Consultant for ERCE 2025

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which was established in 194

• UNESCO's mission is to contribute to peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms. The organization operates in over 190 countries and has a workforce of approximately 2,000 employees. UNESCO focuses on building peace in the minds of men and women, and it aims to foster the free flow of ideas by word and image, promote education for all, and protect cultural heritage.

Job Overview:
The position of Consultant for ERCE 2025 involves developing and validating expansion factors and replicated weights for the definitive application of the ERCE 2025, as well as conducting a sample design study for the SERCE 200

• The consultant will work under the supervision of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Santiago and the Coordinator of the Latin American Laboratory for the Evaluation of Education Quality (LLECE). The main goal is to ensure the statistical robustness, international comparability, and technical quality of the study results. The consultant will be responsible for producing comprehensive databases with expansion factors and replicated weights for each instrument, grade, and participating country, utilizing methodologies aligned with previous study cycles. Additionally, the consultant will validate the quantitative rescaling of SERCE 2006 and assess the comparability of its sample design with subsequent cycles. The role requires a strong emphasis on technical elements to ensure that the objectives of the assignment are met effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will have several key duties and responsibilities, including:

• Developing a database with sample weights for students to expand to the national population of each participating country, covering various instruments for 3rd and 6th grades.
• Creating a database with sample weights for teachers and schools to expand to the national population.
• Utilizing the Balanced Repeated Replication (BRR) methodology for the ERCE 2025 to estimate standard errors robustly, considering the complex sample design.
• Validating the quantitative rescaling of SERCE 2006 and evaluating the comparability of its sample design with the TERCE 2013, ERCE 2019, and ERCE 202
• Producing technical reports and computational codes that support the traceability, replicability, and transparency of the implemented processes.
• Ensuring that all activities are completed in accordance with the established timelines and quality standards.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for this position include a postgraduate degree (equivalent to a Master's degree) in mathematics, statistics, psychometrics, economics, sociology, or a related field with a strong emphasis on quantitative methodologies. Additionally, candidates must have a minimum of 10 years of experience in designing and implementing samples in large-scale studies, proven experience in educational studies and large-scale assessments, and specific demonstrated experience in sampling processes, which is a non-negotiable requirement.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a postgraduate degree (equivalent to a Master's degree) in relevant fields such as mathematics, statistics, psychometrics, economics, sociology, or a related area with a strong focus on quantitative methodologies. A desirable qualification would be a PhD in one of these areas, which would enhance the candidate's profile for this consultancy role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in the design and implementation of samples for large-scale studies. Candidates should have a proven track record in educational assessments and experience working with national or international evaluation institutions. Specific experience in sampling processes is mandatory, as it is crucial for the successful execution of the consultancy tasks.

Languages:
Excellent communication skills in Spanish are mandatory, along with good communication skills in English. Proficiency in both languages will facilitate effective collaboration and communication within the international context of the consultancy.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this consultancy is expected to be between 7 to 11 months, with a specific focus on the ERCE 2025 project. The position is open to external candidates, and all applicants must complete an online application and provide accurate information. The selection process may include tests, assessments, and interviews, and only selected candidates will be contacted for further steps. UNESCO emphasizes a zero-tolerance policy against harassment and is committed to achieving gender parity and diversity within its workforce. The organization does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.