Associate Project Officer (P-2)

Job Posting Organization:
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) serves as the official source of internationally comparable data on education, science, culture, and communication. Established as UNESCO's statistical agency, UIS is responsible for monitoring progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education). The organization collaborates with national statistical offices, line ministries, and technical partners in over 200 countries, producing data that informs policy and investment decisions aimed at strengthening education systems globally. UIS is committed to a mission-driven approach, fostering a diverse team that values collaboration, innovation, and the use of data as a public good, ultimately contributing to better decision-making and improved futures for communities worldwide.

Job Overview:
The Associate Project Officer (P-2) position is situated within the Administrative Data Unit, which focuses on the collection, validation, processing, and dissemination of education administrative data through the annual UIS Survey of Formal Education. The incumbent will support the operational implementation of administrative data production workflows, providing day-to-day technical guidance to a small team of statistical assistants. This role is crucial for ensuring that country data submissions are complete, consistent, and processed in a timely manner. The Associate Project Officer will also contribute to quality assurance processes, assist in preparing datasets for dissemination, and respond to internal and external data and methodological queries. Additionally, the incumbent may act as a focal point for specific regions or thematic areas, enhancing UIS's operational efficiency and reliability in supporting SDG 4 monitoring and global education reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key responsibilities of the Associate Project Officer include supporting and coordinating administrative data production workflows for the Survey of Formal Education. This involves contributing to questionnaire content updates, revising instructional materials, and ensuring alignment with international standards. The incumbent will review and validate country submissions for completeness and methodological coherence, providing technical feedback to Member States and the Regional Field Network (RFN). They will guide statistical assistants in data processing tasks, including data cleaning and validation checks, and support the development and maintenance of data-processing tools and methodological documentation. The role also includes producing analytical outputs based on country data, monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) on data production and quality, and responding to data and methodological queries. Additional activities may be required to support UIS's mandate and ensure the success of the Administrative Data Unit's work programme.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in statistics, economics, education, demography, mathematics, data science, or a related quantitative field. A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in statistical data production and validation is required, including at least 1 year at the international level. Experience with administrative data systems, education statistics, or SDG indicator reporting is essential for this role.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in a quantitative field such as statistics, economics, education, demography, mathematics, or data science. This educational foundation is critical for understanding the complexities of statistical data production and validation processes.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in statistical data production and validation, with at least 1 year of this experience at the international level. Candidates should have a strong background in working with administrative data systems and education statistics, as well as familiarity with SDG indicator reporting.

Languages:
The mandatory language requirement for this position is an excellent command of English, both written and spoken. Additionally, a working knowledge of another UN language, such as French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, or Russian, is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
The contract for this position is a project appointment with a duration of 1 year. 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 77,231 USD. Benefits may include 30 days of annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, and a pension plan. The selection and hiring process may involve pre-recorded video interviews, written assessments, and panel interviews, along with reference checks. UNESCO emphasizes a commitment to diversity and encourages applications from candidates of various backgrounds, including those from under-represented Member States, minority groups, indigenous groups, and persons with disabilities.