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 countries. The UN Development System, which includes the UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), aims to support countries in achieving their development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN RCO operates under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, who is the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System at the country level. The organization has undergone significant reforms since 2019 to enhance its effectiveness and efficiency in delivering on the 2030 Agenda. The UN RCO in Kathmandu, Nepal, is part of this system and plays a crucial role in coordinating development efforts in the country.

Job Overview:
The Associate Data Specialist position is integral to the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Kathmandu, Nepal. The role 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 contribute to the identification and analysis of trends using statistical methods, implement process improvements for data analytics tasks, and assist in the development of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) products for UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks. The position requires keeping abreast of UN efforts in co-designing digital tools and dashboards that track progress against national SDG indicators, as well as contributing to the creation of reports and data visualization outputs to aid decision-making. The role also involves supporting capacity-building activities for staff on data analytics and conducting training sessions on results-based management and evaluation techniques.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including:

• Implementing databases, data collection systems, and data analytics strategies to optimize statistical efficiency and quality.
• Analyzing trends and patterns using statistical methods to identify relevant features in structured data sources.
• Improving processes for data analytics tasks and maintaining databases.
• Developing MEL products for UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks.
• Collaborating with national statistical partners to design digital tools for tracking SDG progress.
• Creating reports and dashboards to summarize findings for management.
• Tracking and reporting on department-specific data initiatives.
• Assisting with data collection and preliminary analysis for various projects.
• Contributing to data visualization outputs for decision-making. 1
• Supporting capacity-building activities and training for staff on data analytics. 1
• Conducting outcome-level analysis and identifying gaps in the National Statistical System. 1
• Performing other related tasks 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 social sciences. 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. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate knowledge of core data science and analytics concepts, including statistics and predictive modeling, as well as experience in quality assurance of data analysis outputs and data validation.

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. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in data science and analytics is required. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of core concepts, including statistics and predictive modeling, and have experience in quality assurance of data analysis outputs. Skills in data storytelling and visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, Qlik, and R are desirable, as well as the ability to communicate complex technical matters to diverse audiences.

Languages:
English and Nepali are the required working languages for this position. Proficiency in English is required at UN Level II, while proficiency in Nepali is also required at the same level. Candidates should demonstrate strong reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in both languages according to the UN Language Framework.

Additional Notes:
This is a fixed-term position with an initial appointment period of one (1) year, subject to budgetary approval and availability of funds. The position is open to nationals of Nepal only, and candidates must have national experience or knowledge of the national language and culture. The UN is committed to achieving gender balance in its staff and encourages female candidates to apply. The recruitment process is subject to various approvals, and candidates must provide complete and accurate information in their applications. The UN does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.