Senior Data Science Assistant

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Position Title: Senior Data Science Assistant
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 hub for expertise and knowledge, and an information observatory. ESCWA's activities are coordinated with various UN divisions, specialized agencies, and international organizations, including the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council. The organization is committed to fostering sustainable development outcomes regionally and globally through its initiatives and programs.

Job Overview:
The Senior Data Science Assistant will be part of the Data Science and Decision-Support Division (DSDSD) within ESCWA, which is focused on modernization and innovation efforts. This role involves providing advanced analytics and decision-support services to ESCWA, other UN entities, and Member States. The incumbent will work closely with the Computational Economics Team, contributing to data integration, management, quality assurance, and the development of machine learning and artificial intelligence solutions. The position is aligned with the UN 2.0 agenda, leveraging data-driven insights and scenario-based planning to inform policymaking and operations. The Senior Data Science Assistant will be expected to respond to data requests, maintain relationships with clients, design data science products, and provide training and visualization products to clients, thereby empowering evidence-based decision-making and fostering organizational efficiency.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Data Science Assistant will have a range of responsibilities, including: responding to requests for data exploration and acquisition, leading team members in preparing inputs for these requests, maintaining working relationships with key clients to leverage data science methods, providing input for the design and development of data science products, conducting client training, preparing customized visualization and presentation products, guiding and supervising other staff, and performing additional duties as assigned. The role requires a proactive approach to identifying data sources and ensuring their suitability for decision-making processes, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with clients and stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a high school diploma or equivalent, with a first-level university degree in a relevant field such as computer science, data science, statistics, or applied mathematics being desirable. The role requires a strong understanding of data science tools, statistical programming languages, and visualization techniques. Candidates should demonstrate professionalism, teamwork, and effective planning and organizing skills, with a commitment to gender equality and diversity in the workplace.

Educational Background:
A high school diploma is required, while a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in fields such as computer science, software engineering, data science, statistics, applied mathematics, or information systems is desirable. This educational background is essential for understanding the technical aspects of data science and analytics.

Experience:
A minimum of ten years of experience in data science, data analytics, applied mathematics, or related fields is required. This experience can be reduced to eight years for candidates with a first-level university degree or higher. Additionally, candidates should have at least three years of experience using programming languages such as Python or R, two years of experience in data mining and predictive analytics, and one year of experience with data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, with French being a working language of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of Arabic is also beneficial, as it is a working language at ESCWA. Fluency is defined as being rated 'fluent' in all four areas: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding, while knowledge is rated as '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 various factors such as budgetary approval and continued need for services. The position is subject to local recruitment, meaning applicants must be authorized to work in Lebanon. Candidates are responsible for all costs related to travel and relocation, and the United Nations does not charge any fees during the recruitment process. The organization is committed to achieving gender balance and diversity in its workforce, encouraging female candidates to apply.