Project Assistant

In December 2024, UNESCO and the European Union signed the three years Phase 3 of the TVET reform project “Green and Digital TVET for Enhancing Employability in Iraq”. Phase 3 will mobilize the institutional and technical expertise of UNESCO to support the Government of Iraq in enhancing the implementation of the Iraqi National Education Strategy targeted future-oriented skilling, reskilling, and upskilling activities focusing on greening and digitalization. This dynamic programmatic approach will enhance the employability of Iraqi youth, young women, disadvantaged groups (including Internally Displaced Persons IDPs), returnees, and refugees. And contribute to Iraq’s resilience to climate change. 

The project is under the overall Supervision of the Chief of Education, and the TVET 3 Project Manager on a day-to-day basis.

The Project will enhance the employment of Iraqi youth from 8 Technical Universities and Polytechnics, 8 Vocational schools, and 2 Vocational Training Centers by creating centers of Vocational Excellence that have strong labour market links, revised curricula and pedagogy, and a student-centred approach.

Duties and responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Director of UNESCO Iraq Office and the direct supervision of the Chief of Education, the incumbent will undertake the following tasks and be responsible for: 

• Maintain accurate records of program files, correspondence, and documentation.
• Coordinate travel arrangements for chief of education, ensuring compliance with UNESCO travel policies.
• Assist in the preparation and dissemination of program documents, including reports, work plans, and budgets.
• Support monitoring and evaluation activities, including data collection and report drafting.
• Coordinate with national and regional stakeholders to ensure timely information exchange and program alignment.
• Support financial monitoring by tracking program expenses and ensuring adherence to allocated budgets.
• Assist in procurement processes, including preparing payments, RFQs, and purchase orders.
• Assist in the work of all projects implementation as directed by the chief of education in addition to the below duties.
• Act as the main assistant for all projects activities such as communications with the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, the EU, UNESCO Head Office, and other relevant bodies engaged in implementing the project. 
• Provide feedback to the chief of education, Project Managers, and National Officers on the project implementation; assess the quality of deliverables within the projects’ scope and up to the required UNESCO standards.
• Assist in organizing and coordinating meetings, trainings, workshops, steering committees etc., activities and any other logistical arrangements across the territory of Iraq.
• Coordinate the provision of all administrative and financial support required to the projects, ensuring that appropriate control reporting structures are maintained in accordance with UNESCO Rules and Regulations.
• Use the UNESCO finance and procurement systems to support project activities.
• Coordinate and act as the focal point for issues related to admin, finance, and procurement (including collecting offers, preparing purchase orders, contracts for services and IPAs, process of invoices, and receipt of funds).
• Assist UNESCO’s external evaluation expert in meetings and focus group discussions with the MOEs/DOEs, MoP, UN Agencies, I/NGOs, community leaders, and parents and facilitate visiting schools to meet with teachers and students.
• Undertake any other pertinent professional duties as may be assigned by the chief of Education.

Education:

• Completed secondary, technical, and/or vocational education.

Work Experience:

• Minimum five (5) years of relevant experience and progressively responsible work experience in finance, administration or assistant function is required.

Skills and Competencies:

• Integrity, reliability, and sense of commitment in the execution of duties.
• Excellent coordination skills, with emphasis on quality, efficiency and aptitude to work under pressure.
• Good knowledge of results-based and budget management tools.
• Ability to build and maintain partnerships.
• Strong IT skills including good knowledge of standard office software and the usage of corporate financial systems and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbally and in writing), and sensitivity to the local context.
• Capacity to deal with people of different cultural backgrounds efficiently and tactfully

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of Arabic and English.

Source: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Baghdad-Project-Assistant-(Education)/811089202/