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 pivotal role in this reform, supporting countries in their development priorities. The Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO) has been transformed into a stand-alone coordination office within the UN Secretariat, overseeing the resident coordinator system. The DCO has recalibrated its functions to ensure optimal support for the 2030 Agenda, focusing on data, digital innovation, and strategic foresight. The UN RCO in Montevideo, Uruguay, is where the Associate Data Specialist will be based, working under the supervision of the Head of the Resident Coordinator Office.

Job Overview:
The Associate Data Specialist is responsible for implementing databases, data collection systems, and data analytics strategies that enhance statistical efficiency and quality. This role involves collaborating with various stakeholders, including UN funds, programs, and NGOs, to exchange information and best practices. The specialist will contribute to the development of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) products for UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, ensuring that data collection aligns with national SDG indicators. The position requires keeping abreast of digital tools and dashboards that track progress against these indicators, as well as contributing to reports and data visualization outputs that aid decision-making. The Associate Data Specialist will also assist in statistical capacity-building efforts and support the integration of monitoring milestones into common data pipelines.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Associate Data Specialist will perform a variety of duties, including implementing databases and data collection systems, analyzing trends using statistical methods, and improving data analytics processes. Responsibilities include acquiring and cleaning data, developing MEL products, creating reports and dashboards, tracking data initiatives, and contributing to data visualization outputs. The specialist will assist with data collection, preliminary analysis, and stakeholder communications, while also supporting capacity-building activities and training sessions on data analytics. Additional duties involve conducting outcome-level analysis, identifying gaps in the national statistical system, and contributing to the development of training materials and workshops.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in fields such as Computer Science, Data Science, Analytics, Statistics, or related areas. 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 project management skills, analytical thinking, and the ability to communicate complex data-related matters effectively. Professionalism, planning and organizing skills, and client orientation are essential competencies for this role.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Computer Science, Data Science, Analytics, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Information Management, Data Management, Information Systems, Information Science, Economic or Social Sciences, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:
A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in the data life cycle, including data collection, analysis, visualization, and reporting, is required. Candidates should have demonstrated knowledge of data manipulation and analysis concepts, as well as experience in database management and data validation. Skills in relational databases (SQL) and programming languages (Python, R) are essential, along with familiarity with data visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or Qlik.

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 minimum required level for each skill in these languages according to the UN Language Framework.

Additional Notes:
This is a fixed-term position for an initial period of one year, subject to availability of funds and budgetary approval. The position is open to nationals of Uruguay only, and candidates residing outside Uruguay may be considered if no suitable local candidates are identified. The United Nations 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 reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities.