Data and Coordination Specialist

The Data and Coordination Specialist will support the Syrian Ministry of Education to enhance education data management and coordination, including strengthening the Modeer platform and building institutional capacities. The role involves technical coordination, data analysis, and capacity building to improve education monitoring and planning in Syria.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary technical focal point for daily coordination with designated counterparts within the Ministry of Education, ensuring continuous information flow, alignment of activities, and timely follow-up on agreed actions.
• Act as the focal point in Syria for the implementation of UNESCO Action Plan for Syria.
• Translate project objectives, workplans, and technical requirements into day-to-day operational actions in close coordination with MoE technical teams.
• Facilitate regular technical exchanges, coordination meetings, and working-level consultations with MoE departments and other relevant stakeholders, including preparation of agendas, technical inputs, and summaries of key outcomes.
• Monitor day-to-day progress of project activities, and proactively identify risks, delays, or bottlenecks requiring technical or managerial attention.
• Provide ongoing technical advice and hands-on support to MoE counterparts in addressing operational data challenges arising during implementation.
• Ensure that feedback, decisions, and technical inputs from MoE are systematically documented, communicated to UNESCO, and reflected in project implementation.
• Ensure close coordination with relevant UN agencies and education sector partners in the field of education, aligning project activities with existing UN coordination mechanisms and sector working groups, and promoting complementarity while avoiding duplication of efforts.
• Prepare technical documentation, analytical outputs, and progress reports as required.
• Perform additional activities that may be required to ensure the implementation of the project.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Education, Data Science, Statistics, Information Management, Economics, Teacher Professional Development, International Development or a related field.
• At least four (4) years of relevant professional work experience in the field of education policy and planning, project coordination, education monitoring, research, evaluation, data analysis, database management, information management, EMIS, teacher professional development.
• Demonstrated understanding of education policy and planning, with ability to apply data management to support sector-wide decision-making and reform.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, including very good writing skills.
• Good organizational, planning, monitoring, and reporting skills.
• Ability to work as part of a diverse team, to take initiative, and to provide quality and timely support and services.
• Discretion and capacity to deal efficiently and tactfully with people from different cultural backgrounds.
• Flexibility to adjust work schedules and priorities.
• Capacity to work under pressure and respond to tight deadlines.
• Excellent knowledge (spoken and written) of English and Arabic.
• Experience in managing large datasets and producing analytical reports (desirable).
• Experience with data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, GIS mapping) (desirable).
• Experience working in fragile/humanitarian contexts (Syria or similar settings preferred) (desirable).
• Familiarity with humanitarian data standards and information management systems (e.g., 4Ws, HNO/HRP processes) (desirable).
• Experience working in teacher professional development (desirable).
• Experience in coordination with multiple stakeholders, including UN agencies, international NGOs, governments, and donors (desirable).
• Solid knowledge in education monitoring, core education indicators and SDG4 monitoring (desirable).
• Solid understanding of database management and interoperability, and experience in managing or supporting EMIS (desirable).
• Strong knowledge of statistical software (R, Python, SPSS, Stata) and database management (SQL, Excel) (desirable).
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights (desirable).
• Strong knowledge of teacher professional development and capacity building (desirable).

Skills

• Education Policy and Planning
• Project Coordination
• Education Monitoring
• Research and Evaluation
• Data Analysis
• Database Management
• Information Management
• EMIS Management
• Teacher Professional Development
• Data Management
• Analytical Reporting
• Data Visualization
• Power BI
• Tableau
• GIS Mapping
• Humanitarian Information Standards
• 4Ws Process
• HNO/HRP Processes
• Statistical Software Stata
• Python
• SPSS
• STATA
• SQL
• Excel
• Capacity Building
• Stakeholder Coordination

Languages

English, Arabic