Senior Statistical Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) was established in 1999 and serves as UNESCO’s statistical agency for 193 member states and 12 associated members. The UIS is dedicated to providing internationally comparable data in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication and information. The organization operates under three main pillars: Standards and Methodologies, Data Production, and Brokering and Outreach. UIS's 2022–2029 Medium-Term Strategy aims to ensure that policymaking is informed by reliable statistics, enabling countries to track their progress toward national and global goals while learning from global experiences. UIS is involved in key initiatives such as the UN Transforming Education Summit, the Global Education Cooperation Mechanism (GCM), G7, G20, and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The organization collaborates with various partners, including UNICEF, the World Bank, OECD, and GEMR, to address emerging priorities, including national education responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. UIS and GEMR have also established an SDG 4 benchmarking process to assist countries in setting and monitoring targets for 2025 and 2030.

Job Overview:
The Senior Statistical Assistant position is situated within the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), which is recognized as UNESCO's official statistical agency. This role is pivotal in supporting global, regional, and national efforts to monitor progress toward education-related development goals, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). The Senior Statistical Assistant will report to a Project Officer/Specialist, Unit Head, or Section Head, depending on the team structure, and will work collaboratively within a multi-functional team that includes statisticians, project officers/specialists, and thematic experts. The team's contributions are essential to UIS's core mandate, which involves assisting Member States in data production, validation, and utilization, focusing on the Institute’s three strategic pillars: standards and methodologies, data production, and brokerage and outreach. The role necessitates regular communication with national statistical offices and ministries of education, coordination with internal survey and indicator development teams, and contributions to technical documentation, process improvement, and knowledge management. A strong attention to detail, adherence to statistical standards, and a commitment to ensuring the accuracy and usability of UIS data by global, regional, and national stakeholders are critical for success in this position.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Statistical Assistant will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including but not limited to: compiling, cleaning, validating, and processing statistical data from multiple sources to ensure accuracy and consistency; maintaining statistical series, indicators, databases, and metadata in accordance with UIS methodologies and international standards; producing analytical outputs such as charts, tables, and dashboards, as well as preparing customized datasets to support reporting and decision-making; responding to data requests and liaising with Member States and UN system organizations to gather and share information; contributing to the development of technical documentation, guidelines, and capacity-building materials to facilitate data use and dissemination; collaborating with colleagues across different units to enhance data workflows; and performing other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires the completion of secondary, technical, or vocational education as a minimum qualification. Additionally, candidates should possess strong organizational and analytical skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. The ability to communicate clearly in both written and oral forms with internal and external stakeholders is essential. Candidates must demonstrate the capability to draft clear documentation, technical notes, and correspondence, as well as the ability to work effectively in a team environment and adapt to changing priorities. A high degree of discretion and professionalism in handling sensitive data is also required, along with a strong client orientation and responsiveness to requests from both internal and external partners.

Educational Background:
While the minimum educational requirement is the completion of secondary, technical, or vocational education, candidates with a university degree or advanced university degree in data science, analytics, statistics, or a related field are preferred. This advanced educational background is desirable as it equips candidates with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to excel in the role.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of eight years of relevant experience in data processing, statistical analysis, or database management. This level of experience is crucial as it ensures that the candidate is well-versed in the complexities of statistical data handling and analysis, which is fundamental to the responsibilities of the Senior Statistical Assistant position.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English, both written and spoken, is mandatory for this position. Additionally, knowledge of French or another official UNESCO language (Spanish, Arabic, Russian, or Chinese) is considered desirable, as it enhances communication capabilities within the diverse international context of UNESCO.

Additional Notes:
The position is a project appointment with a duration of one year. It is open to both internal and external candidates. The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 55,741 CAD, and UNESCO offers a range of benefits and entitlements, which may include 30 days of annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, and a pension plan. Candidates are required to complete an online application and provide complete and accurate information. The evaluation process may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. UNESCO employs various communication technologies for the assessment and evaluation of candidates, and only selected candidates will be contacted for further steps, which may include reference checks. UNESCO emphasizes the importance of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence, and integrity in its staff appointments and applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. The organization is committed to achieving equitable and diverse geographical distribution and gender parity among its staff members.