UN Associate Data Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development System was restructured on January 1, 2019, under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General 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, supporting countries in their development priorities. The Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO) was transformed into a stand-alone office within the UN Secretariat, overseeing the resident coordinator system. The DCO's mission is to ensure that the RC system is optimally configured to support the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda, focusing on data, digital innovation, and a mission-driven culture. The Associate Data Specialist position is integral to this mission, facilitating collaboration and data management across various UN entities and partners.

Job Overview:
The Associate Data Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing databases, data collection systems, and analytics to enhance statistical efficiency and quality. This role involves interacting with various stakeholders, including UN funds, programs, and specialized agencies, to exchange information and best practices. The position is located in the UN Resident Coordination Office in Dakar, Senegal, and reports directly to the Head of the Resident Coordinator Office. The specialist will work on optimizing data processes, ensuring data integrity, and supporting evidence-based decision-making across the development, humanitarian, and peace nexus. The role requires a proactive approach to identifying data analysis opportunities and implementing improvements to enhance the overall data management framework.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement databases and data collection systems to optimize statistical efficiency.
• Analyze and interpret data trends using statistical methods.
• Maintain and quality-assure databases, including UN INFO and CF results data.
• Create reports and dashboards to summarize findings for management.
• Document methodologies and establish standards for data practices.
• Draft inputs for various documents and contribute to the Common Country Analysis.
• Monitor and analyze model performance and data accuracy.
• Automate processes and optimize data delivery.
• Address data-related technical issues and update data infrastructure. 1
• Prepare datasets for data scientists and analysts. 1
• Collaborate with data engineers to improve data flows. 1
• Create data visualization outputs for decision-making. 1
• Coordinate the UNCT’s Annual Results Report. 1
• Assist with data collection and initial analysis. 1
• Produce data products like reports or newsletters. 1
• Conduct data cleaning and preliminary analysis. 1
• Develop supporting materials for stakeholder communications. 1
• Stay updated on data analytics trends and propose applications. 1
• Build capacity on data analytics through training. 2
• Support data preparation and routine reporting. 2
• Design data science products using advanced analytical methods. 2
• Serve as a resource person on data analytics. 2
• Coordinate interagency groups. 2
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in fields such as computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, or related quantitative fields is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's) combined with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions and perform quality assurance of data analysis outputs. Skills in data storytelling and visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, or R are desirable, along with experience in data analytics or related areas.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, information management, or related quantitative disciplines. A Bachelor's degree in combination with relevant experience may also be considered acceptable. This educational background is essential for understanding complex data systems and analytics.

Experience:
A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in data analytics or related fields is required. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions and perform quality assurance on data analysis outputs. Experience in assessing data accuracy and consistency through validation processes is desirable. Familiarity with data visualization tools and techniques is also beneficial, as is experience in data storytelling.

Languages:
The working languages of the United Nations Secretariat are English and French. For this position, proficiency in French is required at UN Level II, while English is desirable at UN Level I. Candidates must demonstrate their language skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking as per the UN Language Framework.

Additional Notes:
This is a fixed-term position with an initial appointment period of one year, subject to the availability of funds and budgetary approval. The position is open to nationals of Senegal, and candidates must be recruited within the country or commuting distance of the office. If no suitable local candidates are found, Senegal nationals residing elsewhere may be considered, with the candidate responsible for relocation costs. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. All applicants must provide complete and accurate information in their applications, as this will be the basis for assessing eligibility and suitability for the position.