Data Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was established in 1945 with the mission to contribute to peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms. UNESCO operates in over 190 countries and has a workforce of approximately 2,000 employees. The organization focuses on building peace in the minds of men and women, fostering sustainable development, and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Job Overview:
The Data Specialist position is crucial in addressing the challenges faced by the education data systems in Syria, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict that has severely disrupted educational infrastructure. The role involves enhancing the Modeer platform, a digital interface for school-level data reporting and management, to ensure it meets both national needs and global education standards. The Data Specialist will be responsible for effective data analysis and management, ensuring that the Ministry of Education's (MoE) priorities are aligned with the project objectives. This includes translating project objectives into operational actions, facilitating technical exchanges, monitoring project progress, and providing ongoing technical support to MoE counterparts. The Data Specialist will also contribute to the development of a national EMIS Roadmap and a harmonized set of core education indicators, ensuring comprehensive coverage of access, quality, equity, and resources across Syria.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Data Specialist will have a variety of responsibilities, including: acting as the primary technical focal point for coordination with the Ministry of Education; translating project objectives into operational actions; facilitating regular technical exchanges and meetings; monitoring project activities and identifying risks; providing technical advice to MoE counterparts; documenting feedback and decisions; coordinating with UN agencies and education sector partners; preparing technical documentation and progress reports; and performing additional activities as required to ensure project implementation. The role requires proactive engagement with stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation and timely delivery of project outputs.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Education, Data Science, Statistics, Information Management, Economics, International Development, or a related field. Additionally, candidates should have at least four years of relevant professional work experience in education policy and planning, education monitoring, research, evaluation, data analysis, database management, information management, and EMIS. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, good organizational abilities, and the capacity to work under pressure are essential.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in a relevant field such as Education, Data Science, Statistics, Information Management, Economics, or International Development is required for this position. This educational background is critical for understanding the complexities of education data management and analysis.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of four years of relevant professional experience in fields related to education policy, planning, monitoring, research, evaluation, and data management. Experience in managing large datasets and producing analytical reports is highly desirable, as is familiarity with humanitarian contexts and education data standards.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English and Arabic, both spoken and written, is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
The position is for a duration of one year and is open to both internal and external candidates. The role is full-time and requires the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines. UNESCO emphasizes the importance of diversity and encourages applications from candidates of various backgrounds, including those from under-represented Member States, minority groups, indigenous groups, and persons with disabilities. The organization maintains a zero-tolerance policy against harassment and is committed to achieving gender parity and equitable geographical distribution among its staff.