UN Associate Data Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945, currently comprising 193 member states. Its mission is to promote peace, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and cooperation among nations, and to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. The UN Development System, which includes the UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), was reformed in 2019 to enhance its effectiveness in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN RCOs are led by independent UN Resident Coordinators who support countries in achieving their development priorities. The Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO) oversees the resident coordinator system and ensures that it is optimally configured to support the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda. The DCO focuses on data, digital innovation, and strategic foresight to enhance its mission-driven organizational culture.

Job Overview:
The Associate Data Specialist plays a crucial role in the UN Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in Lilongwe, Malawi. This position involves collaborating with various stakeholders, including counterparts, technical staff, and external partners, to develop and implement databases, data collection systems, and data analytics that enhance statistical efficiency and quality. The Associate Data Specialist will be responsible for analyzing trends and patterns in data, implementing process improvements for data analytics tasks, and contributing to the creation of reports and dashboards that summarize findings for management. The role also includes tracking progress on data initiatives, supporting data collection efforts, and assisting in the development of data products such as newsletters and reports. The position requires staying updated on emerging trends in data analytics and contributing to capacity-building activities for staff on data analytics.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

• Implement databases, data collection systems, data analytics, and strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and quality.
• Analyze and interpret trends or patterns using statistical methods to identify relevant features in structured data sources.
• Improve processes for data analytics tasks; acquire and clean data from primary or secondary sources and maintain databases.
• Develop reports, dashboards, and tools to summarize findings and convey information to management.
• Track and report on progress regarding department-specific data initiatives.
• Create basic data visualization outputs to aid decision-making.
• Assist with data collection and initial analysis, reporting unresolved issues to senior staff.
• Produce data products like reports or newsletters related to data analysis activities.
• Gather business requirements across departments to identify pain points and support data-driven analysis. 1
• Compile data insights and develop supporting materials for stakeholder communications. 1
• Stay abreast of current trends in data analytics best practices and technologies. 1
• Support data preparation and preliminary analysis for model assessments. 1
• Build staff capacity on data analytics through training and workshops. 1
• Serve as the technology and innovation focal point for the RCO. 1
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in fields such as computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, information management, or a related quantitative field. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) combined with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate professionalism, communication skills, and the ability to plan and organize effectively. They should be able to work collaboratively, think strategically, and analyze data to support decision-making.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, information management, data management, information systems, information science, or a related quantitative field is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:
A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in data analytics or a related area is required. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions and perform quality assurance of data analysis outputs. Experience in assessing data accuracy and consistency through data validation is desirable. Skills in data storytelling and proficiency in data visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, Qlik, and R are also desirable. One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or a related area is preferred.

Languages:
English is required for this position, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French is also a working language of the United Nations Secretariat, but English is the primary language required for this job opening.

Additional Notes:
This is a fixed-term position with an initial appointment period of one (1) year, subject to the availability of funds and budgetary approval. The position is open to nationals of Malawi, and candidates must be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. If no suitable local candidate is identified, Malawian nationals residing elsewhere may be considered, with the candidate responsible for any relocation costs. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs, and the UN promotes a diverse and inclusive environment.