Education Specialist

The Education Specialist supports the development and preparation of education programmes, providing strategic leadership on education policy, economic analysis, and sector financing. The role includes leading evidence and research agendas, overseeing monitoring and evaluation strategies, managing key programmes, and strengthening knowledge management to improve learning outcomes and equitable education for marginalized children.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on education policy and economic analysis, including sector financing, cost-effectiveness, and equity-focused resource allocation.
• Lead the development and implementation of the education evidence and research agenda, ensuring the generation and use of high-quality data to inform policy, programme design and advocacy.
• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) strategy and systems for the education portfolio, ensuring robust tracking of results, learning, and accountability.
• Manage and implement key programmes and projects, ensuring delivery of results in line with UNICEF standards.
• Strengthen knowledge management systems and processes within the education section.
• Provide technical expertise, guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the achievement of results on education programmes.
• Contribute to the achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results-based management (RBM) approaches and methodology, as well as UNICEF’s strategic plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

Requirements

• Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in education, economics, public finance and any other related fields.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in programme, programme management, education financing, education research, social policy, national system reform, public finance, system budgeting and any other related fields.
• Required skills include results-based management, strong analytical skills, education policy analysis and financial analysis.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of Arabic is a strong asset.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Preferred experience and/or qualifications in quantitative research and data analysis, including in using AI, are desired.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or an international non-governmental organization is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

Skills

• Programme Management
• Education Financing
• Education Research
• Social Policy
• National System Reform
• Public Finance
• System Budgeting
• Result-Based Management
• Education Policy Evaluation
• Financial Analysis
• Quantitative Research
• Data Analysis
• AI Applications in Research
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Knowledge Management
• Strategic Leadership
• Program Development
• Economic Analysis
• Learning Outcome Improvement
• Equitable Education Access

Languages

English