UN 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 pivotal role in this system, supporting countries in their development priorities. The UN Country Team (UNCT) in Ukraine consists of 23 UN entities and approximately 2,300 personnel, operating in a complex environment that includes humanitarian response, recovery, and development. The UN Cooperation Framework for 2025-2029 outlines the strategic priorities for development cooperation in Ukraine, with a resource envelope exceeding US$4 billion. The RCO in Ukraine is larger than typical, with several senior advisers and specialized capacities to support the Resident Coordinator and UNCT across various sectors, including recovery, economics, and partnerships. The RCO is essential in translating the Cooperation Framework into coherent action and connecting development efforts with humanitarian and reform contexts.

Job Overview:
The UN Data Specialist will provide strategic and technical leadership to enhance the UNCT's use of data, evidence, and results-based management. This role involves transforming dispersed data into actionable analysis that informs UNCT priorities and programming. The Data Specialist will support Results Groups in planning, monitoring, and reporting, and will chair the UNCT Data and Monitoring and Evaluation Group, fostering collaboration among UN entities. The position will also strengthen connections between UN data and national statistical systems, ensuring that planning and reporting are evidence-based and aligned with national priorities. Key responsibilities include monitoring and evaluating the Cooperation Framework, managing data, conducting analytics, and developing data products and visualizations. The role is critical in ensuring that the UNCT's efforts are informed by robust data and evidence, ultimately contributing to the achievement of the SDGs in Ukraine.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for developing and implementing databases, data collection systems, and data analytics strategies to optimize statistical efficiency and quality. They will identify and analyze trends using statistical methods, develop monitoring and evaluation products for UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, and keep abreast of UN efforts in co-designing digital tools with national statistical partners. The Data Specialist will create reports and dashboards to summarize findings, document methodologies, and establish standards for data practices. They will lead the production of data products, draft inputs for various documents, and collaborate with other parts of the organization to express data needs. Additionally, the role involves integrating monitoring milestones into common data pipelines, supporting statistical capacity-building, and conducting training on data analytics and results-based management. The Data Specialist will supervise colleagues in data-centric roles and ensure effective project execution while collaborating on the monitoring and evaluation cycle with national counterparts.

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. 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 and skills in translating business requirements into technical solutions, database management, and quality assurance of data analysis outputs. Skills in data storytelling and visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, and Qlik are also desirable, along with project management skills.

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 five (5) years of progressively responsible experience demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions is required. Candidates must have demonstrated knowledge in database management, the ability to perform quality assurance of data analysis outputs, and the skill to communicate complex technical matters to diverse audiences. Experience in data storytelling and visualization tools is desirable, as well as skills in programme/project management.

Languages:
English and Ukrainian are required for this position, with both languages needing to meet UN Level III proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. 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 (1) year, with no expectation of renewal. The appointment is subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval, or extension of the mandate. The position is open to nationals of Ukraine only, and candidates must have national experience or knowledge of the national language, culture, institutions, and systems. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving gender balance and diversity in its staff.