Associate Data Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development System was reformed 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 crucial role in supporting countries to meet their development priorities and the SDGs. The UN RCO is led by an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator, who is the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System at the country level. The organization aims to foster collaboration among various UN entities, NGOs, and other stakeholders to optimize development outcomes.

Job Overview:
The Associate Data Specialist is responsible for engaging with various stakeholders, including counterparts, officers, and technical staff, to develop and implement databases, data collection systems, and data analytics that enhance statistical efficiency and quality. This role involves collaboration with external partners, including UN funds, programs, and specialized agencies, to share information and best practices. The position is located within the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Skopje, North Macedonia, and reports to the Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader. The Associate Data Specialist will play a pivotal role in ensuring that data initiatives align with the UN's strategic goals and contribute to the overall mission of the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for implementing databases, data collection systems, and data analytics strategies to optimize statistical efficiency and quality. Key responsibilities include keeping the UNINFO dashboard updated, conducting annual surveys, analyzing trends and patterns in data, and developing reports and dashboards to summarize findings. The role also involves tracking progress on department-specific data initiatives, leading the drafting of the UN Annual result report, and monitoring the Cooperation Framework Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Strategy. The Associate Data Specialist will create data visualization outputs, assist with data collection and analysis, and support team members in data verification and routine reporting tasks. Additionally, the incumbent will contribute to training staff on data analytics and keep abreast of emerging trends in data analytics best practices.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong understanding of sustainable development theories and concepts, as well as the ability to identify and develop sources for data collection. The role requires proficiency in research, data analysis, and report writing on sustainable development issues. The incumbent should demonstrate professional competence, efficiency in meeting commitments, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. A commitment to gender perspectives and equal participation in all areas of work is essential. The candidate should also exhibit strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to set clear goals and adjust priorities as needed.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in fields such as computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, information management, data management, information systems, monitoring and evaluation, political science, or a related quantitative field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) combined with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience is required, demonstrating the ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions. Candidates should have experience in database management, data extraction, transformation, and loading from various sources. Knowledge of quality assurance processes for data analysis outputs and the ability to assess data accuracy and consistency through validation are desirable. Familiarity with data storytelling and visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, Qlik, R, and AI tools is also advantageous.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Macedonian is required for this position, as these are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered an advantage. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas (reading, writing, speaking, understanding), while knowledge is rated as 'confident' in two of the four areas.

Additional Notes:
This is a fixed-term limited position with an initial appointment period of one year, subject to availability of funds and budgetary approval. The position is open to nationals of North Macedonia only, and candidates residing elsewhere 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. The organization emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in its workforce and provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request.