JOB DESCRIPTION

General Information

Position Title

Data Scientist

Job Category

Information and Communications Technology

Duty Station(s)

Luxembourg

Seniority Level

Mid Level

ICS Level

ICS 10

Contract Type

ICA – IICA – Regular

Contract Level

IICA 2

Posting Start Date

06-Nov-2025

Posting End Date

20-Nov-2025

Duration

Ongoing contract (subject to good performance, availability of funds, organizational requirements and project duration)

Job Highlight

The role involves managing the implementation of AI-driven predictive modeling projects for hazard forecasting and anticipatory action. The incumbent will coordinate international partnerships, ensuring transparent, responsible application of science to humanitarian decision-making.

About the Region

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) unites the New York Portfolios, including the Peace and Security team (PSC); the Geneva Office; and the Vienna-based Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) teams, to maximize global impact, foster efficiencies and streamline global programmes. Leveraging our collective expertise and networks, GPO supports UNOPS” strategic priorities and the SDGs across over 130 countries. We deliver project management, fund management, advisory services, project implementation, and HR services, working closely with major global partners. Our thematic focus includes sustainable development, climate action, health, peace & security, and humanitarian action.

About the Country/Multi-Country Office

Not Required – part of GPO/NYPO

Job Specific Context

**This position will initially be homebased and is expected to transition to Luxembourg in early 2026.**

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations to implement defined activities in support of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has a Centre for Humanitarian Data in The Hague, the Netherlands which is focused on increasing the use and impact of data in the humanitarian sector. The vision is to create a future where all people involved in a humanitarian emergency have access to the data they need, when and how they need it, to make responsible and informed decisions. The Centre has four workstreams: data services (managing the Humanitarian Data Exchange platform), data responsibility, data literacy and data science.

An area of emerging interest in the humanitarian sector is data science and anticipatory action: asking what will happen in a particular humanitarian context and using available data and models to arrive at an answer. The Centre’s data science team has supported OCHA’s anticipatory action frameworks in a dozen countries, enabling humanitarian organisations to get ahead of shocks and mitigate their impact. After a successful pilot phase, OCHA is now looking at the modalities for scaling and mainstreaming anticipatory action.

Role Purpose

UNOPS is seeking to recruit a Data Scientist to support the management and coordination of projects that apply advanced analytics and AI to humanitarian contexts. The incumbent will lead work to design and operationalize predictive models for hazards such as flash floods, in close collaboration with scientific partners in Luxembourg and abroad. This role combines technical expertise with program management, ensuring that complex analytical work is delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with decision makers’ needs. The incumbent will be expected to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and operational decision-making, ensuring that AI-based tools are trusted, actionable, and support anticipatory action.

The incumbent of this position will be a personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

Functions / Key Results Expected

The Data Scientist will report to the Data Science Team Lead under the overall direction of the Lead for the Centre for Humanitarian Data. The incumbent will be expected to work closely with the rest of the Centre team.

The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Manage overall implementation of projects focused on AI-driven predictive models for hazards such as flash floods.
2. Act as the main liaison with scientific and humanitarian partners in Luxembourg and internationally, ensuring effective collaboration and alignment.
3. Oversee the development, testing, and operationalization of AI models for anticipatory action.
4. Ensure that scientific methods are applied responsibly, transparently, and with clear pathways to humanitarian decision-making.
5. Coordinate stakeholder engagement and capacity-building activities to promote adoption of AI-based early warning systems.
6. Communicate progress, lessons learned, and results to partners and wider audiences, ensuring outputs are open and accessible.

Skills

Data Modeling, Data Processing, Data Science, Data Visualization, Geographic Information Systems, Humanitarian, Python, R Programming Language, Statistical Modeling

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent), preferably in mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science, statistics, economics or in a field related to the post description with five (5) years of relevant experience is required; OR;
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent), preferably in mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science, statistics, economics, or in a field related to the post description, with seven (7) years of relevant experience is required.

Experience Requirements

Required:

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in a data science project or program management.
• Five (5) years of programming experience in Python and/or R is required.
• Five (5) years of experience in statistical modelling, data analytics, data cleaning and/or processing is required

Desirable:

• Experience in understanding partner needs and requirements is desirable.
• Experience in data visualization and Geographic Information Systems GIS are desirable.
• Experience working in the humanitarian or development sectors is desirable.
• Experience with climate data and climate modelling is desirable.

Language Requirements

LanguageProficiency LevelRequirementEnglishFluentRequired

Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.