Associate Data Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is the United Nations (UN), which was established to promote international cooperation and to create and maintain international order. The UN Development System has undergone significant reforms since January 1, 2019, aimed at enhancing its effectiveness in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN operates in numerous countries worldwide, with a mission to support countries in their development priorities and to facilitate the attainment of the SDGs. The UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO) play a crucial role in this mission, led by an empowered UN Resident Coordinator who represents the UN Secretary-General at the country level. The organization employs thousands of individuals across various sectors and disciplines, working collaboratively to address global challenges and promote sustainable development.

Job Overview:
The Associate Data Specialist position is integral to the UN's efforts in data management and analytics, specifically within the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator (RCO) in Kabul, Afghanistan. This role involves collaborating with various stakeholders, including counterparts, technical staff, and external partners, to develop and implement databases, data collection systems, and data analytics strategies that enhance statistical efficiency and quality. The Associate Data Specialist will be responsible for analyzing trends and patterns in data, implementing process improvements, and contributing to the creation of reports and dashboards that effectively communicate findings to management. This position requires a proactive approach to data collection and analysis, as well as the ability to support decision-making processes through data visualization and stakeholder engagement. The role is designed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among different departments and external organizations, ensuring that data-driven insights are utilized to inform strategic planning and operational decisions.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Associate Data Specialist include:

• Implementing databases, data collection systems, and data analytics strategies to optimize statistical efficiency and quality.
• Analyzing and interpreting trends or patterns in data using statistical methods.
• Improving processes for data analytics tasks and maintaining databases/data systems.
• Developing reports, dashboards, and tools to summarize findings for management.
• Tracking and reporting on progress regarding department-specific data initiatives.
• Creating basic data visualization outputs to aid decision-making.
• Assisting with data collection and initial analysis, reporting unresolved issues to senior staff.
• Producing data products such as reports or newsletters related to data analysis activities.
• Gathering business requirements across departments to identify pain points for data-driven analysis. 1
• Compiling data insights and developing materials for stakeholder communications. 1
• Staying updated on trends and developments in data analytics best practices and technologies. 1
• Supporting the preparation and verification of data used in model assessments. 1
• Building staff capacity on data analytics through training and workshops. 1
• Assisting team members in data verification and routine reporting tasks. 1
• Helping with administrative aspects of the work plan.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Associate Data Specialist position include a strong understanding of sustainable development theories and concepts, as well as the ability to identify and develop sources for data collection. Candidates should possess the ability to conduct research, analyze data, and write reports on sustainable development issues. Professionalism, effective communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment are essential. The role requires a commitment to gender perspectives and ensuring equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in fields such as computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, information management, data management, information systems, information science, or a related quantitative field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience is required, demonstrating the ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions. Candidates should have experience in quality assurance of data analysis outputs and assessing data accuracy and consistency through validation processes. Skills in data storytelling and familiarity with data visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, Qlik, and R are desirable. Knowledge of the data life cycle, including data collection, wrangling, analysis, visualization, deployment, monitoring, and reporting, is also beneficial. Project management skills are considered an asset.

Languages:
For this position, proficiency in English is mandatory, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Additionally, knowledge of Dari and Pashto is required, as these languages are relevant to the local context in Afghanistan. The UN Language Framework outlines the minimum required level for each language skill, which candidates should consult for details.

Additional Notes:
This position is a fixed-term limited position, indicating that it is not permanent and may have a specified duration. The role is based in Kabul, Afghanistan, and is expected to be full-time. The UN is committed to recruiting individuals from diverse backgrounds and encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of nationality. Compensation and benefits will be aligned with UN standards, and the organization emphasizes the importance of creating an inclusive work environment.