ICT Senior Assistant (Data Science Assistant)

Contract

This is a LICA-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA-5 contracts.

Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organizations.

New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP). It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

This position is located in UN Global Pulse, the EOSG initiative that provides cross-pillar leadership on digital innovation and experimentation (overseen by the EOSG’s Strategic Planning Unit). UN Global Pulse works with the UNOCC, the inter-agency UN Operations and Crisis Centre (UNOCC) also overseen by the EOSG’s Strategic Planning Unit, to strengthen data management and analytics capabilities in support of cross-pillar situational awareness and decision-making. In this context, the Data Science Assistant works under supervision of the Deputy Director (UN Global Pulse) and the Risk Analytics & Data Manager (UNOCC) to deliver sprint support on data infrastructure and analytics products. This is a position in UNOPS for supporting projects carried out for or in the United Nations Secretariat. The incumbent of this position will be a personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

Functional Responsibilities

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the overall supervision of UNOPS Senior Programme Manager, the incumbent will directly work under designated officer and will be responsible for:

• Assist the data manager and analysts in developing and improving standard templates and workflows related to cross-pillar and integrated data analytics;
• Assist in survey data management by pre-processing, aggregating, transforming data to ensure quality, fitness and integration;
• Assist in research, design and implementation of statistical methods for survey data analytics such as bias, hypothesis, correlation, and trend testing;
• Assist in building BI models and dashboards to summarize cross-sectional and longitudinal survey analytics;
• Assist in testing and implementation of Azure AI and Machine Learning tools for advanced data preparation, experimentation, and feature extraction;
• Assist in developing documentation and training materials;
• Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The result of work of the Data Science Assistant impacts directly on delivery of services that satisfy the requirements of UN Global Pulse, as well as the performance of the support provides to UNOCC/EOSG. Global Pulse will ensure proper processes and methodologies are followed and implemented according to the latest of the industry standards. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring activities for all global locations are in line with the overall business targets and UN policies, rules and regulations

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) or technical/professional diploma preferably in Applied Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Computer Science, Information Systems / Technology, Engineering or related field is an asset or advantage.

b. Work Experience

Required

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of Information and Communications Technologies, Engineering or other related fields is required. A candidate with a Bachelor’s degree must have at least one (1) year of experience in the relevant area. A candidate who has a technical /professional diploma must have at least three (3) years of experience in the relevant area;
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience in quantitative research, applied statistics or numerical modeling;
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience assisting with the implementation and maintenance of analytical solutions using cloud-based tools or cloud-deployable languages such as Python or Scala or Spark

Desirable

• Experience with Machine Learning Python client libraries and statistical packages;
• Experience in performing machine learning tasks with the Spark scalable MLlib and Spark ML packages on an Azure HDInsight Spark cluster.
• Experience with Power BI, DAX, advanced Excel Formulas and Power Query;
• Experience with the following Office365 tools: Flow, Forms, PowerApps and SharePoint;

• Should have a good data intuition – be good at identifying data logistics, characteristics, quality and patterns;

• Ability to build BI workflows and dashboards to visualize key metrics and data summaries;
• Ability to synthesize and present complex data in a simple, compelling, meaningful way;

• Ability to take initiative, assess priorities, handle multiple assignments, and meet deadlines;

Language:

• English and French are the working languages of the UN.
• For this job opening, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required;
• Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)

Contract level: International Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA 5- ICSC 5) Contract duration: Open-ended subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and/or to satisfactory performance

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information - Sustainable Development Cluster

Based in New York, the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations.

The SDC’s services include grants management, development and special initiatives support, and technology support to the UN and UN agencies.

The SDC is part of the New York Service Cluster that supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.