PROGRAMME SPECIALIST (Education) (Paris, France) contract NEW

Position Number: ED 037

Grade: P-4

Parent Sector: Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Education

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Duration of contract: 2 years, renewable

Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates

Application deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 07/04/2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Within the UNESCO Education Sector, the Division for Education 2030, the Section of Education for Inclusion and Gender Equality (ED/E30/IGE) supports Member States and other partners in the implementation of activities to achieve gender equality and inclusion in and through education, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5 on inclusive quality education and lifelong learning, and gender equality. 

The Section’s work is guided by the UNESCO strategy for gender equality in and through education, and its three pillars aiming to support: better data to inform action for gender equality in and through education; better legal, policy and planning frameworks to advance rights; and better teaching and learning practices to empower.

The Section supports coordination across UNESCO to ensure coherence, complementarities and synergies within UNESCO’s Education Sector and across UNESCO programme sectors, field offices and institutes, as well as with external partners. It also leads and contributes to many initiatives aiming for collective action with civil society, academia, bilateral and multilateral agencies and the private sector to advance gender equality in and through education. The Section also supports capacity-development of the gender architecture of the Education Sector to ensure sufficient capacity for mainstreaming gender equality in UNESCO’s assessment, planning and proposal development processes, as well as in monitoring, evaluation and communication of work on gender equality in and through education.

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Education (ADG/ED), the guidance from the Director of the Division for Education 2030 and the direct supervision of the Chief of the Section of Education for Inclusion and Gender Equality, the incumbent will serve as Programme Specialist and Team Lead for UNESCO’s work supporting gender equality in and through education. The post provides senior technical leadership and coordination to reinforce UNESCO’s role as a global reference in gender-transformative education and to support Member States and partners in accelerating progress towards gender equality across education systems.

The incumbent will perform the following essential duties:

• Provide strategic guidance to the Education Sector to mainstream gender equality and promote gender-transformative programming, in alignment with UNESCO’s strategy for gender equality in and through education and the Organization’s Global Priority Gender Equality.
• Manage the design, implementation, and reporting of a diverse portfolio of programmes and activities aimed at advancing gender equality in and through education, ensuring quality, coherence, and results-based delivery.
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products, analytical work, and normative guidance related to gender equality in and through education, including documentation of good practices and lessons learned.
• Lead monitoring, reporting, and analysis of gender-related indicators and results, including the preparation of consolidated reports for governing bodies, donors, and partners, and the development of effective communication products and activities to enhance the visibility of UNESCO’s work in this area.
• Provide specialized technical expertise and strengthen internal and external capacities to effectively mainstream gender equality in education and apply gender-transformative approaches.
• Contribute to and support resource mobilizations efforts through the development of project proposals and cooperation frameworks, and engagement with funding partners.
• Pursue and maintain strategic partnerships to advance the Section’s programmatic work related to gender equality in and through education, and represent UNESCO in relevant internal and external networks, reference groups, and fora.
• Provide guidance to colleagues on particular thematic areas, evaluating progress and performance. 

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)
• Building partnerships (M)
• Driving and managing change (M)
• Strategic thinking (M)
• Making quality decisions (M)
• Managing performance (M)
• Leading and empowering others (M)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

EDUCATION

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in the field of Education, Social or Human Sciences, History, Political Science or related fields.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience on issues related to gender equality in and through education, of which preferably 3 years acquired at the international level. 
• Demonstrated experience in designing, managing, monitoring and evaluating projects/programmes.
• Proven experience in fundraising and resource mobilization, and in developing, building, and sustaining partnerships.
• Experience in communication and outreach activities. 

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Very good understanding of gender equality in UNESCO’s domains in general, as well as in the field of education in particular.
• Demonstrated ability to provide policy advice: initiating and coordinating the development of international policy documents, guidance notes or technical materials in the field of education.
• Demonstrated ability to plan strategically, and to translate strategy into priorities and actions.
• Analytical skills and ability to collect, synthesize and analyze information from various sources as well as to prepare, present and discuss findings and recommendations clearly and concisely.
• Familiarity with the work and general functioning of international organizations and/or the United Nations System.
• Very good drafting skills in English or French.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in multicultural environments with external and internal partners.
• Ability to manage complex tasks, work under pressure and to very tight deadlines.

LANGUAGES

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English or French and good working knowledge of the other.

EDUCATION

• Advanced training or a concentration in gender equality. 

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Solid working experience with government authorities at different levels.
• Country/field-level experience in programming to advance gender equality in and through education.

LANGUAGES

• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish). 

UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc. 

The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 136,696 USD. 

For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted. 

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.  

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course. 

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• UNESCO applies to a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
• UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply.
• lndividuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
• All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
• Geographical mobility is required for staff members appointed to UNESCO’s international posts.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. UNESCO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO. The list can be accessed through the link: https://www.whed.net
• The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
• UNESCO appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by the Organization, is required for International Professional positions.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.