DATA SPECIALIST, NOC

Overview

Develop and implement databases, data collection systems, data analytics, and other strategies to optimize statistical efficiency and quality. Analyze trends and patterns to identify relevant features and variables from information and data sources.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement databases, data collection systems, data analytics and other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and quality.
• Identify, analyze, and interpret trends or patterns, using statistical methods to identify relevant features and variables in structured and unstructured sources of information and data.
• Develop and implement various analysis, reporting and quality control capabilities; identify appropriate data sources for analytics projects; locate and define new data analysis process improvement opportunities.
• Support the development of monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) products for UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, leveraging UN organizations’ systems, UN-approved indicators, UN INFO, Power BI and other approved tools.
• Keep abreast of UN efforts in co-design (with the national statistical partners) digital tools and dashboards that track progress against the national SDG indicator framework, ensuring interoperability between the national gateway, and other official platforms (using SDMX standard where appropriate)
• Develop reports, dashboards or other tools to effectively summarize findings and convey information to management.
• Document requirements, background information and methodology and establish documentation practices and standards for other staff to follow.
• Create interactive and static data visualizations and employ advanced features of data visualization tools to aid decision-making and communications of analysis outputs.
• Lead the production of data products, including the annual United Nations Country Results Report, using validated programme, results and financial data from UN INFO and other official sources.
• Draft inputs for a wide range of documents and reports, including annual UNCT results reporting, briefings, debriefings and correspondence, drawing on quality-assured data and analysis.
• Establish communication and cooperation with other parts of the organization to request data and express data needs.
• Provide support to integrate monitoring milestones, indicators and evidence streams into common data pipelines, ensuring alignment with the Cooperation Framework and Funding Compact, and coordinate the timely, complete and accurate entry and quality assurance of UNCT data in UN INFO
• Support UNCT statistical capacity-building by mapping and sequencing agency-specific technical assistance in line with Cooperation Framework, broker pooled funding opportunities for National Statistical System (NSS) priorities, and support convenings of data-partners between government, donors and civil society
• Collaborate with data engineers and data scientists to improve data flows, data quality, etc.
• Keep abreast of the current and emerging trends and developments in data analytics best practices, technologies and tools, and update management with findings and suggestions.
• Conduct outcome-level analysis and contribution/attribution studies using mixed-methods to inform UN reporting and UN-commissioned evaluations
• Identify gaps in the NSS using relevant statistical capacity monitoring tools and recommend coordinated UN responses, highlighting opportunities to leverage big-data pilots, citizen-generated data, or geospatial solutions
• Support the assessment of model evaluation using appropriate validation metrics to ensure the model is comprehensive and supports the organizational objectives.
• Conduct activities aimed at building capacity of staff on data analytics, including trainings for staff members and other personnel.
• Deliver training on results-based management, evaluation techniques and use of monitoring, evaluation and learning for staff members and government partners
• Contribute to the provision of 'data clinics' on relevant topics, including gender-responsive statistics, new census methodologies, drawing on UN expertise and global curricula from the statistical community
• Deliver trainings and workshops on data analytics tailored to different audiences as appropriate.
• Support projects execution by conducting robust data analysis and collaborate with other team members to ensure that projects adhere to work plan objectives.
• Supervise and guide other colleagues in the data-centric roles.
• Execute and oversee specific projects and activities, ensuring effective use of resources and alignment with planned objectives.
• Collaborate on the end-to-end monitoring, evaluation and learning cycle by working with the MEL group and national counterparts—so that planning, data collection, synthesis, validation and learning loops reinforce monitoring and support national statistical processes and standards
• Utilize acquired resources to build analysis, reporting and quality control.
• Support the development of materials for external and internal audits through data preparation, compliance tracking, and report generation.
• Perform other related tasks as assigned

Required Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience demonstrating the knowledge of foundational concepts in data manipulation and data analysis such as data structures, statistical methods is required. Demonstrated knowledge of data life cycle including data collection, data wrangling, analysis, visualization, deployment, monitoring, and reporting is required. Demonstrated skills in data storytelling and data visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, Qlik, and R is required. Experience in the administration and use of UN INFO, or a comparable results-monitoring and reporting platform, is desirable. Experience in consolidating and analysing multi-entity programme, results and financial data for the preparation of annual results reports is desirable.

Qualifications

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, economic or social sciences, or a related field. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

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