Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

          Three international organizations that appealed to my passion for early childhood education are Save the Children, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). These three early childhood organizations appealed to my work as an early childhood educator because of their initiative to improve the quality of life and development of young children. As international organizations, these organizations look to improve the lives of young children as well as their families on a global level.

I chose to explore the organization Save the Children because it is recognized for their commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration, their work takes them into the heart of communities, where they help children and families help themselves. My challenge, to increase awareness of the importance of early childhood education, coincides with the mission of Save the Children at a more local level. However, it is interesting to see the change and impact that is being made on a global level in order to positively impact the lives of children and their families.

I chose to explore the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in order to understand the economic policies that affect the programs that help aide in the well-being around the world. Even though I would need to gain quite a bit of experience and education in order to work for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, economics plays an integral part in the development of quality early education programs. Their policies are designed to make the lives of ordinary people better, this coincides with my plan to increase enrollment in local early childhood programs.

The United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) appealed to my interest as an early childhood educator because of its vision to Mobilize education: so that every child, boy or girl, has access to quality education as a fundamental human right and as a prerequisite for human development. This organization directly coincides with my challenge. UNESCO exists to bring creative intelligence to life; for it is in the minds of men and women that the defenses of peace and the conditions for sustainable development must be built in order to positively impact the quality of life of young children.

The following links are the websites for the four organizations previously discussed:

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

http://www.oecd.org/home/0,2987,en_2649_201185_1_1_1_1_1,00.html

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco/

The job opportunities that exist within these organizations that are of interest to me are as follows:

• Save the Children Coordinator, Early Steps to School Success (ESSS)

• The skills and experience needed to competently fulfill this role:
  • AA degree in Early Childhood preferred or related field with 2-3 years related experience
  • Experience and training working in a home visiting, infant/toddler early childhood/parenting education program preferred
  • Experience working with pregnant women, children ages birth to five, and families in rural areas a plus
  • Experience leading parent groups a plus
  • Experience with timely reporting and maintaining accurate records on program activities
  • Experience in collaborating with early childhood programs in the community a plus
• Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Media Relations Officer
  • The skills and experience needed to competently fulfill this role:

• A strategic sense, especially concerning the role of the Organisation in a changing world.
• Excellent understanding of recent online and social media developments
• Sound knowledge of and experience with the major media, both written and audio-visual, and an established network of relationships with them.
• Awareness of and familiarity with new communications technologies.
• Proven capacity to synthesize complex economic information, and to make it accessible to a wide range of non-specialist audiences.
• Proven negotiation and communication skills in contacts both with internal and external partners. Sense of diplomacy and tact.
• Proven capacity to work and co-operate effectively in a multicultural team.
• Excellent drafting skills over different media platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, assume responsibility, organise projects and co-ordinate varied activities under strict time constraints. Flexibility and proven ability to work under pressure.
  Academic Background
• Advanced university degree in relevant areas such as economics, history, literature, journalism, political or social science.
  Professional Background
• At least three to seven years' experience working in an international media organisation or in a publication relation/public affairs environment, preferably with exposure to economic reporting.
• Excellent understanding of the main areas of the Organisation’s work.
  Languages
• An excellent command of one of the two official languages of the OECD (English and French) and working knowledge of, or willingness to learn, the other. Knowledge of other languages would be an asset.

• United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Education Programme Coordinator (Based in Yangon, Myanmar)
  • The skills and experience needed to competently fulfill this role:
    Education
    • Advanced university degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) in education, social sciences or related field.
      Work Experience
    • At least 7 years of relevant work experience in Education at national and international level, including development work in the field.
    • Experience in planning, implementing and managing programmes and/or projects in the field of education.
      Skills/Competencies
    • Excellent organization and planning skills.
    • Ability to participate effectively in high-level negotiations with internal and external stakeholders.
    • Good fund raising and resources mobilisation skills.
    • Proven ability to lead, manage and motivate staff and teams and to maintain effective working relationships in a multicultural environment.
    • Good communication and drafting skills.
    • Good knowledge of standard office software (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.).
      Languages
    • Excellent/very good knowledge of English.
      Work Experience
    • Experience within a developing country in the management and implementation of education programmes.
      Skills/Competencies
    • Familiarity with the work and general functioning of international organizations and/or the UN system.
    • Knowledge of development issues.
      Languages
    • Good/Fair knowledge of French and/or Myanmar/Burmese language.