Consultant on Data Science

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has established a Centre for Humanitarian Data in The Hague, the Netherlands to help increase 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 focuses on four areas: data services, data policy, data literacy, and network engagement. The Centre’s data services work includes direct management of the Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) platform and the Humanitarian Exchange Language (HXL) data standard. The data literacy work focuses on improving the data skills of technical and non-technical humanitarians. For data policy, the Centre creates guidelines for the responsible use of data by OCHA staff and partners. Finally, the Centre works to further build and engage an active community in support of its mission and objectives through a number events and communication activities.

The Centre’s Data Fellows programme began in 2018 and aims to expose the Centre and its partners to new areas of data-related expertise that can impact humanitarian response. The structure of the programme provides Fellows with exposure to different parts of the humanitarian system while allowing them to focus time and energy on an individual project that addresses a challenge related to the use and impact of data in the sector.

The Centre will host its second class of Data Fellows in The Hague in June and July 2019. The 2019 Fellows will focus on four areas where the Centre is seeking new perspectives, insights and partnerships including: Business Strategy, Data Science (education data), Predictive Analytics, and Statistics (disability data). The Fellowship programme is residential, with Fellows living and working in The Hague under the direction of the Coordinator for the Data Fellows Programme. https://centre.humdata.org/data-fellows

Education Data in Humanitarian Action 

There are a number of initiatives in the humanitarian sector focused on improving access to and the quality of education in conflict environments. The Centre has partnered with the Education Above All Foundation to improve access to data on education in emergencies. This data will help to highlight how attacks against education during times of conflict and insecurity deprive children of their right to education. In particular, the Centre is focused on advanced technologies for collecting data on education in emergencies and increasing access to and use of education data on HDX.

The Centre requires a Consultant on Data Science  to work with the HDX team and its with partners on data about education in emergencies, both in terms of the data being utilized and the potential application of analytical models. We are looking for a candidate who is self-motivated and can thrive in an international, multidisciplinary team. The right candidate has the skills and abilities that together comprise the necessary levels of data science expertise to turn data into action and to think strategically about how to use data to create insight for humanitarian response.

Reporting Relationships
The Consultant on Data Science will report to the Coordinator for the Data Fellows Programme under the overall direction of the Lead for the Centre for Humanitarian Data. She or he will be expected to work closely with the rest of the Centre team.

Accountabilities  

-       Design and execute a project related to data science based on the problem statement provided by the Centre, including the development of at least one working prototype utilizing education data available via HDX to help translate insight into action for humanitarian responders.

-       Design and deliver at least one session (in person or online) for the Centre team and broader community on an aspect of their area of technical expertise.

-       Communicate publicly about the project focus and key outcomes (in the form of a blog and other related channels).

-       Produce a final report outlining the key insights from the projects and, as relevant, providing recommendations for further work in the area of focus.

-       Utilize available project management and office communication tools to effectively track and deliver expected outputs.

-       Maintain active and clear communications with relevant members of the Centre and the Fellowship partner organization(s) throughout the course of the programme

Deliverables

-       A briefing note outlining the Fellows’ understanding of the specific challenge related to education data and presenting a plan for how the Fellow will address this challenge through their capstone project.

-       At least one working prototype of a data service utilizing education data available via HDX to generate actionable insight for humanitarian responders

-       Detailed technical documentation (method, requirements, development roadmap) for the prototype model(s).

-       At least one blog post on the outcomes of the project.

-       A final report outlining the key achievements of the project and, as relevant, providing recommendations for further work in the area of focus.

• Undergraduate degree in mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science, statistics or related field. 
• An advanced university degree in relevant can substitute the required two years of experience mentioned below.

• A least two years of experience of programming in Python, R and/or Javascript, and an understanding of statistical analysis are required.
• Experience with data manipulation and transformation as well as code refactoring and API development are essential. 
• Comfort within an Agile environment is expected. 
• Skills in data visualization is desirable.

• Fluency in English is required (both oral and written). Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

• 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.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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 is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC)

Based in New York, the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations.

The SDC’s services include grants management, development and special initiatives support, and technology support to the UN and UN agencies.

The SDC is part of the New York Service Cluster that supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.