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's mission is to ensure that the UN system is optimally configured to support the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda, focusing on data, digital innovation, and a mission-driven culture. The organization operates globally, with a commitment to sustainable development and collaboration with various stakeholders, including national institutions and development partners.

Job Overview:
The Associate Data Specialist position is integral to the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. The role involves significant interaction with various UN entities, national institutions, and development partners to develop and implement databases, data collection systems, and data analytics. The incumbent will contribute to optimizing statistical efficiency and quality, supporting inter-agency follow-ups, and ensuring the quality assurance of agency inputs. This position requires collaboration with external counterparts, including UN funds, programs, and NGOs, to exchange information and best practices. The Associate Data Specialist will also be responsible for tracking the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) indicators and milestones, preparing evidence for reviews, and contributing to the capacity building of staff on data analytics.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will perform a variety of duties, including:

• Implementing databases and data collection systems that enhance statistical efficiency.
• Analyzing trends and patterns in data using statistical methods.
• Improving processes for data analytics tasks and maintaining databases.
• Developing reports and dashboards to summarize findings for management.
• Tracking progress on department-specific data initiatives.
• Creating data visualization outputs to aid decision-making.
• Assisting with data collection and initial analysis, reporting unresolved issues to senior staff.
• Producing data products like reports or newsletters.
• Gathering business requirements across departments to support data-driven analysis. 1
• Compiling data insights for stakeholder communications. 1
• Staying updated on trends in data analytics best practices. 1
• Supporting data preparation and verification for model assessments. 1
• Building staff capacity through training on data analytics. 1
• Contributing to workshops on data analytics. 1
• Assisting with routine reporting tasks and administrative aspects of the work plan. 1
• Performing other related tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in fields such as computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, information management, or social sciences. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s) combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. The role requires knowledge and understanding of sustainable development theories and the ability to undertake research, analyze data, and write reports on sustainable development issues. Candidates should demonstrate professionalism, effective communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Educational Background:
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 social sciences is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) may be accepted if accompanied by two additional years of qualifying experience.

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. Skills in data storytelling and visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, and R are desirable. Experience in project management and developing training programs is also beneficial.

Languages:
The working languages of the United Nations Secretariat are English and French, both of which are required for this position. Additionally, proficiency in Portuguese is required. Candidates must meet the minimum required level for reading, writing, listening, and speaking in these languages according to the UN Language Framework.

Additional Notes:
This is a Fixed Term position available for a duration of one year, with no expectation of renewal. The appointment is subject to budgetary approval and the availability of the post. The position is open to nationals of Guinea-Bissau only, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and diversity in its workforce. Reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities. All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted.