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Associate Project Officer (Data Production)

OVERVIEW

Position Number: 1CAUIS0103PA

Grade: P-2

Parent Sector: Institute for Statistics (UIS)

Duty Station: Montreal

Job Family: Education

Contract Type: Project Appointment

Duration of contract: 1 year

Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates

Application deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 03/04/2026

 

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

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the official source of internationally comparable data on education, science, culture and communication. As UNESCO’s statistical agency and the custodian for SDG 4 (Quality Education), UIS produces rigorous evidence that governments, international partners and civil society use to monitor progress, guide policy and inform investment decisions that strengthen education systems worldwide. UIS works with national statistical offices, line ministries and technical partners in over 200 countries to produce data that fuel evidence-based decision-making at every level.

 

Being part of UIS means joining a mission-driven, diverse team that values collaboration, innovation and data as a public good — where your work contributes directly to better decisions and brighter futures for communities around the world. 

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Associate Project Officer (P-2) is located within the Administrative Data Unit, which is responsible for the collection, validation, processing and dissemination of education administrative data through the annual UIS Survey of Formal Education, and for maintaining related metadata and alignment with international standards (e.g., ISCED). Under the overall authority of the Director of UIS and the direct supervision of the Head of the Administrative Data Unit, the incumbent will support the operational implementation of administrative data production workflows.

 

The post involves providing day-to-day technical guidance to a small team of statistical assistants responsible for data processing, validation and metadata compilation, 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, support data validation and reconciliation with Member States and the Regional Field Network (RFN), assist in preparing datasets for dissemination and respond to internal and external data and methodological queries.

 

The incumbent may serve as a focal point for specific regions, thematic areas or indicator groups, supporting coordination, follow-up and documentation of country submissions. The role strengthens UIS’s operational efficiency, consistency and reliability of administrative data production in support of SDG 4 monitoring and global education reporting.

KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Support and coordinate administrative data production workflows for the Survey of Formal Education, including contributing to questionnaire content updates, revising instructional materials and ensuring alignment with international standards.
  • Review and validate country submissions to ensure completeness, internal consistency, methodological coherence and appropriate use of UIS standards; provide technical feedback and operational guidance to Member States and the Regional Field Network (RFN).
  • Guide statistical assistants in data processing tasks, including questionnaire insertion, data cleaning, validation checks, metadata compilation and application of standardized procedures and quality control tools.
  • Support the development, updating and maintenance of data-processing tools, templates and methodological documentation to enhance efficiency, standardization and data coverage.
  • Produce analytical outputs drawing on country data, including descriptive analyses, identification of patterns or anomalies and contributions to internal briefs, methodological notes and evidence-based recommendations.
  • Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) on data production and quality, identify gaps or inconsistencies, and propose corrective actions to strengthen coverage and reporting performance.
  • Support the unit’s response to data and methodological queries, prepare datasets and indicator reviews, assist in regional coordination activities and respond to major institutional data requests.
  • Perform additional activities as required to support UIS’s mandate and ensure the Administrative Data Unit’s work programme is successful.

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial

  • Communication (C)
  • Accountability (C)
  • Innovation (C)
  • Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
  • Planning and organizing (C)
  • Results focus (C)
  • Teamwork (C)

Short Description

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

  • Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in statistics, economics, education, demography, mathematics, data science or a related quantitative field.

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

  • Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in statistical data production and validation, including at least 1 year at the international level.
  • Experience with administrative data systems, education statistics or SDG indicator reporting is essential.

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

  • Strong analytical and quantitative skills (e.g., R, Stata, Python, SPSS).
  • Knowledge of statistical validation and data quality assurance processes.
  • Ability to manage operational tasks independently within established guidelines.
  • Good organisational skills and attention to detail.
  • Effective written and oral communication skills.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a multicultural environment.

 

LANGUAGES

  • Excellent command of English (written and spoken).

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

WORK EXPERIENCE

  • Experience in an international organisation or national statistical office is an asset.

Long Description

LANGUAGES

  • Working knowledge of another UN language (e.g., French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic or Russian) is an asset.

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc. 

The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 77,231 USD.

For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.

SELECTION AND HIRING PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted. 

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.  

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course. 

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
  • UNESCO applies to a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
  • UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply.
  • lndividuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
  • All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
  • In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. UNESCO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO. The list can be accessed through the link: https://www.whed.net
  • The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
  • UNESCO appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by the Organization, is required for International Professional positions.
  • UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

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