Senior Project Officer (Strategic Foresight, Research and Country Insights)
Organizational Context
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is UNESCO's official statistical agency, serving as the UN's data repository for international statistics in education, science, culture, and communication. The UIS plays a crucial role in setting international standards and supporting Member States in data production and analysis for evidence-informed policymaking. In anticipation of evolving global priorities and the post-2030 development agenda, the UIS is enhancing its capabilities in strategic foresight, research, and methodological innovation through its Foresight, Research and Methodology (FRM) Section.
Job Purpose
This position is established to build and institutionalize strategic foresight capabilities within the UIS, generating essential strategic intelligence and an analytical evidence base. This will underpin institutional planning, foster indicator innovation, and support the UIS's engagement in post-2030 monitoring discussions. The Senior Project Officer will serve as the lead technical expert for strategic foresight, future-oriented policy analysis, and emerging measurement agendas. The role involves supervising staff, designing and implementing the UIS strategic foresight framework, and leading analytical work for post-2030 monitoring and indicator development. The incumbent will also provide leadership on national data ecosystems and benchmark monitoring, integrating anticipatory approaches into UIS planning and product development, and representing the Institute in relevant international forums.
Responsibilities
The Senior Project Officer will design, implement, and institutionalize the UIS strategic foresight framework, including methodologies and horizon-scanning cycles. This involves producing forward-looking analytical products such as trend analyses and scenario exercises to inform senior management decisions. The role includes identifying emerging risks and data gaps, and translating foresight findings into implications for indicator development and statistical production. The incumbent will lead analytical work for post-2030 education monitoring, conceptualizing forward-looking indicator frameworks for new domains like well-being and digital transformation. They will also set the analytical direction for national benchmark monitoring and country engagement mechanisms, assessing emerging measurement domains and technologies. Furthermore, the officer will embed foresight into UIS planning and programming, provide strategic guidance to teams, and build internal capabilities in anticipatory methods. This includes supervising project staff, representing the UIS in international forums, leading consultations with Member States, and establishing partnerships with foresight networks and research institutions. The role also entails monitoring the quality and uptake of foresight outputs and reporting on the workstream's contribution to UIS strategic positioning.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic analysis, policy research, foresight, statistics, or international development analytics is required, with at least three years at the international level. Experience leading analytical work related to international development monitoring, statistical systems, or education policy is essential. Experience managing complex multi-stakeholder initiatives and producing strategic analyses that inform institutional planning is also required.
Skills
Key skills include strong strategic thinking and systems analysis, with the ability to reason about long-range futures. Excellent synthesis of complex information and generation of forward-looking insights under uncertainty are crucial. A sound understanding of statistical systems, international standards, and the role of data in policy is necessary. Demonstrated capacity to influence senior decision-making and communicate technical analysis persuasively is important. Proficiency in working in complex, multicultural environments and building partnerships is also required.