Vacancy – UNODC Chief of Section, Statistics
IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme
July 23, 2024Job Opening
Job Opening ID: 239172
Job Network: Economic, Social and Development
Job Family: Statistics
Category & Level: Professional and Higher Categories, P-5
Duty Station: Vienna
Department/Office: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Date Posted: Jul 26, 2024
Deadline: Sep 8, 2024
Org. Setting and Reporting
The position is located in the Data, Analytics and Statistics Section (DASS), Research and Trend Analysis Branch (RAB), Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs (DPA), UNODC, Vienna, Austria. The Chief of DASS reports to the Chief of Branch. For more information on UNODC, please visit www.unodc.org
Responsibilities
- Provide guidance to the Chief of Branch on the data and statistical programme on drugs and crime and management of the drug and crime statistics collected and disseminated by the organization.
- Plan and direct the section’s work programme on collection, processing, validation, dissemination and analysis of drugs and crime data, as well as methodological work, providing both technical and managerial supervision of all activities.
- Guide team members to identify, analyze, and interpret trends or patterns, using machine learning techniques, statistical methods to identify relevant features and variables in structured and unstructured sources of information and data.
- Initiate, plan and direct the preparation of reports, manuals, web sites and dissemination platforms in the area of drugs and crime statistics and trends.
- Ensure that the research outputs produced by the Unit/Section maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data.
- Direct, manage and provide technical support for the implementation of international data collection activities in the field of illicit drugs and crime including the maintenance of the UNODC statistical data collection and dissemination system.
- Oversee the production, dissemination and trend analysis of the drug and crime statistics and data which are included in UNODC regional and international publications, and ensure their accessibility and dissemination, including through UNODC or other UN-related websites.
- Plan and oversee, in collaboration with UNODC field offices and other relevant stakeholders, technical advisory activities for national capacity building including national data collection activities such as population and business surveys through missions, consultations and training workshops.
- Supervise and undertake the development of innovative statistical methods and quantitative models for analyses and projects.
- Coordinate the design and development of customized visualization and presentation products to reveal the findings of analysis for clients, suitable for all forms of production to include briefings, reports, documentation to oversight bodies, interactive interfaces, and publication quality outputs. Review implemented models against technical and strategic criteria.
- Prepare progress reports and other technical documentation regarding the work programme for presentation to the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the UN Statistical Commission and other relevant councils, commissions, technical meetings and expert groups.
- Maintain close liaison and co-operation with the relevant experts and sections throughout the organization and with other national and international institutions to ensure full co-ordination of statistical activities and to avoid duplication of efforts.
- Represent the organization at international and regional meetings and inter-agency activities.
- Advise senior management on trends and developments in drugs and crime and recommend appropriate courses of action.
- Plan, organize, manage and supervise staff; plan and discuss individual work programmes with staff and evaluate their performance.
- Manage agile, time-limited teams to produce specific and defined research products, coordinating closely with the team members and sharing responsibility with section supervisors to ensure timely output delivery, with the overall aim of fostering a supportive working environment for high-performing team dynamics, communication and coordination, across the Branch and organization boundaries.
- Recruit staff for Unit/Section taking into account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values.
- Foster teamwork and communication among staff in the Unit/Section and across organizational boundaries.
- Lead team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provide insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensure that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.
- Perform other work-related duties, as assigned.
Competencies
- Professionalism: Is able to analyze, model and interpret data in support of decision-making and to provide teams with strategic direction. Adept at queries, report writing and presenting findings. Is able to manage teams and quality-check work completed by other team members. Is able to manage the collection, dissemination and analysis of large statistical data sets and develop international statistical standards. Takes pride in the work for the organization and understands the impact that can be brought into the organization by allowing data-driven and evidence-based decisions. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Ability to convey complex / difficult data science topics to clients in a relatable manner. Is able to produce high quality reports and papers and is able to coordinate and review the work of others. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of statistical methodology related to illicit drugs and crime or social areas; 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
- Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; ability to draft good quality analytical reports; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
- Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
- Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
- Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in statistics, mathematics, economics, data science, data analytics, information management, sociology or related field is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Job - Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience at national/international level in the development of large programmes of socioeconomic statistics, including the use of advanced methods of statistical analysis, complex databases and quantitative modelling is required. Experience in solving problems linked to weak data sets such as those on drugs and crime and in developing indicators and indices, is required. Experience in management, coordination and supervision of staff and work teams is required. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. Experience in working with drugs and crime statistics 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 other United Nations official languages is an advantage.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This is a geographical post. Filling of this position is subject to funding availability and the initial appointment will be for a period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. 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. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Vienna is classified in the H category (family duty station). For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 May 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.
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.
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