Project Officer

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 is dedicated to fostering a culture of peace, promoting sustainable development, and ensuring the protection of cultural heritage worldwide.

Job Overview:
The Project Officer will be responsible for overseeing a cluster of States Parties within the Europe and North America region, focusing on the conservation and management of World Heritage properties. This role involves monitoring the state of conservation of these properties, analyzing reports from various stakeholders, and facilitating consultations with advisory bodies. The incumbent will also prepare and participate in Reactive Monitoring and Advisory missions, contribute to drafting working documents for the World Heritage Committee, and support the implementation of the Regional Action Plan for the World Heritage Convention. Additionally, the Project Officer will supervise and mentor interns, ensuring they receive guidance and feedback on their tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Project Officer include:

• Monitoring the state of conservation of World Heritage properties by analyzing reports and information from States Parties and third parties.
• Facilitating consultations with Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee.
• Ensuring the implementation of the Operational Guidelines for the World Heritage Convention.
• Preparing, backstopping, and participating in Reactive Monitoring and Advisory missions, and coordinating the preparation of resulting mission reports.
• Drafting working documents for sessions of the World Heritage Committee, particularly state of conservation reports.
• Assisting the Secretariat in organizing statutory meetings of the Convention’s governing bodies.
• Supporting States Parties in disseminating and implementing the 2024-2031 Regional Action Plan for the World Heritage Convention.
• Supervising and mentoring interns, including participating in their selection process and providing regular guidance and feedback.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Project Officer position include an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in fields such as culture, archaeology, architecture, history, cultural heritage, or a related area. Candidates must possess excellent analytical and drafting skills, strong organizational and coordination abilities, and the capacity to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate discretion, tact, and diplomacy, along with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work both independently and within a multicultural team.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a relevant field such as culture, archaeology, architecture, history, cultural heritage, or a related discipline. A PhD in one of these fields is considered a desirable qualification, enhancing the candidate's profile for the position.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of four years of relevant professional experience in the field of culture, cultural heritage preservation, or related areas. It is preferable that at least two of these years were acquired at the international level, providing the candidate with a broader perspective on global heritage issues and practices.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English or French, both written and spoken, is mandatory for this position. Additionally, a good knowledge of the other language is required. Knowledge of other official UNESCO languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish is considered desirable and would enhance the candidate's qualifications.

Additional Notes:
The position is a Project Appointment with a duration of one year, which may be extended subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory performance. The role is open to both internal and external candidates. UNESCO offers a competitive salary, with the approximate annual starting salary for this post being 70,212 US dollars. Benefits include 30 days of annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, and a pension plan. Candidates are required to complete an online application and provide accurate information, as modifications to the application cannot be made after submission. The selection process may involve tests, assessments, and interviews, and only selected candidates will be contacted. UNESCO emphasizes the importance of diversity and encourages applications from under-represented Member States, minority groups, and individuals with disabilities.