Senior Statistical Assistant (Foresight, Research and Methodology)

OVERVIEW Position Number: 1CAUIS0108PA Grade: G-6 Parent Sector: Institute for Statistics (UIS) Duty Station: Montreal Job Family: Education Contract Type: Project Appointment Duration of contract: 1 year Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates Application deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 22/07/2026 EXTENDED UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism Contract duration: 1 year, with the possibility of extension subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance.INSTRUCTIONS Only candidates who are entitled to work in Canada may apply to this position. ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the official source of internationally comparable data in education, science, culture, and communication, and serv…The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the official source of internationally comparable data in education, science, culture, and communication, and serves as the custodian agency for SDG 4 on quality education. In this capacity, the UIS coordinates the production, validation, and reporting of data with Member States and partners worldwide, ensuring the global community has the reliable evidence it needs to track progress and shape policy. The Foresight, Research and Innovation (FRM) Section operates at the most forward-looking edge of this work, leading SDG 4 coordination, anticipating emerging data needs through strategic foresight, and developing new methodologies, including frameworks for learning assessment. This is demanding work—multiple workstreams, complex technical inputs, and a wide network of national and international partners, all in motion at once. As the agenda grows, so does the behind-the-scenes effort that sustains it: maintaining datasets, documenting processes, organizing meetings, and keeping knowledge accessible and consistent. These demands have outpaced existing capacity. The Senior Statistical Assistant fills that gap. This is not a peripheral role but core operational infrastructure—safeguarding data integrity, powering effective knowledge management, and keeping the Section's outputs flowing smoothly. By holding this foundation steady, the incumbent frees the Section's analytical and methodological work to advance with rigor and continuity. The Terms of Reference that follow set out exactly what this role delivers.OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST This role is the operational backbone of the UIS Foresight, Research and Innovation Section. As its work on SDG4 coordination, foresight, and methodological development grows busier and more complex, the Senior Statistical Assistant keeps the data, documents, and daily processes organized—freeing analysts and managers to focus on the substantive work. The job centers on three things: data and documentation: compiling, cleaning, and version-controlling SDG4 datasets and technical records); research and coordination: turning background information into briefing notes and running meetings, agendas, and follow-ups with partners and Member States), and programme and admin support: tracking deliverables across workstreams and handling mission, workshop, and procurement logistics. Why it matters: UIS is the official source of internationally comparable education data and a key contributor to global SDG monitoring—work that lives or dies on data that is accurate, consistent, and ready to use. By keeping those inputs clean and processes running smoothly, this role helps the Section deliver on time and to standard.KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Programme & Workstream Support Support implementation of the Section's work programme, including SDG 4 coordination, strategic foresight, and methodological development Track workplans, timelines, and deliverables across multiple workstreams Maintain structured tracking tools (e.g., task lists, document logs, input matrices) Support coordination of inputs from internal teams and external partners 2. Data and