Evaluation Officer

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Evaluation Officer
Location: New York City
Country: United States
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located within the Inspection and Evaluation Division (IED) of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) at the United Nations. OIOS serves as the internal oversight body of the UN, assisting the Secretary-General in fulfilling oversight responsibilities regarding the resources and staff of the Organization. The IED focuses on conducting independent inspections and evaluations to help intergovernmental bodies and program managers assess the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of Secretariat programs. The division aims to assure accountability for Secretariat programs while fostering institutional learning and improvement through reflection on performance and results. The UN is committed to maintaining high standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, and operates in various countries worldwide, employing a diverse workforce.

Job Overview:
The Evaluation Officer will play a crucial role in contributing to evaluations of United Nations Secretariat programs. This includes scoping, planning, designing, collecting and analyzing data, and drafting reports for evaluation and inspection assignments. The officer will be responsible for researching and analyzing data from diverse sources, developing evaluation designs, and leading the drafting of evaluation inception papers and terms of reference. The role also involves participating in field missions, guiding evaluation team members, and drafting mission summaries. The Evaluation Officer will ensure that evaluations meet quality standards and contribute to the drafting of evaluation reports, incorporating client feedback. Additionally, the officer will support budget-related activities and assist with management and administrative tasks, including recruitment and follow-up on evaluation assignments. The position requires establishing and maintaining frequent interactions with various stakeholders, including senior officers, program managers, and representatives from national governments and international organizations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Evaluation Officer will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including: contributing to evaluations through scoping, planning, designing, data collection, analysis, and report drafting; researching and analyzing data from diverse sources; developing evaluation designs and drafting inception papers; leading data collection efforts using qualitative and quantitative methods; drafting evaluation reports and incorporating client comments; participating in evaluation briefings; ensuring quality standards for evaluations; providing substantive backstopping to the Director and Chief of Section; assisting with budget preparation and financial statements; supporting management and administrative tasks; tracking evaluation recommendations; participating in divisional work groups; conducting training workshops; and providing support for meetings and conferences. The officer will also collect and analyze data to identify trends and provide insights through data visualization methods.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong understanding of theories, concepts, methodologies, and approaches relevant to program and project evaluation. They should have excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to collect and analyze data to identify trends. The officer must demonstrate good judgment, planning skills, and the ability to manage conflicting priorities. Knowledge of management principles, policy analysis, and the peacekeeping and peacebuilding arena is essential. The candidate should also exhibit professionalism, teamwork, and creativity in their approach to work, actively seeking to improve programs and services.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Law, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Programme Evaluation, International Affairs, Economics, International Development, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Successful completion of degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics, or data science is an advantage.

Experience:
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the evaluation of projects and programs is required. Candidates should have experience in using qualitative and quantitative evaluation methodologies. Experience working in an international organization is desirable, as is two or more years of experience in data analytics or a related area.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another official language of the United Nations, such as French, is desirable.

Additional Notes:
This position is financed by the Support Account for Peacekeeping Operations and is initially for a period of one year, subject to budgetary approval and availability of funds. Candidates recruited through the Young Professionals Programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in their initial assignment are not eligible to apply. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages female candidates to apply. Staff members are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.