TECHNICAL TEAM LEADERS

Post Number : IEP/PA/118/119/120/6SNIEP0073PA

Grade : P-5

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Project Appointment

Duration of contract : 2 years

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 30-JUNE-2022 (EXTENDED)

 

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

 

​​​​​​Duration of contract: 2 years renewable with a six months probationary period. Extension of contract is subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

Up to 4 Technical Team Leaders positions are to be filled  (IEP/PA/118/119/120/6SNIEP0073PA)

Duty Station: Paris & Dakar

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ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

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 new Medium-Term Strategy (2022-2025) in November 2021. 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.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Based in IIEP’s Paris Office and under the overall authority and supervision of the Director or her designate, the Technical Team Leaders will contribute to building IIEP’s support for stronger planning and management in the education sector. The Technical Team Leaders will oversee a group of technical experts responsible for designing and managing a portfolio of funded activities that includes the provision of direct planning and sector management support to countries as well as programs in applied research, analysis, and tool development. The Technical Team Leaders also provide support to IIEP’s training programs, as instructional leaders. As technical experts they engage in a variety of country facing capacity development initiatives. Team leaders should have expertise in at least one of two domains:

(a)  Planning, Finance, Data and Governance: Improving capacity for planning and strengthening national systems for financial management, data, and governance.

(b) Management and Implementation for Improved Learning Outcomes: Improving sector wide management for the delivery of stronger and more equitable learning outcomes, including through strengthened approaches to management, monitoring and evaluation, and instructional leadership at the national and sub-national levels.

Technical Team Leaders play an important intellectual and technical role across the organization by assuring the technical excellence of IIEP’s support to countries in the areas of education sector planning and management.  They must have the following knowledge skills and experience:

  1. A strong background in supporting governments to plan and manage educational reform and policy decision-making using evidence- based approaches, including sector analyses and other types of sector diagnostics. 
  2. Demonstrated capacity to innovate on IIEP’s existing approaches, tools and capacity development activities.
  3. Be excellent managers with a track record of mentoring and supporting staff to design, implement, monitor and evaluation multiple projects that support national capacity, using agile and responsive management practices.

 

The incumbent will provide leadership and guidance to a team of experts that are involved in technical cooperation, training, research, and development activities based in Paris. The incumbent manages a portfolio of country facing technical assistance, research, and development projects. In particular:

 

  • Manages a portfolio of technical projects that include direct support to ministries of education, research and the development of new technical tools and approaches.
  • Oversees the work of one cluster of technical experts based in Paris, with associates from each of IIEP’s regional offices, ensuring appropriate planning, management, and accountability for delivery of expected results across their work.
  • Plays a thought leadership and quality assurance role across the organization in their respective domain of technical expertise, ensuring that staff are regularly exposed to cutting edge research and technical advances in sector planning and management.
  • Identifies strategic priorities and provide quality assurance and technical guidance to all Offices on IIEP’s core technical offering to countries in support of their planning and management capacity.
  • Works with the Research and Knowledge Mobilization team to identify priorities and promote a coherent approach to research and knowledge sharing in support of strengthened national capacity.
  • Works with the Training and Education Team to help tailor and maintain IIEP’s training offering  in their areas of technical expertise to meet Member States capacity development needs.
  • Ensures regular consultation across IIEP’s Offices and with IIEP partners (Member States, Donors, external institutes, etc.) about IIEP’s country facing research, capacity development and technical cooperation activities.
  • Works with the Strategic Partnership Officer to identify and pursue sources of new funding to advance and expand IIEP’s research, development and technical cooperation activities.
  • Works with the Director and the Senior Management Team to ensure alignment of IIEP’s research, training, and capacity development activities, and maintain a strong corporate focus on programme effectiveness, resource mobilization and strategic impact.
  • Demonstrably contributes to IIEP’s meeting its strategic objectives and quantified targets thematically, geographically, and across IIEP’s main functions (research, technical cooperation, training, knowledge management and mobilization).

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

Teamwork (C)
Results focus (C)
Accountability (C)
Communication (C)
Innovation (C)
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Managing performance (M)
Leading and empowering others (M)
Building partnerships (M)
Driving and managing change (M)
Making quality decisions (M)
Professionalism (C)
Strategic thinking (M)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

 

Education

  • Advanced University degree (Masters or equivalent degree) in Education, Economics, Government, Public Administration, other Social Sciences, or related fields, with a strong foundation in the use of qualitative and quantitative evidence.

 

Work Experience

  • A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible relevant experience in the field of education. 
  • A minimum of 5 years of experience in supporting improvements in the capacity of education ministries to plan and manage their educational systems, including through training and coaching of ministry staff.
  • A minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience in delivering knowledge products such as education sector analyses, policy research on educational development, or new tools and methodologies for planning and managing educational systems.
  • Demonstrated expertise in either (a) Supporting ministries of education in Planning, Finance, Data and Governance AND/OR (b) Supporting ministries of education in the Sector management and Implementation Capacity for Improved Learning outcomes.
  • Experience in managing a complex portfolio of activities and leading and developing a team of experts and support staff at international level. 
  • Demonstrated experience in supporting governments to utilize quantitative data and evidence for sector planning and management.

 

Skills and Competencies

  • Demonstrated leadership, management, and organizational skills.
  • Advanced knowledge of the theory and practical application of the techniques used in education planning, education sector management and administration, and social services delivery.
  • Excellent capacity to steer a diverse portfolio of research, development of tools and methods, technical assistance and capacity strengthening programmes.
  • Excellent knowledge of the international cooperation landscape in education and of research.
  • Demonstrated fundraising and resource mobilization skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain partnerships and to ensure a high-level coordination and cooperation with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Proven ability to lead, manage and motivate staff and teams and to maintain effective working relationships in a multicultural environment.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication (written and oral) skills; Ability to communicate effectively, persuasively and to provide intellectual leadership to guide team and staff.
  • Demonstrated ability to analyse complex and ambiguous situations, evaluate options, make decisions and recommendations that support organisational goals and objectives.
  • Demonstrated ability to interact with a wide range of high-level partners, conduct and participate effectively in high-level negotiations.

 

Languages

  •  Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English and a working knowledge of French.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

 

Education

  • Advanced university degree (PhD or equivalent degree) in Education, Economics, Government, Social Sciences, or related field.

 

Experience

  • Experience working in an international organisation.
  • Experience in managing applied research on sector planning and sector management.

 

Skills and Competencies

  • Ability to work effectively in a complex and changing environment.
  • Ability to work in close partnership with a wide range of national, regional, and international educational organizations, professional organizations especially related to educational planning and management.
  • Ability to detect emerging educational needs to which an international research and training programme could make a substantial contribution and identify key strategic issues, objectives, opportunities, and risks.
  • Knowledge of key policy trends and ongoing institutional reforms at the national, regional, and international level in especially in developing countries.
  • Expertise in areas pertaining to institutional capacity building in the developing country context.

 

Language 

  • Very good knowledge (written and spoken) of Spanish or Portuguese.
  • Knowledge of another UN language (Chinese, Arabic or Russian).

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For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

 

UNESCO’s salaries consist of a net base salary and other benefits and entitlements which may include where applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc.

For full information on benefits and entitlements for this position , please refer to the UNESCO Guide on Staff Benefits

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that candidates must complete an on-line application and provide full and accurate information. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted. Evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria set in the Vacancy Announcement (VA). It may include tests and/or assessments as well as a virtual competency-based interview (CBI). Only candidates who pass the selection process will be contacted and are subject to reference checks based on the information provided in their application.

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