Senior Statistician, P4 (Temporary parental leave replacement)

Introduction

The ILO has a short-term opportunity for the temporary replacement of a staff member taking a period of 26 weeks of parental leave. The position is located in the Department of Statistics, within the Statistical Standards and Methods Unit (SSMU). The main duties and responsibilities are as set out below. The opportunity is time bound and there is no expectation of extension beyond the period of the parental leave. 

This short-term position is located in the ILO Department of Statistics (STATISTICS), within the Statistical Standards and Methods Unit (SSMU). STATISTICS supports the development of international statistical standards in the field of decent work through the International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS), the UN Statistical Commission, and other international fora. It provides ILO constituents with technical assistance to improve their ability to produce primary survey data, in accordance with agreed international statistical standards, classifications and concepts (primarily, though not solely though national labour force surveys (LFS)). It is also responsible for building capacities of ILO constituents, for compiling and disseminating ILO statistics related to the world of work, and for reporting on the global indicators to monitor Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

LFS are the primary source of official national statistics on the labour force. LFS support the production of headline labour market indicators and longer-term trends in the composition of the labour market, the workforce, working conditions, and the job-search activities of the unemployed. As such, LFS are an essential input for national planning and monitoring. 

In 2013, new international statistical standards extended the remit of national LFS to include measurement of own use provision of services (OPS), also termed unpaid domestic and care work (UDCW) alongside other forms of work. This is a challenging measurement domain, and, at the request of constituents, the Statistical Standards and Methods Unit of the ILO’s Department of Statistics has developed simplified time use (TU) modules for attachment to national LFS in low- and middle-income countries to support the production of official statistics on OPS. 

With the support of a dedicated development cooperation project, these newly available modules are being implemented at national scale in a number of countries throughout 2024 and 2025, with technical assistance and back-stopping provided by SSMU to support countries in all stages of planning, implementation, analysis, and dissemination. The principal duties for the short-term position relate to supporting this work.

Description of Duties

Technical assistance and capacity building

In collaboration with other members of the Statistical Standards and Methods unit and aligning to ILO published guidance on the modular measurement of OPS work:

•    Provide training and direct technical assistance to national statistical offices to support planning and implementation of OPS measurement in national LFS using ILO add-on light-diary time use modules, including analysis and the production of statistical indicators in line with ILO published guidance.

•    Oversee / manage the implementation of in-country implementation of the OPS modules through the provision of timely technical inputs, planning and control in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines. 

•    Deliver presentations as part of training courses, workshops, and seminars on the measurement of OPS work, using existing ILO training materials and resources. 

Project management

•    Manage the ongoing technical co-operation projects to support the work of the unit in the area of own-use provision of services work measurement through LFS, including budget management, liaison with donors, monitoring of progress against project deliverables, and donor reporting. 

Advocacy, networking, and partnerships

•    Support the dissemination and promotion of ILO guidance and tools to a wide audience to promote national level implementation.

•    Liaise with other international organisations and stakeholder agencies to promote coordination of activities on the topic of OPS measurement.

•    Act as focal point for the Department of Statistics on issues related to care work measurement, collaborating with other Departments and units. Contribute to reports and guidance on the topic as required. 

•    Undertake other relevant duties, as assigned. 

Education

Advanced university degree with relevant experience in statistics.

Experience

Seven or more years of experience in the design, implementation, and statistical analysis of time-use surveys (diary format). Experience in the implementation of  national labour force surveys or similar nationally representative household sample surveys. Professional experience working at the international level. Experience of managing large-scale projects in low- and middle-income countries. Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures, including experience working with officials of national statistical organisations and ministries would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English is essential. One additional official language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian) would be an advantage.

Other technical skills

Knowledge of and experience using computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) software applications, preferably CS Pro. Experience with survey design for representative time-use surveys, applied knowledge of sampling methods in household surveys. Expertise in quantitative analysis of time-use data (diary format) and sample surveys with complex designs; experience with statistical packages, preferably STATA and/or R. 

Competencies

• Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by
• maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost, and quality standards.
• Demonstrated capacity to provide relevant and effective technical advice on the topics specified.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners.