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 promote peace, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and cooperation among nations. The UN Development System has undergone significant reforms since January 1, 2019, aimed at enhancing 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, with the Resident Coordinator serving as the highest-ranking UN official at the country level. The UN RCO in Bridgetown, Barbados, oversees the UN Sub-regional Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, which includes seven Eastern Caribbean countries and three British Overseas Territories. The organization emphasizes collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and the integration of sustainable development principles into its operations.

Job Overview:
The Data Specialist position is a fixed-term role based in the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) in Bridgetown, Barbados. The primary function of this role is to develop and implement databases, data collection systems, and data analytics that enhance statistical efficiency and quality. The Data Specialist will work closely with various stakeholders, including UN funds, programs, and specialized agencies, to facilitate data exchange and best practices. This position requires a strong understanding of data engineering and data science, as well as the ability to analyze trends and patterns in both structured and unstructured data. The Data Specialist will also be responsible for creating reports, dashboards, and data visualizations to effectively communicate findings to management and support decision-making processes. Additionally, the role involves leading data product production, documenting methodologies, and providing training to staff on data analytics.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement databases, data collection systems, and data analytics strategies to optimize statistical efficiency and quality.
• Analyze and interpret trends or patterns in data using statistical methods.
• Create reports, dashboards, and tools to summarize findings and convey information to management.
• Document requirements and establish standards for data documentation.
• Create interactive and static data visualizations to aid decision-making.
• Lead the production of data products such as reports and newsletters.
• Draft inputs for various documents and reports.
• Collaborate with other organizational units to request data and express data needs.
• Work with data engineers and scientists to improve data flows and quality. 1
• Support inter-agency efforts on monitoring and reporting. 1
• Stay updated on trends in data analytics best practices and technologies. 1
• Conduct capacity-building activities and training for staff on data analytics. 1
• Deliver tailored workshops on data analytics for different audiences.

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 related areas. 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 manipulation and analysis concepts, as well as experience in project management and quality assurance of data analysis outputs.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in computer science, data science, analytics, statistics, applied mathematics, information management, data management, information systems, information science, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) may be accepted in combination with qualifying experience.

Experience:
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in data manipulation and analysis is required. Candidates should have demonstrated knowledge of the data life cycle, including data collection, wrangling, analysis, visualization, deployment, monitoring, and reporting. Experience in project management and quality assurance of data analysis outputs is also desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as French, is considered an advantage. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas: reading, writing, speaking, and understanding, while 'knowledge of' indicates a rating of '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 Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean only, and applicants must have the right to live and work in Barbados. The UN Secretariat is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. The recruitment process is free of charge, and the UN does not request any fees from applicants.