The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation comprised of 38 member countries, that works to build better policies for better lives. Our mission is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.  Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, we work on establishing evidence-based international standards, and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges. From improving economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and fighting international tax evasion, we provide a unique forum and knowledge hub for data and analysis, exchange of experiences, best-practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard-setting.

The Directorate for Education and Skills (EDU) leads the Organisation’s work to help member and non-member countries achieve high-quality learning for all, design better skills policies, and turn them into jobs and growth. The Directorate carries this out by providing statistics, analysis and policy advice to countries on a wide range of educational topics.

Within EDU, the Innovation and Measurement Progress (IMEP) division is looking for an experienced Research Assistant to join the OECD’s Future of Education and skills 2030 project. The Project is designed to support governments to step back and to explore the bigger picture and the longer-term challenges facing education. The project has two key focuses: the first focus was to build a solid understanding of the different dimensions of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values which today’s students will need to thrive in and shape their own future towards 2030, and carefully validating them through global consultation. Another focus is to contribute to making the process of curriculum design and development a more evidence-based and systematic process. Its international curriculum analysis also intends to demonstrate – through the sharing of stories and narratives from teachers and students – that the E2030 Learning Framework is actionable and how future-oriented competencies are/can be taught in real classrooms.

Since 2020, building on the knowledge base established the first phase of the project, as well as on other OECD projects, the Education 2030 project is exploring the kind of teacher profiles / teacher competencies needed to support the development of the above-mentioned competencies most effectively, the kind of policy interventions that can support effective implementation of redesigned curriculum and the kind of pedagogies, assessments and learning environments that can support the development of future-oriented competencies most effectively.

The project is currently working on producing thematic curriculum reports, including supplementary materials such as working and position papers; developing a teaching framework to blend into the OECD Learning Compass 2030; developing surveys to prepare next phases of the project, as well as organising events for multi-stakeholders’ project’s meetings. Under the daily supervision of an analyst and the general supervision of a senior analyst, the selected candidate will provide research assistance for the production of reports and related supplementary material, co-lead stakeholder groups, as well as organise (multi-stakeholder) project meetings and conferences, as per the responsibilities below.

Main Responsibilities

Providing research assistance for the production of reports, commissioned analytical papers & supplementary material

• Identifying missing literature and knowledge gaps in existing drafts of the reports/materials; summarising and synthesising information at hand, highlighting relevance and implications for the reports, and related products of the project.
• Re-drafting, formating and editing substantive sections of the upcoming reports (e.g. introductory sections, pre-selected text, text boxes) and related materials, including analytical research papers, brochures, curriculum-in-focus series, construct analysis paper, framework alignment paper, etc.
• Helping identify relevant experts for commissioned work and coordinating the contribution of different authors: organising and participating to regular working sessions; assisting in the assignment of writing and editing tasks; seeking volunteer contributors for boxes and support their writing and revision work.
• Contributing to the production of the project’s reports, including liaising with other relevant projects and parties (e.g. PAC/Coms, editors) and coordinating production timelines in close coordination with the team’s analysts.
• Contributing to establishing and maintaining professional contacts and partnerships with key external organisations and individuals.
• Contributing to designing short online-surveys, as needed; collecting, verifying, validating data; and revising the data and descriptions in accordance with the feedback from analysts and respondents.

Supporting Focus group and Thematic Working Group Activities

• Supporting the project Advisory Group (AG), Focus Groups (FG) and Thematic Working groups (TWG) in organising the group activities e.g.:
  • organising and participating in regular working and preparatory sessions with the chairs & Education 2030 team leaders
  • producing summary records of these meetings in a timely manner
  • updating progress reports
  • maintaining an active communication with members and contributors
• Coordinating Group outputs (coordinating usable outputs for curriculum reports, support drafting and preparing papers for publication, etc.)

Event organisation and representation

• Contributing actively to all aspects of the organisation of seminars, conferences, report launches and workshops, in collaboration with member countries, academic experts and other stakeholders of the project, as required. This includes a wide range of tasks prior, during and after the events from logistical, technical and administrative tasks to tasks such as briefing speakers and chair(s), moderating group discussions preparing evaluation forms and compiling their results and preparing meeting proceedings/summary records.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic Background

• An advanced university degree in social sciences, education or a related field.

Professional Background

• Minimum two years of relevant experience in research and analytical activities, preferably in a policy-oriented context.
• Experience with the organisation of meetings, workshops and conferences.
• Sound quantitative skills and experience in data collection and analysis would be an advantage, as would be experience of education systems in more than a single OECD country.
• Knowledge of multidisciplinary research in child development and child well-being would be an asset.

Tools

• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office Suite and other standard information technology applications.

Languages

• Fluency in one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and knowledge of the other, with a commitment to reach a good working level.
• Knowledge of other languages would be an asset.

Core Competencies

• For this role, the following competencies would be particularly important: Achievement focus, Flexible thinking, Teamwork.
• Please refer to the level 2 indicators of the OECD Core Competencies

Contract Duration

• One year fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal.

What the OECD offers

• Monthly base salary starting from 4,422 EUR, plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax.
• Please note that the appointment may be made at a lower grade based on the qualifications and professional experience of the selected applicant.
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The OECD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes the applications of all qualified candidates who are nationals of OECD member countries, irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, opinions or beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, health or disabilities. 

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