Iraq: Senior Project Officer -P4

Title: Domain: Senior Project Officer Education Sector (ED)
Grade:P4
Organizational Unit: UNESCO Iraq Office
Primary Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Type of contract: Project Appointment

Position number : 5IQED0009PA
Deadline (midnight, Paris time) : 16 November 2016
Annual Salary: 98 923 USD Approx.

Duration :One year

Application to be sent to :rio@unesco.org

Overview of the Functions of the Position

I. Background
UNESCO’s strategy for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) aims at providing assistance to Member States to transform their TVET systems and practices with focused actions in three core areas: (i) provision of upstream policy advice and related capacity development in the field of TVET; (ii) conceptual clarification of skills development and improvement of monitoring; and (iii) acting as a clearinghouse and informing the global TVET debate.
In this context, the UNESCO Iraq Office is implementing a EU-funded project “Reforming technical and vocational education and training in Iraq”. The overall objective of the project is to make TVET a key driver for Iraq’s economic development by increasing the quality and relevance of TVET in line with international standards so that it can deliver quality education to young people to prepare them for wage and self-employment.
II. Duties and requirements
Under the direct supervision of the Director of UNESCO Office for Iraq /UNESCO Representative to Iraq, the incumbent will be responsible for the management and implementation of the EU-funded project “Reforming technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Iraq”, including the management of its project team. The incumbent will carry out the following:

1. Coordinate the implementation of the project in compliance with the project specific objectives, activities and expected outputs by:
   a) Ensuring quality achievement of the programme outputs;
   b) Regularly monitoring and updating, as relevant, of the project work plan;
   c) Planning and organizing procurement of goods and services and regularly monitoring its implementation;
   d) Identifying project implementation partners and providers of goods and services;
   e) Drafting terms of reference of contracts;
   UNESCO DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
   f) Following–up on the implementation of the contracts, assessing the quality of services provided and requesting disbursement of funds;
   g) Building synergies with other projects and activities of the UNESCO Office for Iraq.
2. Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of project implementation and the reporting on project activities by:
   a) Contributing to monitoring and evaluation of project activities, reporting on progress and suggesting updates to the project log frame
   b) Regularly monitoring the financial status of the project and promptly developing budget revision if needed;
   c) Regularly conducting meetings of the project steering and technical committees, preparing minutes of meetings and action plans with clear responsibility and timeframe;
   d) Presenting aggregate strategic analysis on project performance based on commitment of indicators and implementation of activities as well as output delivery
   e) Preparing reports on project activities for UNESCO, the donor and partners;
   f) Ensuring the implementation of the communication and visibility plan of the project, in close coordination with the Office’s Public Information Officer
   g) Fostering exchanges of information, experience, identifying new strategies of action to improve delivery of services and to achieve the project requirements and objectives;
   h) Supervising and providing leadership, guidance and direction for the project team.
3. Liaise with government, national stakeholders and international stakeholders by:
   a) Ensuring project alignment with Government reforms in TVET and its sectoral priorities;
   b) Maintaining regular relations with national counterparts and key stakeholders (Ministries, TVET providers, regional and local authorities, etc.);
   c) Establishing relationship and collaboration with employers and their representatives (Federations and Chambers), to foster their active participation as key stakeholders in the project implementation
   d) Mobilizing UNESCO’s entities in support of the Government reforms including UNESCO-HQ, UNESCO Institutes and UNESCO-UNEVOC network;
   e) Sharing international experiences and facilitating access to information, knowledge and good practices;
   f) Setting-up mechanisms and actions to ensure sustainability of project’s outputs
4. Carry out other activities as requested by the Director of the UNESCO Iraq Office
   Required qualifications
   EDUCATION
   • Advanced university degree (equivalent to Master) in the field of education or social sciences. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
   WORK EXPERIENCE
   • 7 to 10 years of progressively responsible experience in the field of international cooperation/assistance in the field of education.
   • Experience in supporting educational reform
   SKILLS/COMPETENCIES
   • Excellent understanding of the TVET sub-sector.
   • Excellent project management skills.
   • Supervisory and managerial skills, capable of leading a team of professionals.
   • Capable of making technically sound decisions on all aspects of project implementation.
   • Capable of providing upstream policy advice at highest levels
   UNESCO DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
   • Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the Organization.
   LANGUAGES
   • Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of French.
   Desirable qualifications
   EDUCATION
   • Specialization in technical and vocational education and training.
   WORK EXPERIENCE
   • Work experience in a conflict/post-conflict country
   • Working experience in the Arab region.
   SKILLS/COMPETENCIES
   • Good political judgment with the ability to negotiate at the decision-making level.
   • Knowledge of programming policies and procedures in international development cooperation, in particular in the UN.
   • Office management skills and knowledge of accountancy principles to maintain financial records.
   • Advanced IT skills.
   LANGUAGES
   • Knowledge of another official language (Arabic) of the Organization.
   Benefits and entitlements
   UNESCO’s salaries are calculated in US dollars and exempt from income tax. They consist of a basic salary and a post adjustment which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station and exchange rates.
   Other benefits include: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, home travel, education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. More details on the ICSC Web site.
   Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking organization.

To apply, please send your up-dated CV and UN P-11 form, together with a cover letter, by emailto: rio@unesco.org
Please label the subject line “Senior Project Officer, TVET” (P‐4). The deadline is 16 November
2016 at midnight (Paris time). The appointment is contingent on the availability of funding.

See link for more details: http://www.unesco.org/new/index.php?id=41910

UNESCO DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS

PLEASE NOTE THAT UNESCO IS A NON-SMOKING ORGANIZATION