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 organization is dedicated to providing internationally comparable data in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication and information. UIS develops international standards and supports the development of capacity in these areas. The UIS operates with a mission to ensure that policymaking is informed by reliable statistics, which helps countries track their progress toward national and global goals while learning from global experiences. The UIS maintains comprehensive databases on education, culture, and science and technology statistics, which serve as the official source of data for the UN system, utilized for various purposes including the global monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Job Overview:
The Senior Statistical Assistant will play a crucial role within the Observatory for Cultural Statistics, which is part of the Science, Culture and Communication Statistics Section. This position involves not only regular statistical tasks but also the modernization and expansion of the Observatory’s statistical processes and the production of indicators. The incumbent will report to an Associate Programme Specialist and will work under the overall supervision of the Head of Section. The role requires collaboration within a multi-functional team that includes statisticians and thematic experts, all contributing to UIS's core mandate. The focus will be on UIS's three strategic pillars: the development of international norms, standards, and methodologies; data production and brokerage; and outreach. The Senior Statistical Assistant will maintain regular communication with national statistical offices and ministries of culture, ensuring coordination with other units within UIS. A strong attention to detail, adherence to statistical standards, and a commitment to ensuring the accuracy and usability of UIS culture data for global, regional, and national stakeholders are essential for this role.

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; modernizing cultural data production procedures to enhance data collection and processing on cultural statistics; automating the production of data from external sources; maintaining the contact database of the Observatory for Cultural Statistics; producing analytical outputs such as charts, tables, and dashboards; preparing customized datasets to support the production of analytical reports; contributing to technical documentation, guidelines, and capacity-building materials to facilitate data use and dissemination; collaborating with colleagues across various units to improve data workflows; and performing other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must have completed secondary, technical, or vocational education. A minimum of eight years of experience in data processing, statistical analysis, or database management is required. Proficiency in statistical software for data validation and processing, such as R and Python, as well as experience managing large databases and multi-source datasets, is essential. Candidates should also have a good knowledge of MS Excel, SQL, and PowerPoint, along with experience in data visualization applications like Tableau or similar tools. Strong organizational and analytical skills, a high level of accuracy and attention to detail, and excellent oral and written communication skills are also required.

Educational Background:
While completion of secondary, technical, or vocational education is required, a university degree or advanced university degree in data science, analytics, statistics, economics, or a related field is desirable for this position.

Experience:
Candidates should possess a minimum of eight years of relevant experience in data processing, statistical analysis, or database management. Experience in survey design and knowledge of Lime Survey or similar software, as well as experience with official statistics, data scripting, and computer programming (e.g., Java), is also desirable. Additionally, experience working in cultural statistics and in an international or multicultural context is beneficial.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English (both written and spoken) is mandatory, along with a good knowledge of French (written and spoken). A good working knowledge of another UN language such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish would be considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is a project appointment with a duration of one year, with the possibility of extension subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory performance. The role is open to both internal and external candidates. UNESCO’s compensation package includes a basic salary and various benefits, which may include 30 days of annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, and a pension plan. The approximate annual starting salary for this position is 55,741 CAD. Candidates are required to complete an online application and provide accurate information, as modifications cannot be made after submission. The selection process may include tests, assessments, and interviews, and communication technologies will be utilized for candidate evaluation. UNESCO emphasizes the importance of securing high standards of efficiency, technical competence, and integrity in its staff members, and applies a zero-tolerance policy against harassment. The organization is committed to achieving equitable and diverse geographical distribution and gender parity among its staff.