Project Specialist (Data Solution Development)

A fundamental government responsibility is to use information to improve the delivery of public services to citizens.  The Access to Information (a2i) programme, in collaboration with the Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative, is supporting a multi-year project -- Fostering Data Innovation to Strengthen Evidence-based Decision Making for Health in Bangladesh – to develop new approaches to leverage data to make public health policies and programs more effective. 

This project will focus on creating an Advanced Data Analytics Unit within Bangladesh’s Directorate General for Health Services (DGHS).  DGHS has relatively well-developed systems for tracking routine health data from its extensive network of public hospitals and clinics.  Although DGHS has many strengths in its use of data in decision-making, one limiting factor is the lack of a dedicated analytic nerve center that could drive efforts and sustain momentum on various data projects and integrate their results into DGHS’ core processes for making programmatic, operational and strategic decisions.  This project’s Advanced Data Analytics Unit will help address this challenge.

The Advanced Data Analytic Unit will advance three objectives: 
 

• Objective 1 (Policy Development): Develop data-driven program and policy responses to address high-priority public health challenges
• Objective 2 (Operational Performance): Strengthen the use of data to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of health services
• Objective 3 (Strategic Monitoring and Planning): Create government- and citizen-centric systems and processes that promote progress toward long-term health objectives

This project is recruiting a Project Specialist (Data Solution Development) who will coordinate the development of digital solution(s) for national and sub-national officials that provide timely access to the data necessary for operational and strategic decision-making. Reporting to the Program Coordinator (Team Head) and under the strategic direction of a2i’s Results Management and Data Specialist, the incumbent will specify solution parameters, develop solutions and promote their sustained use.

The project is funded by the Government of Bangladesh, UNDP and other development partners, and is implemented by the ICT Division and Cabinet Division.

Under the direct supervision of Program Coordinator (Team Head), the incumbent will perform below mentioned activities.

1. Identify the specific parameters for the data solution
2. Develop digital data solutions
3. Promote sustained use of developed digital data solutions

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Identify the specific parameters for the digital data solution

• Describe best practices of digital data solution based on international experience
• Conduct needs assessment/gap analysis of the digital data solution
 

• outline needs of targeted users
• review current digital solutions for potential duplication, fragmentation, unmet needs
• identify key institutional and technical constraints
• prioritize objectives for new solution(s)
   

2. Develop digital data solutions
 

• Define requirements (a) for solution(s)’ content, functionality, and analytics and (b) for the dataset architecture to support solution(s)
• Coordinate the design of solution(s) that meet those requirements
• Manage deployment among targeted users 
   

3. Promote sustained use of developed digital data solutions
 

• Develop protocols for use of data solutions
• Organize training activities for intended data solution users [analysts and decision-makers]
• Review and redesign (if needed) data management processes to support effective use of data solution(s)
• Implement procedures to maintain and enhance digital data solution(s)

Impact of Results:

The work of the Project Specialist (Data Solution Development) will improve services by providing key decision-makers with better access to data-driven intelligence necessary to innovate public health policies and programs.

Corporate Competencies:
 

• Ability to demonstrate integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Ability to promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Ability to display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Ability to treat all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:
Development and Operational Effectiveness
 

• Significant experience in the development of digital data solutions, including interacting and managing relationships with a range of solution clients
• Strong application design sensibilities
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong skills with common desktop applications (ex. Microsoft Office) and with statistical analysis applications (such as SPSS, STATA, R)
• Experience in using specialized database query languages (ex. SQL)
   

 
Leadership and Self-Management
 

• Highly organized with a keen eye for detail
• Ability to manage complexity and to multi-task under tight deadlines
• Ability to think quickly and improvise when necessary
• Ability to work independently and also as an integral part of a team to deliver results
• Focused on result, with ability to respond positively to feedback
• Energetic, with a positive, constructive attitude

Education:

Masters in Statistics/Applied Statistics/Computer Science/Chemistry/Public Health/ or any other relevant subject from any recognized public/private university

Experience:
 

• Overall 7 years of working experience in data with 3 years proven experience in health data related digital solution development
• Experience in the development of technical documentation and training programs targeting users of digital solutions is mandatory
• Experience in management of data solution development projects is mandatory
• Experience in working with common public health data sources will be an added advantage
• Previous experience in working with UNDP, government agencies, and/or donor organizations will be an added advantage
   

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English and Bangla

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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