Program Manager-Research & Development
Lead and manage research projects for educational development in Africa.
Overview
Lead and manage research projects for educational development in Africa.
You have:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Statistics, Social sciences or related fields.
- Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in the fields of applied research in the education sector and data related disciplines.
- Excellent knowledge and use of statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, STATA and spreadsheets.
- Demonstrable ability to conduct literature reviews, research analysis and synthesis and produce high quality reports, training materials and policy briefs.
- Demonstrable knowledge of African education systems.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written), including effective networking skills.
- Excellent knowledge of French or English and good knowledge of the other language.
Contract
This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.
Salary
The salary for this job should be between 133,180 USD and 171,708 USD.
Salary for a P-4 contract in Dakar
The international rate of 90,970 USD, with an additional 46.4% (post adjustment) at this the location, applies. Please note that depending on the location, a higher post adjustment might still result in a lower purchasing power.Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.
More about P-4 contracts and their salaries.**OVERVIEW** Post Number : 6SNIEP0058PA Grade : P-4 Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED) Duty Station: Dakar Job Family: Education Type of contract : Project Appointment Duration of contract : 1 year Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 30-NOV-2020 UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism ***Duration of contract: One (1) year with the possibility of an extension subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.*** **ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING** IIEP-UNESCO Dakar is the International Institute for Educational Planning’s Africa-based office located in Dakar, Senegal. It is a UNESCO specializedinstitute with a mandate to strengthen Member States’ capacity to plan and manage their education systems. IIEP-UNESCO Dakar is renowned for itscutting edge educational sector analyses and supports African countries in developing realistic and credible education system development plans insupport of the Education 2030 agenda, an essential part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Through a well-crafted and targeted capacity development approach, IIEP-UNESCO Dakar contributes to the creation of diagnostic analyses, sectorplans and pedagogical tools. In concrete, these contribute to more relevant and sustainable educational policies across Africa. IIEP-UNESCO Dakar isalso actively involved in knowledge creation for the education sector in Africa. For more information about its activities, please follow this link [IIEP-UNESCO Dakar](https://dakar.iiep.unesco.org/en) **OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST** The Program Manager, Research and Development, under the direct supervision of the Head and Deputy Head of IIEP-UNESCO Dakar and the overall authority of the Director of IIEP, and within theframework of IIEP's Medium-Term Strategy, is responsible for designing and managing the Office’s research and development (R&D)projects, to provide knowledge, tools, policy papers, etc. for the education and training sector in Africa. More particularly, the incumbent will: **1.Lead the development of IIEP-UNESCO Dakar’s R&D agenda in accordance with IIEP’s Medium-Term Strategy and thematic priorities:** - Conduct a desk-based analysis to identify the priority needs, challenges and opportunities for R&D in educational planning and management inAfrica. - Design R&D proposals that respond to the needs, challenges and the priorities so identified. - Propose R&D priorities and work plan to IIEP-UNESCO Dakar's leadership and support validation in wider Institute. **2. Lead the implementation of IIEP-UNESCO Dakar’s R&D agenda:** - Define methodological approaches and prepare research instruments. - Develop implementation and funding partnerships with national and international organizations and research bodies to support of R&D activities. - Lead the research, including the preparation of syntheses, research briefs, articles, policy papers, tools and guidelines based on the researchfindings. - Ensure quality control of R&D activities and deliverables. - Support IIEP-UNESCO Dakar, Paris and Buenos Aires collaboration and reporting on R&D work. **3. Support access and use of research findings and tools in education policy-making, planning and management:** - Provide assistance for the integration of R&D findings into technical cooperation support and training materials. - Support the planning and organization of activities to disseminate R&D research findings and tools, such as expert meetings, policy forums,workshops, blogs, etc. - Support policy dialogue with decision makers and advise on strategic policy choices with respect to R&D findings. **4. Manage and supervise the R&D team:** - Recruit new staff. - Monitor and report on programme implementation. - Provide relevant guidance to achieve expected results. **5. Contribute to Technical Cooperation and Training activities of IIEP-UNESCO Dakar** - Support the design and the implementation of other IIEP-UNESCO Dakar’s activities requiring R&D aspects (such as quality managementprograms). - Integrate R&D research findings and tools into Technical Cooperation and Training activities. **COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)** Communication (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) Building partnerships (M) Leading and empowering others (M) Managing performance (M) **-** For detailed information, please consult the [UNESCO Competency Framework](https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/competency_framework_e.pdf). **REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS** ***Education*** - Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Statistics, Social sciences or related fields. ***Work experience*** - Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in the fields of applied research in the education sector and data related disciplines. ***Skills and competencies*** - Demonstrable knowledge of research methods. - Demonstrable knowledge of statistical and econometric techniques. - Excellent knowledge and use of statistical software such SPSS, SAS, STATA and spreadsheets. - Demonstrable knowledge of African education systems. - Good knowledge of the problems of education in the context of developing countries particularly in Africa. - Ability to conduct literature reviews, research analysis and synthesis and produce high quality reports, training materials and policy briefs. - Ability to undertake regular missions, especially in diverse and challenging contexts. - Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. - Proven organizational and time management skills. - Demonstrable team leadership and people management skills. - Excellent information management skills. - Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written), including effective networking skills. - Demonstrable ability collaborate with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. ***Languages*** - Excellent knowledge of French or English and good knowledge of the other language. **DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS** ***Education*** - PhD in Economics, Statistics, Social sciences or related fields. ***Work experience*** - Relevant experience acquired at the international level. - Experience working with Universities, Research Institution, Think Tanks or equivalent on education issues. - Experience working on issues related to education analysis, planning and management. ***Languages*** - Knowledge of Portuguese. - Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) **BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS** UNESCO’s compensation package consist of a basic salary and other benefits which, where applicable, include 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc. For more information on benefits and entitlements, please follow this link: [ICSC booklet](https://www.unicsc.org/Resources/SAD/Booklets/sabeng.pdf?r=006091624) **SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS** Evaluation of qualified applicants may include a written assessment exercise followed by a competency-based oral interview. **Footer** **UNESCO applies a zero tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.** UNESCO is committed to achieve and sustain 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. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities, as well as nationals from non-and under-represented Member States (l[ast update here](https://en.unesco.org/careers/geographicaldistribution)) are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts. **UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.**
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe a successful project you led and the impact it had? | This question assesses your project management experience and impact. | Provide specific examples of a project, including objectives, your role, and measurable outcomes. |
| How do you approach disseminating research findings to policymakers? | The interviewer is looking for your strategies for translating research into practice. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What challenges have you faced in managing a research team, and how did you overcome them? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you ensure quality control in research outputs? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What role do you think research plays in education policy development? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |