Business Analyst

Job Posting Organization:
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) was established in 1999 and serves as the statistical agency of UNESCO. Its mission is to produce data that fuels policies and investments necessary for transforming lives and achieving development goals. The UIS operates globally, providing statistical and technical inputs for various international mechanisms, including the UN Transforming Education Summit and the Global Education Cooperation Mechanism. The organization focuses on delivering cross-nationally comparable data across education, science, culture, and communication fields, ensuring that Member States can make informed decisions based on sound statistical information. The UIS maintains the most comprehensive education statistics database in the world, which is utilized for monitoring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other educational priorities, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education.

Job Overview:
The Business Analyst position at the UIS involves analyzing, documenting, and optimizing the end-to-end data production processes. This includes data collection, validation, ETL processing, indicator and estimate calculation, and data visualization and dissemination. The incumbent will work under the authority of the Director of UIS and directly report to the Head of ITS. The role is crucial for ensuring that modernization efforts align with methodological requirements and user needs. The Business Analyst will act as a liaison between business users, data engineers, statisticians, and IT teams, facilitating the design of future-state processes that leverage Azure-based data platforms. The position requires a strong understanding of data workflows and the ability to translate business needs into technical specifications, ensuring compliance with UNESCO's data and AI policies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Business Analyst include:

• Month 1: Conducting business process analysis and requirements gathering by engaging with various stakeholders to capture functional and non-functional requirements.
• Reviewing and benchmarking statistical data management systems to identify best practices.
• Mapping and assessing existing workflows and tools, identifying inefficiencies and opportunities for automation.
• Delivering monthly analytical reports, documenting data definitions, and providing recommendations on the current UIS system.
• Month 2: Developing high-level solution designs and optimizing future-state process models for cloud-based operations.
• Translating business needs into technical specifications for Azure-powered data platforms.
• Supporting architects and engineers in designing workflows and metadata management.
• Month 3: Assisting in transitioning from legacy systems to Azure-based solutions and supporting the adoption of metadata and quality rules.
• Participating in pilot projects and contributing to UIS data governance frameworks. 1
• Facilitating workshops and training sessions for internal teams and external partners, and communicating proposed changes to technical teams and senior management.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Business Analyst position include:

• A Master’s degree in computer science or a related field. A first-level university degree may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree if combined with qualifying experience.
• Certification in business analysis (such as CBAP, CCBA, or PMI-PBA) is considered an asset.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a similar role within data-intensive environments, demonstrating experience with data workflows and ETL pipelines.
• Experience with Azure data and analytics services, Dataiku, or similar cloud-based platforms is highly desirable.
• Experience in statistical organizations or public sector settings is highly valued.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in computer science or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with relevant experience may be accepted. Additional certifications in business analysis are advantageous and can enhance a candidate's profile.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience as a Business Analyst, Process Analyst, or in a similar role, particularly within data-intensive environments. Candidates should have demonstrated experience with data workflows, ETL pipelines, and analytics systems, as well as familiarity with Azure data and analytics services.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing communication capabilities within the multicultural environment of UNESCO.

Additional Notes:
This position is a non-staff contract with a duration ranging from 1 to 6 months. The recruitment is open to external candidates, and the application process requires candidates to submit a comprehensive online application, including a cover letter, updated CV, and financial proposal. The evaluation of candidates will be based on technical expertise, approach and methodology, and cost-effectiveness. UNESCO emphasizes the importance of diversity and encourages applications from under-represented groups, including individuals from minority and indigenous backgrounds.