The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is inviting applications for the position of Associate Project Officer (Learning Assessments). This is an exciting international career opportunity for professionals with expertise in statistics, education data, research, project management, and learning assessments who are passionate about improving education systems worldwide.
Based in Montreal, Canada, this Project Appointment (P-2 Grade) offers qualified professionals the opportunity to contribute to the global monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) by supporting the collection, management, validation, and reporting of international learning assessment data.
The position is open to both internal and external candidates and offers a one-year contract, with the possibility of extension depending on funding availability and satisfactory performance.
Application Deadline: 8 July 2026 (Midnight Paris Time)
About UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) serves as the official source of internationally comparable statistics on:
- Education
- Science
- Culture
- Communication
Within the education sector, UIS plays a leading role in measuring and tracking global progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
As countries continue producing larger volumes of learning assessment data, UNESCO is modernizing its systems, methodologies, and data management processes to improve:
- Data quality
- Accessibility
- Transparency
- International comparability
- Policy relevance
The Associate Project Officer will become part of this transformation by helping manage international datasets, supporting research, coordinating projects, and ensuring high-quality reporting of learning outcomes across countries.
Position Overview
Position Title: Associate Project Officer (Learning Assessments)
Position Number: 1CAUIS0107PA
Grade: P-2
Organization: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Job Family: Education
Duty Station: Montreal, Canada
Contract Type: Project Appointment
Contract Duration: 1 year (renewable based on funding and performance)
Recruitment: Internal and External Candidates
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will contribute across several strategic areas.
1. Learning Assessment Programme Support
The Associate Project Officer will assist in implementing UNESCO’s learning assessment programme by:
- Supporting production of the global learning indicator (SDG 4.1.1)
- Applying data eligibility criteria
- Supporting technical workflows
- Tracking work plans and milestones
- Coordinating with international partners and participating countries
- Maintaining technical documentation and programme records
2. Data Management and Quality Assurance
The role requires maintaining high-quality education datasets by:
- Managing learning assessment databases
- Supporting data collection and ingestion
- Validating submitted datasets
- Managing version control
- Harmonizing metadata
- Monitoring country submissions
- Maintaining structured repositories
- Supporting quality assurance procedures that improve reporting accuracy
3. Research and Analytical Support
The Associate Project Officer will also contribute to technical research by:
- Preparing datasets for analysis
- Supporting indicator computation
- Checking analytical outputs
- Conducting background research on international learning assessments
- Reviewing education measurement frameworks
- Drafting technical papers
- Preparing governance documents
- Supporting expert committees
4. Project Management Support
Daily project coordination responsibilities include:
- Monitoring project progress
- Supporting internal reporting
- Coordinating technical deliverables
- Tracking implementation timelines
- Identifying project bottlenecks
- Assisting procurement activities
- Supporting contract administration
5. Capacity Building and Knowledge Management
The selected candidate will help strengthen education systems by:
- Preparing training materials
- Developing technical guidance documents
- Supporting workshops and consultations
- Coordinating expert meetings
- Maintaining knowledge repositories
- Preparing international meeting materials
- Facilitating coordination across UNESCO teams
6. Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
Responsibilities also include supporting organizational growth through:
- Researching partnership opportunities
- Identifying funding opportunities
- Supporting grant and project proposal development
- Preparing analytical background materials
Required Qualifications
Applicants should possess the following qualifications.
Education
Applicants must hold an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in one of the following fields:
- Statistics
- Economics
- Data Science
- Demography
- Applied Mathematics
- Related quantitative disciplines
- Social sciences with significant applied statistics components
Professional Experience
Candidates should have:
- At least two years of professional experience
- Experience in data management
- Experience in research
- Experience supporting projects or programmes
- Database management experience
- Data processing experience
- Experience supporting complex multi-component programmes
Required Skills
Successful applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong knowledge of education and assessment concepts
- Understanding of statistical methods
- Database management knowledge
- Data-processing expertise
- Research synthesis skills
- Excellent documentation abilities
- Strong organizational skills
- Ability to coordinate multiple work streams
- Excellent written communication
- Excellent verbal communication
- Technical writing skills
Language Requirement
Applicants must possess:
- Excellent written English
- Excellent spoken English
Desirable Qualifications
Preference may be given to applicants with:
- Specialization in educational assessment
- Learning measurement
- International development
- Experience working with education datasets
- International assessment experience
- Multi-country project experience
- Workshop organization experience
- Contract management experience
- United Nations experience
- Financial tracking experience
- Project planning software knowledge
Additional language skills are considered an advantage:
- French
- Spanish
- Arabic
- Chinese
- Russian
UNESCO Core Values
Applicants are expected to demonstrate:
- Commitment to the Organization
- Integrity
- Respect for Diversity
- Professionalism
- Accountability
- Innovation
- Teamwork
- Planning and Organization
- Results Focus
- Knowledge Sharing
Salary and Benefits
UNESCO offers an internationally competitive compensation package.
The approximate annual starting salary is:
USD 75,325
Additional benefits may include:
- 30 days annual leave
- Medical insurance
- Pension plan
- Family allowance (where applicable)
- International professional work environment
- Career development opportunities
- Exposure to global education policy initiatives
Selection Process
The recruitment process may include:
- Online application submission
- Written assessments
- Pre-recorded video interview
- Panel interview
- Reference checks
- Additional documentation verification
Applicants should ensure all information submitted is complete and accurate, as applications cannot be modified after submission.
Why You Should Apply
This opportunity allows professionals to contribute directly to improving education outcomes worldwide while working alongside leading experts in international education statistics.
Benefits of joining UNESCO include:
- Contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 4
- Working on internationally recognized education indicators
- Collaborating with governments and global partners
- Developing expertise in education data and policy
- Building an international career within the United Nations system
- Working in a multicultural and diverse environment
Diversity and Equal Opportunity
UNESCO strongly encourages applications from:
- Women
- Candidates from underrepresented Member States
- Persons with disabilities
- Indigenous peoples
- Minority groups
- Professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds
UNESCO follows a zero-tolerance policy regarding harassment and maintains equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants.
Application Deadline
Deadline: 8 July 2026 (Midnight Paris Time)
Interested candidates should complete their applications before the deadline through the official UNESCO Careers portal. Ensure all required information and supporting documents are submitted before finalizing the application.
For more information, visit the official website
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