Programme Officer (Education)

Organizational Context

The UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok (UNESCO Bangkok) serves Afghanistan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand. It represents UNESCO within the UN regional architecture and leads the regional coordination for Sustainable Development Goal 4. The Education Section focuses on enhancing Member States' capacities to deliver equitable, inclusive, and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all, aligning education systems with SDG4.

Job Purpose

This role supports the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok's Education Section in strengthening Member States' capacities for equitable, inclusive, and quality education. The incumbent will design, plan, coordinate, implement, and monitor education programmes focused on higher education, TVET, skills development, and digital transformation, including AI in education. The objective is to help countries develop relevant skills for the future of work and improve their education systems. The position also involves supporting the Secretariat for the Tokyo Convention on Recognition of Qualifications and the Entrepreneurship Education Network for Asia-Pacific, contributing to transformative education systems aligned with SDG4.

Responsibilities

The Programme Officer will design, plan, coordinate, implement, and monitor education programmes. Key responsibilities include ensuring the quality and timely achievement of programme outputs, managing project work plans, and overseeing procurement of goods and services. The role involves identifying and managing implementation partners and service providers, monitoring contracts, and ensuring fund disbursement. Building synergies with other programmes within UNESCO Bangkok and with development partners is crucial. The incumbent will also monitor and evaluate programme implementation, manage financial status, and prepare reports for UNESCO, donors, and partners. This includes developing budget revisions, organizing coordination meetings, and presenting strategic analysis of programme performance. Furthermore, the role requires ensuring the implementation of communication and visibility plans, fostering knowledge exchange, and supervising support staff. Liaising with government counterparts and stakeholders, ensuring programme alignment with national reforms, and mobilizing UNESCO entities are also key duties. Supporting UN engagement and resource mobilization efforts in higher education, TVET, and digital transformation is also expected.

Work Experience

Minimum of four years of relevant work experience in education, with at least two years at the international level in technical assistance and project management. Experience in education programmes such as TVET, skills development, higher education, or digital transformation and AI in education is required.

Skills

Excellent project management, results-based management, financial management, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting skills. Strong coordination, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities. Capacity to work effectively in a multicultural team environment under pressure, with attention to detail. Proficiency in standard office software and online collaboration tools is essential.

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