Data Scientist

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Position Title: scientist" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Data Scientist
Location: Beirut
Country: Lebanon
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is a part of the United Nations Secretariat and operates under the supervision of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Established to serve 21 Arab countries in Western Asia and North Africa, ESCWA aims to provide a framework for the formulation and harmonization of sectoral policies among its member states. It acts as a platform for congress and coordination, a repository of expertise and knowledge, and an observatory for information. ESCWA's activities are coordinated with various divisions and main offices of the United Nations Headquarters, as well as specialized agencies and international organizations, including the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council. The organization is focused on modernization and innovation efforts, particularly through its Data Science and Decision-Support Division (DSDSD), which provides advanced analytics and decision-support services to ESCWA, other UN entities, and Member States. The DSDSD is aligned with the UN 2.0 agenda and employs data-driven insights and emerging technologies to inform policymaking and operations, ultimately supporting sustainable development outcomes regionally and globally.

Job Overview:
The Data Scientist position is situated within the Decision Engineering and Analytical Insights Unit of ESCWA's Data Science and Decision-Support Division. The role involves leveraging data science techniques to enhance decision-making processes and provide actionable insights to business stakeholders. The Data Scientist will be responsible for evaluating new and existing data sources for their effectiveness and accuracy, designing predictive data science products, and collaborating with technology stakeholders to develop and deploy these products. The position also entails promoting the use of data science solutions, developing tools for validating the effectiveness of these products, and contributing to the organization's planning efforts by identifying potential threats and opportunities. The Data Scientist will engage in complex research and analyses, coordinate with various functional teams, and contribute to capacity-building initiatives through training sessions and workshops on data analysis and visualization.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Data Scientist will undertake a variety of responsibilities, including: studying, exploring, and evaluating data sources for decision-making; designing and building predictive data science products such as visualizations and AI/ML algorithms; liaising with technology stakeholders for infrastructure and software access; promoting data science solutions to business stakeholders; developing tools to validate the effectiveness of data science products; engaging in complex research and analyses; contributing to organizational planning; coordinating with functional teams to implement models; developing processes to monitor model performance; and contributing to capacity-building efforts through training and workshops.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong knowledge of the data analysis life cycle, including data ingestion, wrangling, analysis, and visualization. They should demonstrate excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, the ability to build new products, and the capability to communicate complex data science topics effectively. Candidates should also exhibit professionalism, communication skills, teamwork, and leadership qualities, including the ability to empower others and drive change.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in data science, computer science, information management, statistics, mathematics, public administration, public information, management, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields, combined with two additional years of relevant work experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in data science, data analytics, applied mathematics, information management, or a related area is required. Candidates must have at least four years of experience with advanced data science techniques, including data mining, machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive modeling. Additionally, a minimum of three years of experience with data science tools such as Jupyter, Matlab, SPSS, SAS, or similar programming languages is required. Experience working with Big Data environments, such as Hadoop/MapReduce, is desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, with English and French being the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of Arabic is also beneficial, as it is a working language at ESCWA. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding, while 'knowledge of' indicates a rating of 'confident' in two of the four areas.

Additional Notes:
This position is available for one year from the date of appointment, with the possibility of extension subject to the availability of the post, budgetary approval, and satisfactory performance. The United Nations emphasizes the importance of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity in its recruitment process, and encourages applications from diverse backgrounds. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. The organization is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and may be assigned to various functions in accordance with established rules.