Metadata Management Associate

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Staff in the General Service category are recruited locally from the Primary Location area, which is where the office is located.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO’s values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

The Statistics Division (ESS) develops and advocates for the implementation of methodologies and standards for data collection, validation, processing and analysis of food and agriculture statistics. In these statistical domains, it also plays a vital role in the compilation, processing and dissemination of internationally comparable data and provides essential capacity building support to Member Nations. In addition, the Division disseminates many publications working papers and statistical yearbooks, that cover agricultural and food security relevant statistics (including prices, investments, production, trade and agri-environmental statistical data).

The post is located in the Statistics Division, ESS at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Main Purpose

The Metadata Management Associate plays a lead role in the coordination of statistical metadata and research support functions. He/she performs a broad range of technical, procedural and analytical support, ensuring quality, validity and consistency of metadata and classifications produced and utilized in the corporate statistical system. The job requires in-depth knowledge and interpretation of metadata standards and relevant procedures and practices. The incumbent provides procedural guidance to staff in the Division.

Supervision Received/Exercised

The Metadata Management Associate reports to a Senior Professional Officer. Work is performed autonomously, showing a high degree of initiative and independent, analytical judgment. Supervision received is focused on facilitating service delivery and on integrating methods and processes. The incumbent provides guidance and training to statistical support staff in the Organization.

Working Relationships

The incumbent maintains an extensive range of contacts both within the Organization and with external partners, counterparts, managers and Decentralized Offices, providing the entire range of metadata management support functions. Matters are often complex, requiring proficient handling of data and information.

Key Functions/Results

• Prepare and maintain complex statistical metadata and classifications.
• Support research on methodologies for improving metadata and statistical standards; assist in preparation of standard concepts, definitions, and classifications.
• Implement statistical standards with focus on standardized concepts, definitions and classifications in the corporate Master Data Management system for storage, versioning and dissemination purposes; coordinate the maintenance of definitions and classifications in the Master Data Management system.
• Participate in the design of a metadata governance mechanism; plan and supervise the collection and processing of statistical metadata from international and national sources; validate the linked open data version of statistical classifications, code lists and metadata for dissemination in the Linked Open Data dissemination platform.
• Carry out internal consultations with the relevant technical units to review and validate code lists, classifications, metadata, and related statistical standards.
• Provide technical and procedural guidance and training to FAO statistical data owners on the implementation of classifications, code lists, metadata and related statistical standards.
• Draft correspondence to Member Nations, UN agencies and other institutions regarding metadata, classifications and statistical information; draft text for reports on specialized matters; evaluate, verify and edit classifications, code lists and tables, for annual and periodic publications and internal or international meetings.
• Review and recommend changes to operating procedures and systems.
• Perform other duties as required.

Impact of Work

The incumbent’s work impacts directly on the quality of the output of the work unit and reflects on constituent units. He/she plays a lead role in the coordination and provision of the metadata management support services for the successful achievement of the Division’s mandate.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Education: Secondary School Education.
Experience: Five years of relevant experience in statistical and metadata management support.
Languages: Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of one of the other FAO official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
IT Skills: Very good knowledge of standard MS Office applications, Excel, Internet and office technology equipment.

Residency: General Service Staff are recruited locally. To be eligible for this position, candidates must be nationals of the country of the duty station or possess an existing visa/work permit and reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of the application. “Commuting distance” means the distance within which staff members can travel daily between their place of work and their residence.

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical Skills

• Thorough knowledge of metadata standards, international classifications, metadata modelling and governance of metadata.
• Thorough knowledge of contemporary software used in statistics and approaches to manage metadata (i.e. SMDX, Linked Open Data).
• Thorough knowledge of relevant corporate computerized systems, policies and procedures.

Desirable Qualifications And Skills

• Very good knowledge of the corporate structure.
• Very good knowledge of the corporate statistical governance mechanisms.
• Very good knowledge of the international statistical classifications.

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FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO,

Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

• The length of the appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to extension of appointments

• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
• General Service Staff are recruited locally. To be eligible for this position, candidates must be nationals of the country of the duty station or possess an existing visa/work permit, and reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of the application.”Commuting distance” means the distance within which staff members can travel daily between their place of work and their residence.
• No international benefits will be payable as selected candidates are recruited locally and paid in the local currency of the office location
• For additional information visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/

REMUNERATION
A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link:
https://onehr.un.org/salary-survey/#/salary_scale

HOW TO APPLY
• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. Once completed, please apply and submit your application, with language certificates as attachments. Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications. FAO reserves the right to request candidates to undertake a language test in the future, as appropriate
• Incomplete applications will not be considered

• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the recruitment portal will be considered

• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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