Senior Project Officer

The UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) is seeking a highly skilled Project Officer to oversee the implementation of the Project for the UNESCO IESALC Program in Uruguay for Higher Education Studies. The main goal of this Program is to promote change in higher education policy-making in UNESCO Member States at both governmental and institutional levels following the recommendations of the UNESCO Roadmap for the Transformation of Higher Education. It includes three strands of work: policy dialogue, capacity development, and knowledge production, with a global outreach and a particular focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. The project is aligned with the UNESCO IESALC medium-term strategy and biannual program under the direct responsibility of the Director of the Institute.

The successful candidate will report directly to the Director of the Institute and play a critical role in ensuring the Institute’s strategic objectives are met.

Program Management:

• Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of the projects under the UNESCO IESALC Program in Uruguay for Higher Education Studies, ensuring alignment with the Institute’s strategies and UNESCO’s strategic objectives.
• Lead and coordinate the work of team leaders to ensure compliance with the Institute’s program of work, efficiency in the use of human and financial resources, and on-time output delivery.
• Lead and manage the Program’s strand of work in the area of policy analysis and research, including fund-raising, dissemination and impact analysis strategies, as well as the production of capacity development activities based on the outcomes
• Monitor project execution rates to optimize the use of funds and resources in accordance with results-based budgeting principles.
• Develop synergies and coherence across projects and intervention modalities, including training, research, capacity building, and technical assistance.

Synergy and Compliance:

• Ensure synergy and coherence across all units and divisions within the Institute by developing a mission-oriented program of work.
• Provide oversight of the Institute’s administrative and financial operations, ensuring compliance with UNESCO’s Administrative Rules and Regulations while respecting the Institute’s functional autonomy.

Resource Mobilization and Partnerships:

• Collaborate with team leaders in fundraising efforts and identify potential funding sources for the Institute’s program, with support from the Director.
• Propose and negotiate agreements and contracts to extend the Institute’s partnerships, in cooperation with the team leaders, upon approval from the Director.
• Identify and facilitate modes of cooperation with high-level officials in ministries of education, quality assurance agencies, networks and associations of universities, think tanks, UN Specialized Agencies, NGOs, and civil society, in compliance with UNESCO rules and regulations.

Advisory Role:

• Advise the Director on matters related to human resource planning, hiring, budget, fundraising, training, research, and management.
• Assess and coordinate requests for technical assistance from Member States and advise the Director on relevant activities to undertake in the field, ensuring compliance and coherence with institutional objectives.

Risk Management and Representation:

• Identify potential risks, including conflicts of interest and concerns related to achieving institutional objectives, and initiate remedial actions involving program re-orientation, upon clearance from the Director.
• Act as Officer-in-Charge during the Director’s absence or at her request, including representing IESALC in high-level meetings with the UNESCO secretariat, regional and local offices, United Nations specialized agencies, and IESALC partners.

Additional Duties:

• Oversee all cooperative research and training arrangements between IESALC and its partner institutions, regularly reporting to the Director.
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the Director.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in education, peace studies, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, human rights, economics, , or social sciences.

Work Experience

• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in a field related to the mission and mandate of the Institute acquired in an academic, governmental, multilateral, or civil society organization., of which preferably 3 years acquired at international level
• Proven policy, advisory, and advocacy experience and track record of engagement with senior officials in governments, funding agencies, non-governmental organizations or the United Nations.
• Experience in programming and program management such as programme design and results monitoring, budget implementation, staff management, and oversight in to the education field.

Languages

• Excellent Knowledge (spoken and written) of Spanish and English.

Source: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Montevideo-Senior-Project-Officer-(Education)/800506202/