2. Oversight of Research Designs, Methods, and Analysis
3. Technical Guidance and Capacity Building
4. Resource Mobilization, Knowledge Exchange, and Partnerships
5. Contribute to Innocenti GORaF operations and support the cross- cutting agenda

1. Research planning and coordination
 Plan, coordinate and implement DMS/SCALE research with Government counterparts,
implementing partners and other research’s potential beneficiaries.
 Manage and supervise researchers to deliver research in a timely and efficient manner, including through quality assurance of concept notes, proposals, and research deliverables.
 Supervise and provide technical guidance for the research field work in the participating countries.
 Participate in strategic programme discussions on embedding research within planning of education programmes with country offices, regional offices, and UNICEF HQ.
 Contribute to the overall research activities of the office and to support uptake of evidence by decision makers at country level.
 Participate in and/facilitate interdisciplinary research through involvement in selected cross functional teams and consultations, including Annual Reports and office seminars.

2. Oversight of Research Designs, Methods, and Analysis
 Provide oversight and overall guidance on the design and use of DMS/SCALE mixed methods robust research built into education systems, with Ministries of Education and UNICEF field offices.
 Review, quality assure and provide input to DMS/SCALE research methods and data collection tools ensuring their contextual fit, and their fit for the stage of implementation of the programme under study. Methods will include – quantitative research, qualitative research, implementation research, participatory action research, behavioral insights, mixed-methods experimental / quasi-experimental impact evaluations as well as scaling sciences.
 Lead on analysis and synthesis of DMS/SCALE evidence for education programmes with a particular focus on data use and uptake at middle-tier level (i.e., regional, district and/or circuit).

3. Technical Guidance and Capacity Building
 Working with regional and country office teams, support research for policy dialogue and capacity strengthening of Government and Implementing partners.
 Strengthen the capacity of Government counterparts and UNICEF country offices for the design and implementation of research, through the DMS/ SCALE learning-by-doing and
co-creation approaches.

4. Resource Mobilization, Knowledge Exchange, and Partnerships
 Maintain and strengthen donor networks through routine communications and reporting.
and ensure donor contributions are well managed, donor expectations are met, and donor reports are completed with high quality.
 Contribute to the dissemination and exchange of DMS research findings and related policy recommendations and best practices.
 Establish and maintain partnerships with networks of researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and donors to identify global / regional / country priorities and fundraising windows.
 Lead on the design and implementation of the DMS/SCALE strategy for the creation, curation, and publication of global public goods.

5. Contribute to Innocenti GORaF operations and support the cross- cutting agenda
 Help strengthen and support the use of DMS/SCALE research findings for policy dialogue, programme improvement and system strengthening.
 Provide guidance and quality assurance of research on education.
 Synthesize and organize materials and contribute to relevant sections of UNICEF Innocenti and partners websites.
 Prepare inputs and participate in relevant conferences, workshops, and meetings at global, regional, and country level.
 Contribute to the education units research strategy, planning, reporting and operations

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Research Specialist (Education) P3-TA #129038.pdf

Requirements: 

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, economics, social policy, or other social sciences.
• Work Experience:

Required:

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in education research at national or international levels in education, with low/middle-income country level experience essential.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of some of the areas related to DMS/SCALE research: education management information systems/administrative education data; learning assessment; education sector analysis; education sector planning; school typologies.
• Demonstrated experience in management of complex projects.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising and resource mobilization.
• Demonstrated ability to work well as part of a team and to forge and manage partnerships.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Commitment to UNICEF’s core values of care, respect, integrity, transparency, and accountability.
• Ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment.

• Skills:

• Good understanding of the overall global development context, including issues such as: poverty, conflict, and the impact of these factors on education and vice-versa; and inter- sectoral approaches to address such issues in collaboration with other sectors (including Social Policy, Child Protection, Nutrition, WASH, Health, and Communications within UNICEF).
• Demonstrated knowledge of global developments in education and international engagement strategies, including the application of the equity lens and human rights perspectives to programming.
• Clear understanding of gender and inequity issues in relation to education and development and the application of gender / equity analysis to policy and planning in education.
• Strong demonstrated experience of designing, implementing, analyzing, and reporting on mixed-methods research, including utilizing both quantitative and qualitative research methods, implementation research, mixed-methods experimental and quasi- experimental research, and participatory action research methods, research related to behavioral insights, as well as scaling sciences.
• Experience in supporting policy dialogue: translation of analytical findings and evidence into development programme and policy discussions around equity and learning with partners, including government, development partners, CSOs and academia in relevant areas.
• Education sector planning knowledge/ability, including the range of modalities for delivering education, linkages between different sub-sectors (e.g., ECD, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Inclusive Education), cost-effectiveness and efficiency issues, key institutional structures, components, and processes, as well as governance issues.
• Experience in programme management in education, including programme design, costing, monitoring and evaluation and reporting.
• Experience in supporting engagement with partners e.g., Local education groups, Global Partnership for Education, Education in Emergency Clusters, Education Provider Forums, Delivering as One, Inter-sectoral partnerships such as in ECD, as well as networking with other key partners.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.

Desirables:

• Experience in behavioral and scaling science, and/or implementation research is an asset.
• Experience in quality assuring research publications, including report and policy briefs is an asset.
• Experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset. Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.