Type of contract: Consultant Contract. Level 3 – Senior. Hiring Unit: Culture Sector (CLT). Duty Station: Phnom Penh (work location: remote). Duration: 8 months, approximately 70 working days including two missions. Hiring open to external candidates.
OVERVIEW: The UNESCO Office in Phnom Penh is implementing the "Peace Education, Archives Preservation and Digitalization, and Site Conservation for Youth Empowerment (PEACE)" Project in Cambodia with support from KOICA for 2024–2028. The project supports preservation of archives and sites linked to the memory of the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979). In 2025 the World Heritage Committee inscribed "Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centres of repression to places of peace and reflection" — comprising the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre and the former M-13 prison site — on the World Heritage List, recommending improved standards of material conservation and storage of artefacts, documents and objects, including human remains.
OBJECTIVE: Develop a practical Conservation and Management Manual giving theoretical and operational guidance for the handling, documentation, conservation and storage of human remains and other artefacts held or to be discovered at the Cambodian Memorial Sites, and strengthen institutional capacity through training workshops.
ASSIGNMENTS: Under the overall authority of the UNESCO Representative to Cambodia and direct supervision of the Culture Programme Specialist, and with the support of a national consultant, the international expert will: (A) develop the manual, covering international best practices and legal/institutional frameworks, ethical principles for treatment of human remains and artefacts, documentation and recording procedures, field recovery and first aid for newly exposed remains and artefacts, environmental management and preventive conservation, storage requirements and facility management (textiles, clothing, metals), risk management and monitoring, templates and forms, and long-term conservation planning; (B) undertake two field missions to Cambodia (fact-finding/consultation, 10–15 days; training delivery and manual presentation, 6 days); (C) design and deliver two capacity-building workshops of 20–30 participants each, plus reusable training materials.
DELIVERABLES: draft outline (Month 2), draft manual of 50–60 pages (Month 4), final manual in English after peer review by a Cambodian expert (Month 6), two workshops and final activity report (Month 8).
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Advanced degree in conservation, archaeology, heritage studies, museum studies, anthropology or a related discipline; at least five years of relevant professional experience in heritage conservation or museum collection management; demonstrated experience working with human remains and/or sensitive heritage materials, including relevant peer-reviewed publications; experience developing conservation manuals or technical guidelines. Strong analytical, research, writing, stakeholder engagement, coordination and facilitation skills; ability to work independently and meet deadlines. Excellent English writing and communication skills.
Closing date: 08/09/2026
Closing date: 2026-09-08
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested candidates are invited to apply through the UNESCO Careers Portal (SuccessFactors) by clicking "Apply Now" and completing the online application process. Instead of the UNESCO Employment History Form, candidates are invited to submit a PDF containing: an up-to-date curriculum vitae, including relevant publications; a brief technical proposal including methodology, workplan, and timeline; and a financial proposal indicating the overall lump-sum cost of the assignment, with any travel and subsistence requirements indicated separately. Application deadline (Midnight UTC+7 Time): 08/09/2026.
https://careers.unesco.org/talentcommunity/apply/1370080857/?locale=en_GB