Education Specialist

Org. Setting and Reporting

The Education Specialist reports directly to the Deputy Director of Education (DDE) and the Director of Education (DE) who is the second supervisor.

Responsibilities

Provides strategic support and guidance on the implementation of the Curriculum Framework and the standardization of quality enrichment approaches, including the Rapid Review Criteria and the Teacher Centered Approach, across all Fields and monitors and assesses the overall implementation of the Framework and these approaches, in line with the Agency’s Medium Term Strategy and Common Monitoring Framework;

Supports the implementation and monitoring of a systemic approach for ensuring that curriculum, including the UNRWA digital self-learning material uploaded on the UNRWA Digital Learning Platform, is neutral, bias free and in line with UN values including providing capacity building of area staff within the Education Department and Fields;

Provides technical support to the development, planning, implementation and monitoring of student assessment processes, materials, and tools, including the Monitoring of Learning Assessment (MLA), and supports the analysis of assessment related data. ;

Keeps abreast and builds awareness of different approaches, good practices and methods of work reflecting global and regional trends in the area of curriculum and engages with the Office of the Director and UNRWA education staff in exploring their relevance;

Communicates with different stakeholders, including donors, partners, and Ministries of Education in the MENA Region on issues pertaining to Curriculum. Develops key messages, talking points, and external strategic briefs concerning curriculum in coordination with the communication focal point within the Education Department and the External Relations and Communication Department (ERCD);

Provides technical and operational support to the education programme in all key substantive quality areas, including project development and implementation, to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization within the Education Department and across other UNRWA Divisions and Departments;

Contributes to the development and implementation of education related policies and procedures, including Education Technical Instructions, to help ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of the education programme.

Competencies

UN Core Values of Professionalism, Integrity and Respect for Diversity and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. Default managerial competencies may apply.

- Planning and Organizing
- Deciding and Initiating Action
- Analyzing
- Relating and Networking
- Applying Technical Expertise

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

Education

A university degree from an accredited educational institution in education, social science or related field.

Work Experience

At least six years of relevant professional experience at national and international levels in fields related to education, curriculum development and review.

A minimum of 2 continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship, a passport, or a national identity number.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English.
Excellent command of written and spoken Arabic is highly desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Type of Contract and duration: 2 years, with the possibility of further extension.

The Education Specialist will be based in Amman and may be required to travel throughout the Agency’s area of operation in the Middle East and beyond.

Applicants have to complete the Personal History Profile (PHP) in inspira in order to be considered. The PHP should be completed with full relevant work experience as per the requirements in the Job Opening, in order to be considered.

A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for appointment to the same post or a similar post.

UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live.

For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/United Nations

United Nations Considerations

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her.

UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups.

At UNRWA, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

UNRWA Considerations
UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List.
UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.