Data Innovation Strategist

Global Pulse is an innovation initiative of the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General, exploring how digital data and real-time analytics can be used to understand and respond to changes in human well-being. To this end, Global Pulse is working to promote awareness of the opportunities Big Data presents for relief and development, forge public-private data sharing partnerships, generate high-impact analytical tools and approaches, and drive broad adoption of useful innovations across the UN System.

Global Pulse operates as a network of Pulse Labs, headquartered in New York with Labs in Kampala and Jakarta, together expertise from UN agencies, governments, academia, and the private sector to research, develop, test and share tools and approaches for harnessing real-time data to support decision-making and policy action. 

To achieve its goals, Global Pulse is looking for a Data Innovation Strategist to manage, implement, coordinate and communicate humanitarian innovation projects in collaboration with partners from the UN system, the private sector and academia. The incumbent will also provide substantive inputs to the overall Global Pulse strategic planning and scoping of new projects and programs, ensure Global Pulse’s alignment with the developing landscape of frontier issues in the UN, and expand our network of UN agency and private sector partners. Under the direct supervision of the Chief Data Scientist, the incumbent will execute the following duties: 

• Coordinate and implement humanitarian data innovation projects and programs including undertaking onsite field mission assessments;
• Create strategic and policy information products that synthesize data innovation projects into insights relevant to policy and humanitarian subject experts;
• Co-create product roadmaps for software toolkits around artificial intelligence, data visualization and human-computer interaction;
• Coordinate Global Pulse’s knowledge management strategy to maximize the impact of innovation work of the Pulse Lab network;
• Act as the lead Global Pulse representative in designated working groups, tasks forces, and innovations networks (e.g. UN Innovation Network);
• Provide strategic advice and technical guidance to and collaborate substantively with other UN entities to implement innovation programmes;
• Monitor the trends in data innovation in the UN system and provide strategic advice around engagement within the evolving ecosystem;
• Act as the Global Pulse liaison with designated government counterparts;
• Contribute to Global Pulse’s strategy around opportunities related to frontier issues including artificial intelligence, blockchain and other new technological advances;
• Develop and manage workplans and reporting processes for specified innovation projects;
• Design and conduct customer satisfaction protocols to measure the impacts of projects and tools;
• As directed, represent Global Pulse at international conferences and regional workshops. 

Education

• Advanced university degree in international development, business administration, sociology, economics, computer science, engineering, data science, or other relevant discipline.
• A first degree and an additional two years relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the higher university degree.

Experience

• At least seven (7) years of relevant work experience in project or product management, particularly in the areas of innovation, data, software development or technology is required;
• At least five (5) years of experience in data analysis and visualization, preferably in the big data for development space is required;
• At least three (3) years of experience working in humanitarian or development context is required;
• Experience working with Big Data, social network data, and geospatial data is required;
• Experience working in a developing country is required;
• Proven ability to manage relationships with partners, including government, universities, UN organizations, NGOs and the private sector is an asset;
• Experience with scripting, coding algorithms, and web design required for data access, analysis, and presentation is an asset;
• Knowledge of a wide range of social media analysis tools, and statistical software like SAS, SPSS, and R is strongly preferred;
• Willingness to evaluate and adopt the latest advances in AI, machine learning, predictive analysis and visualization. Demonstrated ability to translate between data/science/technology and international development and humanitarian experts is an asset;
• Experience working with agile project management is an asset;

Language: 
Fluency in English and a working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.