Associate Data Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945, currently comprising 193 member states. Its mission is to maintain international peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, promote sustainable development, uphold human rights, and foster social and economic progress. The UN operates in various countries around the world, with a focus on addressing global challenges through collaboration and partnership. The UN Development System, which includes the UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), was reformed in 2019 to enhance its effectiveness in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Job Overview:
The Associate Data Specialist position is integral to the UN Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in La Paz, Bolivia. This role involves collaborating with development counterparts and technical staff to implement databases, data collection systems, and data analytics that enhance statistical efficiency and quality. The incumbent will engage with various stakeholders, including UN funds, programs, specialized agencies, consultants, and NGOs, to facilitate data access and information exchange. The position emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making and requires the ability to analyze trends, develop reports, and contribute to data visualization efforts. The Associate Data Specialist will also play a key role in building the capacity of staff in data analytics through training and workshops.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Associate Data Specialist include:

• Implementing databases, data collection systems, and data analytics strategies to optimize statistical efficiency and quality.
• Analyzing and interpreting trends or patterns using statistical methods to identify relevant features in structured data sources.
• Improving processes for data analytics tasks, including data acquisition and cleaning from primary or secondary sources.
• Developing reports, dashboards, and tools to summarize findings and convey information to management.
• Tracking and reporting on progress regarding department-specific data initiatives.
• Creating basic data visualization outputs to support decision-making and communication of analysis results.
• Assisting with data collection, initial analysis, and reporting unresolved issues to senior staff.
• Producing data products like reports or newsletters related to data analysis activities.
• Gathering business requirements across departments to identify pain points and support data-driven analysis. 1
• Compiling data insights and developing materials for stakeholder communications. 1
• Staying updated on emerging trends and developments in data analytics best practices and technologies. 1
• Supporting data preparation and preliminary analysis for model assessments. 1
• Contributing to capacity-building activities for staff on data analytics, including training sessions. 1
• Assisting in administrative aspects of the work plan and routine reporting tasks.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in fields such as computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, information management, or a related quantitative field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) combined with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate a strong understanding of data analytics and its application in sustainable development contexts.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, information management, or information systems. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) may be considered if accompanied by relevant experience.

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 quality assurance of data analysis outputs and assessing data accuracy and consistency through validation processes. Familiarity with data storytelling and visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, Qlik, and R is desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Spanish 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 Bolivia only, and candidates must be recruited within the country or commuting distance of the office. If no suitable local candidates are identified, Bolivian nationals residing elsewhere may be considered, with the candidate responsible for travel and relocation costs. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs, with a focus on creating a diverse and inclusive environment.