sciences, or Development Studies or other relevant fields.
Work Experience
Minimum ten (10) years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in research and development in the field of education, of which preferably five (5) years acquired at international level. Professional experience in knowledge management, publications and communication. Professional experience in building and maintaining academic partnerships at national and international levels, working with international partners, ministries of education, donors, and researchers. Professional Experience in generating new knowledge and organizing seminarsLong Description
Skills & Competencies
Strong Research Background: Proven expertise in educational policy, planning, or a related field, ideally with international experience. Strategic Leadership: Ability to define vision, set priorities, and align R&D activities with IIEPโs overall strategy. Project and Team Coordination: Skilled at organizing work plans, coordinating multiple projects, and managing interdisciplinary teams. Project Oversight: Experience managing complex research projects, including budgeting, timelines, and reporting. Publication and Dissemination: Track record of publishing in academic or policy-relevant outlets; experience with knowledge sharing and advocacy. Effective Communication: Strong writing and presentation skills for diverse audiences (academic, policy, development partners). Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to work with international partners, ministries of education, donors, and researchers.
Languages
Excellent knowledge (written and oral) of English and French
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in the above-mentioned fields.
Skills/Competencies
Innovation Orientation: Capacity to drive innovation in R&D, including identifying emerging trends and translating them into actionable research. Futures Thinking and Foresight Methods: Experience with foresight methodologies (e.g., scenario planning, trend analysis, etc.) and ability to detect and interpret signals of change in global education systems and policies. People Management: Ability to mentor, guide, and develop staff; resolve conflicts; promote collaboration and motivation.
Languages
Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish).