Project Officer (Education)

OVERVIEW

Position Number: ED/PA 256

Grade: P-4

Parent Sector: Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Education

Contract Type: Project Appointment

Duration of contract: 1 year

Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates

Application deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 26/03/2026

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

Duration of contract: 1 year with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The work of the Section of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is organized around the three major pillars:  

•    Leading and coordinating the global agenda: to influence global processes related to major sustainability challenges on the role of education as a solution (e.g. climate crisis, biodiversity loss and growing socio-economic inequalities, etc.) and consolidate the partnerships with key education and sustainable development stakeholders. 
•    Providing guidance, standards, and technical support: to develop institutional capacity at the country level. 
•    Monitoring & evaluation: to develop evidence informed advocacy, policy and practice.    

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the overall authority of Assistant Director General for Education, ADG/ED, and of the Director of the Division for Peace and Sustainable Development, and the supervision of Chief of Section, and with the guidance of the Programme Specialists, the incumbent will contribute to implementing the ESD for 2030 framework. 
 

Long Description

KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Lead the work related to the implementation of  ESD for 2030, including coordination with UNESCO Field Offices; providing technical backstopping; producing guidance, communication and advocacy materials; and drafting reports and other working documents.
•    Develop major research outputs on selected topics of common interest for Member States engaged in the ESD for 2030 Country Initiatives.
•    Develop partnerships with international and regional institutions to support capacity development of education professionals at the country level.
•    Lead the development of activities for the global network of ESD stakeholders (ESD‑Net 2030), including communication and coordination with members (country representatives, international and regional partners, and other institutions); organizing knowledge‑sharing and learning activities, advocacy, and monitoring & evaluation; and drafting reports and communication materials.
•    Contribute to country‑level implementation of the Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative, led by the Global Partnership for Education, UNESCO and Save the Children, in close cooperation with UNESCO Field Offices and in‑country partners.
•    Manage the ESD for 2030 team for the formulation, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes, and for providing support to Member States and other development partners.
•    Coordinate resource mobilization for the Section’s programmes, in particular for the ESD for 2030 programme.

Long Description

Long Description

Long Description

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)
• Building partnerships (M)
• Driving and managing change (M)
• Strategic thinking (M)
• Making quality decisions (M)
• Managing performance (M)
• Leading and empowering others (M)

Short Description

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Education, Environment, Sustainable Development or related fields. 

WORK EXPERIENCE

•    Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible, relevant work experience in the field of education, sustainable development and/or policy, including in national or local level project implementation, of which preferably 3 years acquired at the international level. 
•    Experience in designing, managing, monitoring and evaluating programmes and projects. 
•    Experience in outreach activities and partnerships/network building at international level.   
•    Experience in managing teams  

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

•    Familiarity with ESD 
•    Strong analytical and drafting skills 
•    Ability to think critically and innovatively 
•    Demonstrated capacity to work under tight deadlines  
•    Ability to maintain effective collegial relations in a multi-cultural setting and to work effectively and collaboratively in a team environment 
•    Excellent IT skills to carry out the work 
•    Great flexibility working with various stakeholders under different timeframes and with competing priorities 

LANGUAGES

•   Excellent oral and written English and working knowledge of French.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

WORK EXPERIENCE

•    Strong global professional network. 
•    Experience in providing support to countries in implementation of education projects and programmes at a national or regional scale

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

•    Understanding of UNESCO's strategic direction and familiarity of UNESCO's operations 
•    Knowledge of agile working methodology.

LANGUAGES

•    Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish).

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 136 696 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.
• Geographical mobility is required for staff members appointed to UNESCO’s international posts.
• 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.