Data Engineer

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located within the Statistics Service of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). UNCTAD was established in 1964 and is a part of the United Nations Secretariat. Its mission is to promote the integration of developing countries into the world economy, with a focus on trade, investment, and sustainable development. UNCTAD operates in over 190 countries and employs a diverse workforce dedicated to addressing global economic challenges. The organization aims to provide technical assistance and policy advice to developing nations, helping them to achieve sustainable economic growth and development.

Job Overview:
The Data Engineer will play a crucial role in the Statistics Service of UNCTAD, focusing on providing technical guidance and tools for data compilation and reporting. This position is essential for empowering national authorities in their efforts to track and curb illicit financial flows. The Data Engineer will work closely with member States’ experts to address data-related technical problems and meet their data infrastructure needs. This role requires a strong understanding of data analysis, software development, and the ability to manage a team of data scientists and analysts. The Data Engineer will also be responsible for developing roadmaps for the implementation of tools that assist analytics and data science teams in optimizing their products. The position demands a proactive approach to problem-solving and a commitment to ensuring compliance with data governance and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Data Engineer will be responsible for identifying key data extraction, transformation, and reporting needs, and developing tools and software solutions to measure illicit financial flows. Duties include supervising the development of databases, web publishing tools, and software for the collection, storage, and distribution of statistical data. The Data Engineer will manage a section of data scientists and analysts, ensuring they understand data features and test use-cases in analytical environments. Collaboration with stakeholders is essential, providing advice on data sources, analytics, and information systems while ensuring compliance with data governance and privacy requirements. The Data Engineer will also perform other duties as assigned, contributing to the overall mission of the Statistics Service.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong knowledge of the data analysis life cycle, from collection and compilation to analysis and visualization. Familiarity with best practices in IT operations and challenges in tracking illicit financial flows is essential. The ideal candidate will have strong analytic skills, particularly in working with unstructured datasets, and the ability to manage and communicate data warehouse plans effectively. Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills are required, along with a process-oriented mindset and great documentation skills. The candidate should be able to convey complex data science topics in a relatable manner and demonstrate a commitment to gender perspectives in their work.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in computer science, statistics, economics, applied mathematics, data management, information systems, information science, or a related quantitative field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in official statistics and data management is required. Candidates should have experience in data integration, modeling, and optimization, as well as working in cross-functional teams and collaborating with member States on analytics initiatives. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, SAS, or R is essential, along with experience in database programming languages like SQL. Experience in designing data collection and integration architectures for official statistics is also required. Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques for data mining is desirable, as is experience in providing training and technical guidance to enhance developing countries’ capacity to use statistical information systems.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of French is desirable, and knowledge of another UN official language is also considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year, with the possibility of renewal subject to the availability of the post or funds. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance in its staff and encourages female candidates to apply. The organization values diversity and inclusivity, ensuring that all employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs. Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities may be provided upon request to support participation in the recruitment process. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.