Senior Data Science Assistant

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Enabling Unit of the Enabling and Outreach Service (EOS), Office of Supply Chain Management (OSCM) within the Department of Operational Support (DOS). The Department of Operational Support was established to provide end-to-end operational support, advisory services, and other solutions to operating entities across the Secretariat, including other departments, Offices Away from Headquarters, field missions, and Regional Commissions. The Office of Supply Chain Management includes the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for Supply Chain Management, the Logistics Division, the Procurement Division, the Uniformed Capabilities Support Division, Global Service Centre, Aviation Safety Section and the Enabling and Outreach Service. The EOS provides supply chain enabling services through developing performance management metrics, reporting, operational guidance, as well as ensuring operational sustainment and continuous improvements for Umoja supply chain management system functionalities for the United Nations (UN) Secretariat globally. Under the overall supervision of the Chief of EOS, the incumbent reports to the team lead of the Enabling Unit.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the Senior Data Science Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: • Responds to requests for exploration, identification, and acquisition of data sources to determine their suitability for use in decision making and advancing the goals of the organization. Leads other team members to prepare input to address requests. • Maintains a working relationship with key clients to leverage the use of data science methods to support their programmatic areas through solutions built by the team and by establishing communication channels through meetings, email and other means. • Provides input in the design and development of data science products to reveal insights, and provides an understanding or knowledge of the data that would otherwise not be detected without the application of analytical methods such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, data and text mining, natural language processing, statistics, and use of relevant algorithms and computational approaches. • Assists in coordinating and conducting timely collection of information on supply chain processes, performance and associated root cause analysis for underperformance which help drive business results and enable the decision-making process. Performs quality assurance checks for data accuracy, update of performance reports and dashboards to help ensure consistent quality throughout the business process. • Maintains specific information products in their area and assists more senior staff in providing information products to others. • Provides client training and develops products, tools and processes to extend the capabilities of client offices. • Prepares customized visualization and presentation products to reveal the findings of analysis for clients. • Guides, trains and supervises other general service staff in the function. • Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Ability to provide independent evaluations, analyze data and prepare reports. Ability to use internal and external data sources. Knowledge of visualization, machine learning/artificial intelligence (AI), statistical methods, data science tools, statistical programming languages and tools for large datasets. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. • Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. • Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent.

Job – Specific Qualification

Certificate in data visualization platforms such as SAP Analytics Cloud, Microsoft Power BI, or Tableau is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in data science, data analytics, applied mathematics, information management, software development, database systems or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to eight years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. • Experience with designing and building data models and dashboards using data visualization tools such as SAP Analytics Cloud or Power BI is required. • Experience working with database management systems (e.g., SQL Server) is desirable. • Experience using data science tools such as Jupyter, Knime, or equivalent to perform tasks such as predictive analytics, and using programming languages such as Python, R, or similar, is desirable. • Experience in statistical and computational methods, such as clustering, classification, correlation, dimension reduction, forecasting, and applying machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence techniques to solve real-world problems is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available as soon as possible until 30 June 2025, with the possibility of an extension. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be recorded as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary job opening may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev. • Staff members are not eligible to apply for the current temporary job opening if they are unable to serve the specified duration of temporary need before reaching the mandatory age of separation. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. • This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. • At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.