Project Assistant ( Education )

OVERVIEW

Position Number: ED/PA 257

Grade: G-5

Parent Sector: Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: General Administrative Support

Contract Type: Project Appointment

Duration of contract: 1 year

Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates

Application deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 21/10/2026

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

Duration of contract: 1 year with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

INSTRUCTIONS

Only candidates who are entitled to work in France may apply to this position.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director General for Education and the Director of the Division for Peace and Sustainable Development, the overall guidance of the Chief of Section on Global Citizenship and Peace Education, and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist/Team Leader for Memory and Non-discrimination, Citizenship and Peace Education Section, the direct supervision of Mr Karel Fracapane, and working in close collaboration with the Programme Assistant, the contractor will provide administrative assistance to UNESCO’s programmes on addressing racism through education, addressing antisemitism through education and teaching and learning about the Holocaust and the prevention of genocide.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Project Assistant shall in particular:
• Assist in procurement and finance-related tasks, including processing contracts, purchase orders, and travel arrangements in compliance with UNESCO rules and procedures, based on documentation provided by the concerned project officers (including data entry in DUO, drafting contract amendments, liaising with contractors, preparing payment files, etc.).
• Assist with the creation, review and delivery of documents, including correspondence, memos, reports, and presentations. Liaise with corporate services for translation, printing and dissemination; maintain organized reference filing systems;
• Assist in monitoring of project activities and budgets, including liaising with the ED/EO to monitor commitments, and assisting in the preparation of budget revisions, decentralizations of funds, and internal reporting.
• Provide administrative and logistical support for missions, meetings, workshops, and conferences, including the preparation of working documents, coordination of participants, and logistical arrangements. Participate in meetings as required, preparing minutes or summaries as needed.
• Perform any other related duties that may be assigned by the Chief of Section or the relevant programme specialists, provided they are consistent with the function as set out above.

KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Work assignments require the incumbent to operate independently, take decisions on work priorities and exercise initiative in dealing with cases without precedents. The incumbent troubleshoots when problems arise, makes suggestions for improving processes in her own area of work. Oversight focuses on work results. The supervisor provides developmental support.

The incumbent establishes effective working relationships with internal and external contacts at all levels in order to obtain/provide information/documents and to discuss/ address relevant issues.

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Professionalism (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)
• Professionalism (C)

Short Description

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Completed secondary education, technical or vocational education.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum five years of work experience in administrative support and/or project/programme implementation assistance.

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Excellent organizational and coordination skills, with a strong ability to manage travel, mission, and meeting arrangements.
• High attention to detail and ability to work under pressure; flexibility to adjust work schedules and priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work in a multicultural team with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Ability to act with tact, diplomacy and discretion.
• Ability to convey verbal information effectively, to draft correspondence and correct documents in accordance with established standards and requirements.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Knowledge and integrated enterprise resource planners (preferably SAP).

LANGUAGES

Excellent knowledge of English or French and good working knowledge of the other language (verbal and written).

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

WORK EXPERIENCE

Previous experience with UNESCO and understanding of the Organization, including its administrative procedures and financial process, including tasks related to meetings, travel, etc.

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Knowledge of UNESCO rules, integrity, professionalism, administrative procedures and standard practices.

LANGUAGES

Knowledge of another UNESCO Official languages (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

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 43 734 EUR.

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

SELECTION AND HIRING PROCESS

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).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• 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.