UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

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Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Data

How can you make a difference?

This position sits in the Data & Analytics team led by the Chief Statistician. The incumbent will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Chief Statistician.

The primary function of this post is to lead and coordinate the design, implementation and provision of technical support, capacity building and methodological work to develop new survey instruments in child-centric household surveys, in particular the UNICEF-supported Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) programme and its various initiatives. As the Chief of the Data Collection Unit and the Global MICS Coordinator, the incumbent is UNICEF’s leading expert on household surveys, leading work on innovations in child-centric survey methodology and protocols, and the assessment of the data collection process. The incumbent will lead offers technical expertise and technical advice in support of child-centric and other types of survey work in the organization, as needed.

1. Coordination and Leadership

• Coordinate the design, planning, implementation, analysis and reporting of UNICEF child-centric survey work program around the globe, working closely with Regional Offices, Country Offices,  national governments and development partners.
• Coordinate and monitor the implementation of survey activities with external partners, including other survey programmes
• Lead the Global MICS Team, composed of Data Collection Unit and Regional MICS Coordinators, for efficient implementation of data collection activities in the MICS programme

2. Collaboration, Partnerships and Representation

The incumbent leads the following collaboration, partnership and representation work of the Data Collection Unit:

• Collaborate with the Chief Statistician and other Development Partners to streamline the regular implementation of child-centric surveys as regular statistical operation of UNICEF program countries.
• Collaborate with Sectoral Units in the Data & Analytics (D&A) Section for the development of new household survey modules and indicators, updating of survey instruments, for reviews and feedback to survey implementing partnes, during MICS implementation
• Collaborate and partner with Sectoral Units in D&A in capacity-building activities related to data collection, primarily in the context of MICS surveys
• Advise Sectoral Units in D&A on household survey data collection methodology regarding indicators in global databases
• Collaborate with relevant Units in D&A on geospatial data collection and repositories
• Collaborate with the Chief Data Officer’s office on matters related to data protection, data governance and data strategy development
• Collaborate and partner with Programme Group Sections, directly or together with Sectoral Units in D&A, on development of new tools and innovations
• Collaborate closely, as the Global MICS Team, with the Regional MICS Coordinators in UNICEF’s Regional Offices to coordinate survey activities
• Oversee and monitor MICS activities in the field, including questionnaire design, sampling, report writing and analysis at Regional and Country levels, providing technical advice as needed
• Collaborate with UNICEF’s Country Offices during the implementation of MICS activities
• Collaborate and partner with other UN agencies and international organizations and bilateral organizations in coordinating measurement efforts, in particular with agencies that technically or financially support implementation of household surveys
• Manage, ensure and facilitate the flow of information among partners in MICS implementation
• Collaborate with the Units in D&A to ensure data harmonization following guidance from the Chief Statistician.
• Represent UNICEF in various bilateral or multi-agency fora related to data collection and household survey activities, including collaboration with other survey programmes

3. Technical Support and Capacity Building

The incumbent leads and provides direct technical expertise to the following activities of technical support and capacity building:

• Provide technical support and advice, as needed, to Regional Offices in MICS implementation and other data collection activities
• Provide technical support to UNICEF’s country offices in the implementation of MICS, MICS Plus and other related activities
• Promote and support countries to integrate selected MICS modules in other National Surveys
• Provide technical support and advice to Sectoral Units in D&A on the use of household survey data and the development of new indicators
• Undertake, directly or jointly in collaboration with Sectoral Units, capacity-building activities, including workshops

4. Resources and resource mobilization

• Manage and coordinate funds allocated to the Data Collection Unit, as well as funds raised by the Unit
• Work closely with the Chief Statistician, the Sectoral Units in D&A, and DAPM management on resource mobilization, internally and externally, to support MICS/household survey activities at global and country level and the MICS technical support system,

5. Innovations

• Lead the modernization processes and workflows used by UNICEF and the National Offices of Statistics on the data production and dissemination of child-centric surveys using open-source software
• Coordinate and contribute to the testing, validation, and modification of child-centric and other household survey content-related instruments and guidelines
• Coordinate and contribute to the integration of new technologies and processing approaches into household survey processes
• Incorporate new data processing instruments, artificial intelligence/machine learning and new approaches on data quality monitoring and dissemination

6. Work towards future prospects

• Collaborate closely with the Chief Statistician and other Units in D&A to mobilize sustainable resources to expand the scope of work of the Data Collection Unit, with the capacity to advise on household surveys other than MICS, as well as other data collection methods, such as phone surveys
• Transform the Data Collection Unit, recognized as UNICEF’s leading Unit in providing support, advice and feedback on processes related to data collection on children.

7. Management of the Data Collection Unit 

• Overall accountability for the management of the Data Collection unit (results, human resources, finance)
• Ensure an enabling positive workplace culture within the unit and contribute to upholding the UNICEF CRITAS (Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability & Sustainability) values by all staff in the division
• Contribute to the overall management of the division, the DATA Team and the D&A Section
• Promote and Support a culture of reproducible and scalable analytics
• Oversee staff learning and career management within the unit and contribute to building data & analytical skills within staff of the Data Collection unit, particularly at country level
• Supervise, manage, and direct technical staff, including appraisal of staff performance Communicate standards of performance, and assign responsibilities for achieving results according to the defined tasks
• Contribute to inter-sectoral collaboration in UNICEF’s data work
• Brief senior management adequately on current activities and issues

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree in a social science field that has a strong quantitative social survey component, such as demography, economics, epidemiology, statistics. PhD level training or equivalent is an asset.
• Work Experience: At least 10 years of experience at national as well as international levels with primary responsibilities in household survey implementation; and ability to demonstrate progressive increase in managerial responsibility
• Experience leading dialogue with National Statistical Offices in Low- and Middle-income countries is essential.
• Experience with MICS, LSMS or DHS surveys is a must; similar experience with other global household survey programmes is an asset.
• Experience with and knowledge of UNICEF and the UN system is an asset
• Experience managing people is required
• Skills: Coding proficiency in R, Stata, Phyton or other equivalent statistical languages is an asset.
• High level of competency in survey implementation, sampling, survey data processing and reporting is a must
• High level of proficiency in household survey data analysis and dissemination is a must
• Excellency in communication, facilitation and negotiation skills is required
• Language Requirements: Excellent writing skills and fluency in English is required. Another UN language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.