Associate Project Officer (Learning Assessments)

The Associate Project Officer (Learning Assessment) supports the implementation of the learning assessment work programme at UNESCO Institute for Statistics, including data management, research, project implementation, and knowledge sharing to advance equitable, quality education globally.

Responsibilities

• Support implementation of the learning assessment work programme, including production of the global learning indicator (Sustainable Development Goal 4.1.1), application of data eligibility criteria, and related technical workflows.
• Assist in tracking workplans, deliverables and milestones, and coordinating with internal teams and external partners (implementing agencies, technical partners and countries).
• Maintain documentation of programme processes, decisions and technical guidance.
• Support management of learning assessment datasets and databases, including data ingestion, validation, version control, metadata documentation and harmonization, and tracking of country submissions and assessment cycles.
• Assist in maintaining structured repositories of datasets, code and technical documentation.
• Contribute to data quality assurance processes that safeguard the accuracy and credibility of learning assessment reporting.
• Provide analytical support to indicator production, including assisting with data preparation, computation and the checking of results.
• Conduct background research on learning assessment systems, international assessment frameworks and measurement methods relevant to the global learning indicator.
• Support drafting of technical notes, guidance documents and background papers for governance and expert bodies.
• Support day-to-day project management, including progress updates, internal reporting, coordination of inputs to technical deliverables, and monitoring of timelines to identify bottlenecks.
• Assist with procurement, contract follow-up and administrative coordination of project activities.
• Support preparation of training materials and technical guidance for countries, and help organize workshops, consultations and expert meetings, including follow-up.
• Maintain structured knowledge management systems (documents, templates and tracking tools) and prepare materials for international meetings.
• Support internal coordination across other Institute teams and sectors.
• Compile and analyse background information for potential partnerships and funding opportunities.
• Contribute inputs to the development and follow-up of funding and project proposals.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in statistics, economics, data science or a closely related quantitative discipline (such as demography or applied mathematics), or in a social science with a substantial applied-statistics component.
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in data management, research, or programme/project support.
• Demonstrated experience in database management and data processing, and in supporting multi-component projects or programmes.
• Solid understanding of education and assessment concepts, statistical methods, data-processing workflows and database-management principles.
• Ability to synthesize research and technical information into clear documentation.
• Ability to support several work streams in parallel, including workplan tracking and task coordination.
• Strong written and spoken communication, including the ability to draft technical and operational documents and to support the preparation of governance materials.
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken).
• Desirable: Specialization or coursework in educational assessment, learning measurement, or international development.
• Desirable: Experience with education data or learning assessment.
• Desirable: Experience working with international or multi-country datasets and projects.
• Desirable: Experience organizing workshops, managing contracts, and coordinating multi-stakeholder projects.
• Desirable: Experience at the international level, within the United Nations system or a comparable organization.
• Desirable: Familiarity with project-planning tools and financial-tracking systems.
• Desirable: Working knowledge of French or Spanish.
• Desirable: Knowledge of another official language of the United Nations (Arabic, Chinese, or Russian).

Skills

• Data Management
• Database Management
• Data Processing
• Statistical Methods
• Education Assessment
• Learning Measurement
• Project Support
• Programme Support
• Research synthesis
• Technical Documentation Production
• Workplan tracking
• Task Coordination
• Technical Writing
• Operational Documentation
• Governance Materials Preparation
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Workshop Organization
• Contract Management
• Project Planning Software
• Financial Tracking

Languages

English