Chief Data Governance and Strategy, P-5, Data & Analytics, DAPM #111301

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.

For every child, an advocate

Data & Analytics (D&A) team is located within the Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring at UNICEF’s New York headquarters and is led by the Deputy Director / Chief Data Officer. D&A is the hub of UNICEF’s technical guidance, quality assurance and technical data architecture for programme work on data across the organization. D&A provides leadership, strategic and normative guidance and technical support to UNICEF’s work on generating data including as evidence on the situation of children by supporting the collection, analysis, understanding and use of robust data and statistics, programme data, data science, big data analytics and data literacy. This role will liaise closely with members of UNICEF’s Analytics team, which is responsible for the organization’s ongoing work in robust data collection, analysis, and use, and also with related elements of NYHQ (ICTD, Office of Innovation, Office of Global Policy, Office of Research) and Regional and Country Offices.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief Data Officer, the post holder will drive UNICEF’s support for the application of data through evidence-based policy and its transformation to a digital first and data driven institution by helping UNICEF apply the UN Data Strategy and establish local and global mechanisms of governance of data. S/he will lead efforts to strengthen UNICEF Country Office capacity in data collection and use, operationalizing the Strategic Framework on Data for Children and elevating the role of evidence across UNICEF. S/he will support strengthening of countries’ administrative data systems to ensure their accuracy and usability in policy-making; and also lead efforts to assist countries in fragile situations including those facing humanitarian crises where traditional sources of data – both surveys and administrative systems – are typically unavailable and data needs are different.

This will include:

1. Overall leadership and oversight of the work of the office, focusing on establishing the principles of the UN Data Strategy within UNICEF, especially data governance and culture
   1. Coordinate and as necessary supervise UNICEF action to support ethical and responsible collection and use of data, including data privacy and sharing
   2. Guide and support update of the UN Data Strategy through country and regional office structures and working methods to support governance of data
   3. Lead actions to build a data community, and a culture of data savvy (comfort and confidence in using data, and competence and commitment in using data) across the organization, including establishment and use of a data quality framework
   4. Lead and resource action to strengthen the use of Frontier Data across UNICEF, in close collaboration with OoI and ICTD
   5. Take action to ensure issues of data collection and use in humanitarian situations are mainstreamed into UNICEF’s work
   6. Champion an evidence-driven culture representing UNICEF at international meetings and conferences.
   7. Act as the primary liaison between UNICEF and other UN agencies and partners in all matters concerning data strategy and its implementation
2. Guide and manage technical leadership, innovation, advice and quality assurance in support of enhanced data use
   1. In close collaboration with relevant partners, especially Programme Division sections, provide technical leadership on admin data and systems (methodological work, data collection and compilation, analysis, capacity development etc.)
   2. Lead development of Frontier Data Hubs and other ways to harness the power of Frontier Data for children, through mobilization of different kinds of resources and convening across UNICEF, the UN and with the private sector.
   3. Lead processes for development of guidelines, tools, processes, and approaches to support country, regional and global data culture and capacity;
   4. Collaborate with other divisions, UN agencies, the private sector, and NGOs to develop and implement innovative ways to communicate and manage the entire process/pipeline from data collection to use.

3. Strategic partnerships and representation in data collaborations
   1. Represent UNICEF and provide its perspective in high level national, regional, global, UN, and other initiatives and events; including media briefings, as necessary
   2. Leading and promoting inter-agency monitoring and consultative processes;
   3. Initiating opportunities for South to South collaboration
   4. Lead on resource mobilization for this growing area of UNICEF work
   5. Strategic formulation of projects that enhance the ability of internal and external partners to implement good practices in the communication and management of indicator data on children and women (SDGs, data visualization).
   6. Champion data savvy/good data practices in partners to create a culture of evidence.

4. Manage the staff, budgets, and coordinate admin data work across UNICEF
   1. Lead overall development and establishment of the office’s work plan and reporting
   2. Monitor deliverables against work plan, and provide support and guidance to ensure objectives are met.
   3. Overall accountability for the management of the office’s work, financial allocations and efficient and effective use of resources
   4. Supervise, manage, and direct technical staff including appraisal of staff performance
   5. Senior management is adequately briefed on current activities and issues
   6. Communicate standards of performance, and assign responsibilities for achieving results according to the defined tasks.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the social sciences with data or statistics or requiring strong quantitative skills.
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience at national and international levels in generation and use of statistics and data as well as other areas of applied statistics, information systems and data interpretation and use in sectors of concern to UNICEF. Additional years of experience will be an asset.
• Previous experience supervising a team required.
• Experience in strategy consulting, communication, analytics, marketing or business intelligence considered an asset
• Strong background, experience and understanding of qualitative and quantitative data and monitoring including in humanitarian contexts.
• Strong coordination, negotiation, and synthesis skills, and ability to navigate challenges in completing tasks and deliverables in a timely manner.
• Well-developed computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. 

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF is committed to achieving gender balance at P5 level by end 2021 and will prioritize eligible and suitable female candidates.

The Division is currently undergoing organizational changes, therefore the exact location of the post is still under consideration.  As such, the selected candidate has the option of starting the assignment remotely or should the candidate move to New York, s/he would be expected to relocate to another location as the case may be, during the contractual period.