Vacancy Announcement

Head of the UNICEF Oudomxay Sub-Office / Education Specialist, Level: L-3

(Temporary Appointment)

Oudomxay Province, LAO P.D.R.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Vientiane, LAO PDR is seeking an experienced and qualified

international Education Specialist, to be based in Oudomxay province, for a temporary appointment of one year.

A specific focus will be on providing technical assistance to the Provincial Education Services (PESs) and District Education Bureaus (DEBs) in the three Northern provinces of Oudomxay, Luang Namtha and Phongsaly for the implementation of activities planned under the Access to Basic Education in Laos (ABEL) project. The post will support the implementation of UNICEF’s national progammes and coordination with provincial government in the north.

Main responsibilities:

The Head of the Sub-Office / Education Specialist will:

- Provide support to the PESs and DEBs to promote coordination of Education Sector Development Framework

implementation with related provincial departments and development partners in the three ABEL target provinces of Oudomxay, Luang Namtha and Phongsaly;

- Collaborate closely with World Food Programme provincial staff to ensure coordination of ABEL inputs in three target provinces, focusing on districts identified by the MOE as the most educationally needy;

- Work with government partners and all key stakeholders to minimize duplication and maximize complementary activities in relation to children’s issues;

- Ensure that field visits from the central office are provided with appropriate technical and logistics support,

including transportation and accommodation arrangements

- Conduct joint monitoring field visits to project sites supported by ABEL and other development partners (national and international) present in the target provinces;

- Represent UNICEF at activities and functions as requested (eg trainings, opening/closing ceremonies etc);

- Promote child rights and advocate to prioritise children’s issues in dealings with government and non-government agencies;

- Be responsible for management and supervision of the UNICEF sub-office and staff, ensuring that standard

UNICEF policies are followed;

- Supervise and ensure effective coordination and collaboration between staff assigned to the sub-office, including a Water and Sanitation Engineer, a Programme Assistant and a Driver, and the UNICEF Vientiane based office and staff.

Qualifications required:

- Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, Education or related fields;

- At least 5 years of working experience in the area of international development and education;

- Experience of providing technical assistance to government for capacity building;

- Experience in facilitating government and donor coordination with a programme-based sector development

process at the decentralized level;

- Fluency in English – both written and orally. Knowledge of Lao is a distinct advantage;

- Good coordination and networking, supervisory and coaching skills;

- A broad understanding of the Lao education system is an advantage.

To apply for this post, please prepare an application letter stating your expression of interest and qualifications. Send these together with a completed Personal History Form (available from UNICEF) to:

Human Resources Officer

UNICEF, P.O. Box 1080, Vientiane, Lao PDR

or email to: sdouangdara@unicef.org

Tel: 856 (21) 315200-04

Applications should be in a sealed envelope and marked “CONFIDENTIAL”.

All interested persons who feel that they meet the minimum requirements are encouraged to apply. There is no fee involved in any aspect of the application process.

Closing date for receiving applications is: Friday, 12 March 2010.

UNICEF is a non-smoking working environment. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview; all applications will be treated as strictly confidential.