Research and Data Specialist (Data and Statistics)

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The organization was created as part of the UN reform agenda, which aimed to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact in the area of gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women merges and builds upon the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM, which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization operates globally, with offices at Headquarters and in various field locations, working towards the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, the empowerment of women, and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. UN Women’s Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division (PPID) provides global support to UN Women offices to deliver results aligned with the Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and internationally agreed goals on gender equality and women’s empowerment, including the Beijing Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The division leverages innovation, knowledge management, and technical expertise to support UN Women programs and build the capacity of partners to achieve results on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Job Overview:
The Research and Data Specialist (Data and Statistics) plays a crucial role in implementing key elements of UN Women’s Research and Data strategy. This position involves leading the monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), overseeing statistical work, and contributing to the preparation of UN Women’s flagship reports. The specialist will enhance UN Women’s data science and foresight capacity and contribute to the broader research and data agenda of the organization. The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including UN agencies, to ensure the production and dissemination of sex-disaggregated data and gender statistics. The specialist will supervise a team of data professionals and will be responsible for ensuring the quality and effectiveness of data collection and reporting processes. This position demands a strong commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as the ability to manage and motivate a diverse team to achieve results in a timely manner.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the monitoring of gender-related SDGs indicators, including data compilation and methodological work. Plan, produce, disseminate, and launch the annual SDG Gender Snapshot and related materials in collaboration with UN Statistics Division and custodian agencies. Coordinate contributions from SDG5 custodian agencies for the annual Secretary-General’s SDGs Report. Represent UN Women in the Inter-Agency Expert Group-SDGs, ensuring that colleagues responsible for specific SDGs indicators are informed about the group's work and decisions. Establish partnerships with data-producing UN agencies to enhance the production and dissemination of sex-disaggregated data and gender statistics. Collaborate with PPID sections to build a robust evidence base related to SDGs, ensuring quality in UN Women’s SDG data collection and reporting.
• Oversee the statistical work for UN Women’s flagship reports and related research products. Lead the statistical work for reports such as Progress of the World's Women and the World Survey on the Role of Women in Development. Prepare chapters on statistics, oversee the production of statistical annexes, and provide technical input for concept development and refinement. Perform background research, assist in commissioning studies, and review commissioned research for reports. Oversee data presentation, visualization, and communication strategy for flagship reports. Supervise junior statisticians, providing clear objectives and guidance for effective performance management.
• Contribute to enhancing UN Women’s data science and foresight capacity. Build research and collaborative networks to enhance capacity in new and emerging areas. Maintain knowledge of technologies and trends in data science and foresight. Identify and analyze trends using machine learning techniques and statistical methods. Organize training sessions and workshops on data analysis and visualization, coordinating with teams to develop processes for monitoring and analyzing model performance and data accuracy.
• Contribute to the implementation of UN Women’s broader research and data agenda. Manage the development of databases, data collection systems, and analytics strategies to optimize statistical efficiency and quality. Develop outreach and communications materials to enhance visibility and foster collaboration. Stay informed about trends in quantitative research and data analytics best practices to improve organizational analytical capacity. Collaborate with UN System, civil society, and academia for research and data synergies. Contribute to annual reporting and write briefing notes as requested. Represent UN Women in inter-agency working groups on research and data as necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor, ensuring efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Required Qualifications:

• Expert knowledge of gender statistics, including current policies and practices in the area of gender statistics.
• Advanced knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods, particularly in relation to gender equality.
• Strong capacity in statistical analysis and econometric techniques with a focus on gender equality.
• Familiarity with data science and foresight techniques.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to manage and motivate a diverse team, including consultants.
• Excellent strategic planning, goal setting, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain partnerships with government counterparts, UN agencies, donors, and NGO partners.
• Proven excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 1
• Commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant social science discipline with a substantial quantitative component or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A PhD is considered an asset.

Experience:
At least 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in research and statistical analysis in a development policy and/or research context is required. Experience in data analysis, research, and writing, particularly on gender equality and women’s rights, is required. Experience in SDGs monitoring, ideally from a gender equality perspective, is required. Experience in statistical analysis, econometrics, and/or data science is required. Experience leading and managing personnel in international settings is required. Proficiency in using computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and experience with web-based management systems is required. Familiarity with modern web-based ERP Systems, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable. Experience in working on institutional/flagship reports is also desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) is desirable.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and involves leading a team of 3, including 1 direct report and 2 consultants. UN Women is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and adheres to a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form are completed to avoid disqualification from the recruitment process.