UN Associate Data Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development System was reformed on January 1, 2019, to enhance its effectiveness in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO) play a crucial role in this reform, led by an empowered UN Resident Coordinator who represents the UN Secretary-General at the country level. The Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO) was transformed into a stand-alone office within the UN Secretariat, overseeing the resident coordinator system. The DCO is focused on ensuring that the RC system is optimally configured to support the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda, emphasizing data, digital innovation, and a mission-driven culture. The organization operates globally, with a commitment to sustainable development and collaboration with various stakeholders.

Job Overview:
The Associate Data Specialist position is integral to the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Managua, Nicaragua. The role involves interacting with various organizational units and external counterparts to develop and implement databases, data collection systems, and analytics that enhance statistical efficiency and quality. The incumbent will be responsible for analyzing trends, implementing process improvements, and contributing to the creation of reports and dashboards that summarize findings for management. This position requires a proactive approach to data collection and analysis, supporting decision-making processes and capacity-building activities within the organization. The Associate Data Specialist will also engage in training staff on data analytics and contribute to the production of data products such as reports and newsletters, ensuring that the office remains at the forefront of data-driven decision-making.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:

• Implementing databases and data collection systems that optimize statistical efficiency and quality.
• Analyzing trends and patterns using statistical methods to identify relevant features in data.
• Improving processes for data analytics tasks and maintaining databases.
• Developing reports and dashboards to summarize findings for management.
• Tracking progress on data initiatives and contributing to data visualization outputs.
• Assisting with data collection and initial analysis, reporting unresolved issues to senior staff.
• Producing data products related to data analysis activities.
• Gathering business requirements across departments to support data-driven analysis.
• Compiling data insights and preparing materials for stakeholder communications. 1
• Staying updated on trends in data analytics best practices and technologies. 1
• Supporting capacity-building activities for staff on data analytics. 1
• Assisting in administrative aspects of the work plan and performing other related tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong understanding of sustainable development theories and concepts, with the ability to identify and develop sources for data collection. They should demonstrate research and analytical skills, with the capacity to make recommendations based on data analysis. Professionalism, strategic thinking, and the ability to work collaboratively are essential. Candidates should also be able to incorporate gender perspectives into their work and ensure equal participation of women and men.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in fields such as computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, information management, or social sciences is required. 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 in translating business requirements into technical solutions is required. Candidates should have demonstrated abilities in quality assurance of data analysis outputs, data validation, and familiarity with data storytelling and visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, Qlik, and R. Knowledge of the data life cycle, including data collection, analysis, and reporting, is also desirable.

Languages:
English and Spanish are required for this position, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking for both languages. French is also a working language of the UN, but proficiency in French is not mandatory for this position.

Additional Notes:
This is a Fixed Term position available for a duration of one year, with no expectation of renewal. The position is open to nationals of Nicaragua only, and candidates residing outside Nicaragua may be considered if no suitable local candidates are identified. The UN is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. Staff members are expected to adhere to the authority of the Secretary-General and may be assigned to various functions as needed. The recruitment process is free of charge, and the UN does not require any fees from applicants.