Director, UNESCO International Bureau of Education

OVERVIEW

Post Number : 1CHED0039IB

Grade : D-2

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Geneva

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Fixed Term (maximum term of six years)

Duration of contract : 2 years, renewable

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 15-JUL-2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

UNESCO, as the lead agency for Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Quality Education, is currently seeking a pro-active, visionary Director for the International Bureau of Education (IBE). The right candidate will be a seasoned leader, able to foster trust through an inclusive approach and inspire others. 

The International Bureau of Education (IBE) is an integral part of UNESCO's Education Sector, operating with statutory institutional autonomy under the guidance of its Governing Board.  IBE is mandated to become UNESCO’s global focal point and platform for knowledge, dialogue, and cooperation on curriculum, contributing to UNESCO’s work in education through a holistic, inter-sectoral, and forward-looking vision.

Guided by the Council of IBE and under the direct supervision of the Assistant Director-General for Education, the Director of IBE provides intellectual leadership and strategic vision to IBE’s programme and staff. The incumbent is responsible for leadership of the Institute as well as for planning, implementing and reporting on its Programme and Budget. S/he will oversee the preparation of the Institute’s annual Draft Programme and Budget for submission to the Council and upon approval, draw up a detailed plan of activities, direct their implementation, and report on progress and results.

Specifically, the incumbent shall:

•    Provide intellectual, strategic and operational leadership for the Institute in the pursuit of its goals. Develop activities to strengthen cooperation in the area of capacity-building and technical support for the development of curricular frameworks in the Member States, management of data banks, analyses of trends and dissemination of new knowledge, and promotion and renewal of the policy dialogue on curriculum-related issues, internationally;

•    Lead the planning, execution and reporting of IBE’s programme; 

•    In close cooperation with the appropriate units of the Secretariat at Headquarters and in the field, the incumbent ensures that the IBE contributes fully to the achievement of UNESCO’s objectives; 

•    Manage and design operational mechanisms and/or action plans, required to support and ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the Institute’s operations;

•    Ensures close cooperation with UNESCO's Education Sector and other Sectors, Field Offices, UNESCO's specialized Institutes, and services and units concerned;

•    Oversee the resource mobilization for the Institute’s programmes;

•    Maintain a motivated and effective staff for the purpose of formulating, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the programmes of the Institute.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in education, sciences or other related social science fields. 

Work Experience

• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in the field of education (including some experience in the field of Curriculum related matters) both at national and international level.
• Proven intellectual leadership experience in the field of Education and Development.    
• Experience in developing and organizing education research and training programmes, as well as in analysing education and international cooperation policies.
• Experience in strategic planning, change management and leading teams. 
• Experience in resources mobilization and partnership development.
• Strong global professional network. 

Skills and Competencies
•    Commitment to the Organization’s mandate, vision and strategic direction, as well as to its priorities.
•    Excellent knowledge of curriculum development and education policies at a global level and good understanding of global trends and developments in curriculum related issues.  
•    Proven leadership and managerial skills, a broad general culture and sound analytical capacities, high sense of objectivity, professional integrity and political astuteness.
•    Ability to identify key strategic issues, objectives, opportunities and risks.
•    Demonstrated strategic planning and management abilities, including capacity to manage extensive programmes, financial resources and exercise appropriate supervision and control.
•    Organizational skills, including in establishing plans and priorities, as well as in implementing them effectively, and devising implementation strategies.
•    Ability to direct change processes at the management level, and familiarity with the leadership of an institution accountable to governing bodies.
•    Sound judgment and decision-making skills.
•    Ability to engage in networking with diplomacy, tact and a sense of political astuteness.
•    Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to provide intellectual leadership and motivate multidisciplinary teams in a multicultural environment, as well as ensure coaching and development of staff.
•    Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively, orally and in writing, with strong representational abilities.
 

Languages
•    Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English or French and good working knowledge of the other.
 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• A PhD in education, sciences or other related social science fields.
• Other degrees or short to medium-term training in disciplines relevant to the post.

Skills and competencies 

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to take initiative and maintain effective working relationships with partners of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
• Understanding of UNESCO’s strategic direction and familiarity of UNESCO’s operations.

Languages

• Knowledge of other official UNESCO languages (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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