Ei-iE

Education International Latin America (Equal Opportunity Employer) invites applications for the post of Regional Coordinator in Organizational Strengthening in Education Unions located in EILA Regional Office, San José, Costa Rica.

About Education International Latin America

Education International (EI) is the world’s largest Global Union Federation. Through our 386 member organisations, we represent more than 32.5 million teachers and education support personnel in 178 countries and territories in a shared mission to achieve quality education for all. EI contributes to the development of democratic trade unions, promoting solidarity and mutual cooperation, and fights against discrimination in educational spaces and society.

The education sector in Latin America represents diverse individuals with large pedagogical knowledge. Unions face the challenge to design and propose educational policies to defend the right to public education and overcome the commercialization of education, cuts in public budgets, worsening labor conditions in the sector, violation of human and union rights, discrimination against workers and students based on gender or sexual orientation, and the situation of educational exclusion among indigenous people. To design educational policy proposals, education unions must have clear strategies for the representation, participation, and mobilization of its members.

That is why Education International’s Office for Latin America is seeking to hire a person for the position of Institutional strengthening in Educational Unions, to support the development of policies for strengthening, representation, participation, and proposal formulation within the organizations.

Should you apply?

The candidate for this position has dedicated his/her/their professional life to support and facilitate social participation in the design of public policy; he/she/they is familiar with the educational policy cycle and is convinced that public education is a right. He/she/they views the union movement as dynamic force necessary to strengthen democratic life in our countries; has the knowledge and attitudes to generate collaborative work dynamics; has the enthusiasm and flexibility to travel across Latin America and support the development of local activities alongside national unions and social movements allied with Education International (EI) in the region.

To whom will you report?

The Regional Coordination in Institutional strengthening in Education Unions reports directly to the Regional Director based in Costa Rica and to the EI General Secretary based in Brussels.

The general work strategy is led by the Regional Office, which comprises a team of 7 people. The overall work strategy is framed within the political guidelines of the World Congresses of Education International and follow the political orientation of the Regional Committee, consisting of union leaders from across Latin America.

What is the main strategy you will oversee?

The person who occupies this Coordination will support the education union organizations in designing and implementing policies and actions aimed at institutional strengthening and political advocacy in favor of public education. For this, the person will provide support to the regional union organizations through processes of reflection, training, and regional exchange. Additionally, he/she/they will contribute to the development of strategic plans, fostering a strong internal democracy and promoting inclusive policies that ensure the participation and representation of all members. His/her/their work will include support for the “Go Public! Fund Education campaign”, the Latin American Pedagogical Movement, and research processes that support union activities for the defense of public funding for education at all levels and modalities, thus ensuring a more equitable and accessible educational system for all.

What will you do for this post?

• Coordinate and update the regional strategy to promote policies for strengthening unions.
• Design and implement regional and national strategies with education unions for reflection, training, and promotion of educational policy proposals with a social rights perspective.
• Lead initiatives to promote educational policies with a social rights approach and implement actions from the Latin American Pedagogical Movement.
• Work at national and regional levels with teacher organizations, governments, and multilateral organizations.
• Support and assist the participation of union leaders in institutional representation activities, dialogues with institutions and governments, various strategic alliances, etc.
• Coordinate the planning of activities, research processes, and campaigns together with the Regional Office team.
• Liase with Allies and Donors: prepare briefs and reports on the progress of strengthening policies in unions.
• Elaborate on project and grant proposals to mobilize new funding.
• Monitor and oversee South-South cooperation initiatives and foster solidarity among union organizations.
• Manage the research consultant team for the "Observatorio Latinoamericano de Política Educativa" OLPE- Observatory.
• Maintain alliances with other global unions, labor federations and multilateral institutions in the areas of trade union freedom, participation, social dialogue, etc.
• Coordinate with EI Head Office based in Brussels and prepare documentation for the General Secretary.
• Prepare documentation and information of interest for the political actions of the Regional Committee and for the Latin American members of the Global Executive Committee.

What is your professional profile?

The candidate´s experience includes:

• Proven experience in contributing to social articulation processes and strengthening institutional frameworks of unions and/or social organizations in Latin America.
• At least eight years of coordinating projects and programs with regional scope in Latin America.
• Demonstrable experience in building relationships with strategic allies in institutional and international spheres.
• Demonstrated experience in the planning and implementation of institutional strengthening projects, including monitoring budget execution and the preparation of technical reports.
• Proven experience in developing training programs and methodologies aimed at unions and/or social organizations.
• Skills in facilitating meetings and supporting technical and programmatic processes in international political spheres.

Preferably, you have as well:

• Coordinated programs or projects for trade unions, and/or other social movements in the region.
• Updated skills in adult education, project management, etc.
• Been a panellist in forums, conferences, etc.
• Had comfort working as part of multicultural teams.

What is your academic background?

• A university degree in Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, and/or Project Management, preferably obtained from a public Latin American university.

What languages skills do you need for this post?

• Spanish is your mother tongue, and you have oral and written English proficiency.
• Writing reports, drafting briefs, and tailoring information to accessible vocabulary.
• Proficiency in Portuguese would be considered as an asset.

Other requirements:

• To reside in Costa Rica and hold a legal permit to work in Costa Rica.
• Possess the ability to travel independently throughout the region.
• You excel in navigating multicultural environments and working with a diverse range of individuals.

What do we offer?

• A work environment committed to eradicating all forms of violence and discrimination in the workplace and that promotes work-life balance.
• A competitive remuneration package, social security benefits and excellent working conditions. This position is subject to Costa-Rican social and fiscal regulations.
• The appointment will be made from an agreed date upon the completion of the selection and appointment process.

How to apply?

Applications must include a resume (CV) and a cover letter outlining how the candidate meets the criteria for appointment set out above. All applications will be treated confidentially. Please address your application to the EI General Secretary and submit it to ([email protected]) by 23rd February 2025.

EI is committed to the principles of employment equity and to diversity in its workforce.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity.

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.