UN Data Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development System was restructured 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 independent UN Resident Coordinator. The UN Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO) was transformed into a stand-alone office responsible for 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 strategic foresight. The organization aims to strengthen collaboration among UN entities and national partners to achieve development priorities in various countries, including Palestine.

Job Overview:
The UN Data Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Palestine by advancing data-driven planning, monitoring, reporting, learning, and decision-making. This position is essential for the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and related inter-agency coordination processes. The Data Specialist collaborates with various stakeholders, including UN entities, national counterparts, and civil society organizations, to enhance data management and quality assurance. The incumbent is responsible for designing and developing data products and tools that facilitate evidence-based decision-making and monitoring. This role also involves producing high-quality analyses and visualizations to inform strategic planning and reporting, thereby promoting the use of reliable and disaggregated data to assess progress and identify trends.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Data Specialist's responsibilities include developing and implementing databases and data collection systems to optimize statistical efficiency and quality. The incumbent will analyze and interpret trends using statistical methods, develop reporting and quality control capabilities, and support the creation of monitoring and evaluation products for UN frameworks. Collaboration with data engineers and scientists is essential to improve data flows and quality. The role also involves conducting research on emerging trends in data analytics, delivering training to staff on data analytics and results-based management, and supporting project execution through robust data analysis. The Data Specialist will document methodologies and establish standards for data practices, ensuring effective communication and cooperation with other organizational parts.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in fields such as computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, or social sciences. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. An active certificate in relevant areas such as data engineering or cloud platforms is desirable. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of data manipulation, analysis, and the data life cycle, as well as experience in program/project management and interagency coordination.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, information management, or a related field 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 five years of progressively responsible experience in data analysis, project management, and collaboration with interagency groups is required. Candidates should demonstrate strategic and analytical thinking skills and the ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions. Experience in data storytelling and visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, and R is desirable, as is knowledge of relational databases and programming languages.

Languages:
English and Arabic are required for this position. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in both languages at UN Level II. French is also a working language of the United Nations Secretariat, 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 appointment is subject to budgetary approval and the availability of the post. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. This position is open to nationals of Palestine only, and candidates must have national experience or knowledge of the local context. Reasonable accommodation may be provided for applicants with disabilities upon request.