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). This reform led to the establishment of the UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), which operate under the leadership of an empowered UN Resident Coordinator. The UN Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO) was transformed into a stand-alone office within the UN Secretariat, overseeing the resident coordinator system. The DCO aims to support the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda through data-driven strategies and innovative practices.

Job Overview:
The Associate Data Specialist plays a crucial role in the UN Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in Mexico City, focusing on data engineering, data science, and analytics. This position involves collaborating with various stakeholders, including UN agencies, NGOs, and technical staff, to develop and implement databases and data collection systems that enhance statistical efficiency and quality. The Associate Data Specialist is expected to contribute to data analysis, reporting, and visualization, ensuring that data-driven insights inform decision-making processes. The role requires a proactive approach to identifying trends and patterns in data, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement in data analytics practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Associate Data Specialist will be responsible for implementing databases and data collection systems, optimizing statistical efficiency and quality. Key duties include analyzing trends using statistical methods, improving data analytics processes, and maintaining databases. The specialist will also develop reports and dashboards to summarize findings, track progress on data initiatives, and create data visualization outputs. Additional responsibilities include assisting with data collection, preparing stakeholder communications, and contributing to training sessions on data analytics. The role requires staying updated on data analytics trends and supporting capacity-building activities within the team.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong understanding of sustainable development theories and concepts, with the ability to conduct research and analyze data effectively. The role requires proficiency in data collection and validation, as well as experience in data storytelling and visualization tools such as Tableau and Power BI. Strong project management skills and familiarity with UN planning processes are desirable. The ideal candidate should demonstrate professionalism, client orientation, creativity, and technological awareness in their work.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in fields such as computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, or social sciences is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) 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 research, data analysis, knowledge management, or project management in development cooperation is required. Candidates should demonstrate experience in quality assurance of data analysis outputs and skills in assessing data accuracy. Familiarity with data life cycle processes and project management is also desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Spanish is required for this position, with English and French being the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Candidates must meet the UN Language Framework standards for reading, writing, listening, and speaking in both languages.

Additional Notes:
This is a fixed-term position for an initial period of one year, with the possibility of extension subject to funding and budgetary approval. The position is open to nationals of Mexico only, and candidates residing outside Mexico may be considered if no suitable local candidates are found. The UN is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. Staff members are expected to adhere to the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, and the recruitment process is free of charge.