Consultant for Quantitative Research in Education

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF employs a passionate workforce dedicated to serving children and communities globally, providing an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in the Education Unit at UNICEF Innocenti, which focuses on generating rigorous, policy-relevant evidence to strengthen education programs and systems. The consultant will be responsible for providing expert services related to the design, implementation, and analysis of quantitative and mixed-methods research in education. This includes developing research frameworks, instruments, and sampling strategies, as well as managing data and preparing analytical reports. The consultant will also engage in capacity-building activities to enhance evidence generation and use across education programs and systems, ensuring that research outputs are of high quality and relevant to stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will include developing and refining quantitative research designs to address education research questions, contributing to conceptual frameworks and data-collection protocols, and developing research instruments such as questionnaires and observation forms. They will oversee data collection processes, including tool piloting and enumerator training, and will be responsible for data cleaning, analysis, and visualization using statistical software. The consultant will draft and revise research outputs, provide technical advice to UNICEF staff and partners, facilitate workshops on research design and data quality, and contribute to dissemination products tailored to diverse audiences. Key deliverables will include research designs, clean datasets, statistical analysis reports, and training materials.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a master's degree in Economics, Statistics, Education, Psychology, Social Policy, Political Science, or related quantitative social sciences. They should have at least five years of experience in conducting quantitative research, particularly in education or relevant social sciences. Proven experience in managing and analyzing large datasets, extensive use of statistical software (STATA, R, or Python), and the ability to produce high-quality analytical outputs are essential. Strong understanding of quantitative research design and the ability to communicate findings to both technical and non-technical audiences are also required.

Educational Background:
A master's degree is the minimum educational requirement for this position, with a focus on quantitative social sciences such as Economics, Statistics, Education, Psychology, Social Policy, or Political Science. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of quantitative research and its application in educational contexts.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of five years of demonstrable experience in conducting quantitative research, ideally within the education sector or related social sciences. This experience should include managing large datasets and applying statistical methods to analyze data effectively. Familiarity with various research methodologies and the ability to produce high-quality research outputs are also important.

Languages:
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills in English are mandatory. Knowledge of French or Spanish is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse audiences and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is a consultancy role, and individuals engaged under this contract will not be considered staff members under UNICEF's regulations. They will not receive benefits such as leave entitlements or medical insurance. Consultants are responsible for their tax liabilities and must ensure that their visa and health insurance are valid for the duration of the contract. Selected candidates must confirm their fully vaccinated status against COVID-19, although this requirement does not apply to those working remotely. UNICEF emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its workforce and offers reasonable accommodations for consultants with disabilities.