Data Scientist/ Regional Data Coordinator, International Consultancy Level II At World Food Programme

WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.

Job Title: Data Scientist/ Regional Data Coordinator

Grade: Consultancy Level II

Type of contract: International Regular Consultancy

Functional Unit ICT

Duration: 11 months

Duty Station: Bangkok, Thailand

No. of position required One

Vacancy Number: 831997

Date of Publication: Wednesday 13 March 2024

Deadline of Application: Wednesday 27 March 2024

WFP offers a competitive compensation package for Consultant Level II starting from US$6,000, and including medical insurance and a living allowance for those travelled to Thailand.

Please visit UN World Food Programme (WFP) and click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

Remote work may be possible depending upon the operational requirements of the Programme. Requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the personal circumstances of the requestor given the operational situation.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Data solutions portfolio management and assurance

• Manage the regional data Workplan and associated budget, working closely with the Regional TEC team and the Field and HQ data teams to identify regional priorities and align activities with the global workplan.
• Work closely with data owners and stakeholders to identify data pain points and data visualization needs for country operations in the region by carrying out Data Mapping Missions with the Regional Business Relationship Manager and the TEC Field Data Services team to identify local demand and validate business requirements alongside RAM, OIM and TEC corporate priorities, among others.
• Engage with the business units to understand strategic objectives, gather requirements, and analyze capabilities to shape demand for technology products, offering opportunities to improve business processes and stakeholder alignment.
• Manage recruitment, planning, and supervision of new talent for data-related strategies based on evolving regional needs. Ensure that regional data coordinators and analysts are aligned on the global data strategy.
• Engage and manage the work of operational data analysts on the delivery of solutions outlined in the country office data roadmaps. • Data solutions training and rollout.
• Support in developing data model to analyse the available dataset collected at the time of Targeting, registration, transfer management and Post Distribution Monitoring. This model aims to acquire a thorough understanding of the business requirements and facilitate the program unit in generating valuable insights for evidence-based programming. This encompasses activities such as designing programs based on identified needs, prioritizing initiatives, and utilizing data to inform decisions regarding program expansion or contraction.
• Support country offices within the region in enhancing the quality of data by identifying incomplete datasets, anomalies, duplicate identities based on demographic information and facilitating the establishment of SOPs for data quality, including SOPs for deduplication and adjudication.
• Collaborate with the CFM team to develop a secure data model for the complaints received from the beneficiaries, to perform analysis, prioritize system-related complaints, and escalate them to the relevant portfolio managers for addressing these issues.
• Conducting a thorough analysis of the processes associated with transfer management and reconciliation. Undertake a rigorous examination of the current dataset, with a careful review of the available dataset and uncover relevant details and discern visible patterns within the data, which can subsequently be translated into valuable insights for the business.

2. Business Relationship and Engagement Support

• The role will also participate in the Data Literacy Working Group to support the global framework and approach to effectively using data and evidence and how to raise data literacy in WFP.
• Organize and facilitate a regional data event that would promote global best practices, local digital solutions, and use cases focused on data and build capacity for the broader network of data fellows and champions.
• Working closely with a vast network of WFP partners, existing CO champions and the more comprehensive data team, develop and implement a data literacy training program for diverse roles and profiles within WFP field operations.

3. Data Governance

• Coordinate alongside the BEM the work of the Regional Data Working Group
• Provide support to the Regional Senior Management team in preparing and actively participating in the Data Management Committee

4. The role calls for a candidate that can work on expanding self-learning of advanced training on tools like Tableau and Palantir Foundry and facilitate complex data visualization projects, drive data quality, assure governance efforts, and standardize a data-oriented product offering across digital transformation, data innovation and knowledge management product lines.

5. Report progress and issues to the Regional Bureau relevant heads of units, Regional Directors and Deputy Regional Directors and the Technology Division, senior management team.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Minimum bachelor’s degree in data science, computer science, data and information management, statistics, public administration, public information, the management or a related field. Master’s degree in the mentioned fields is desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in data science, computer science, data and information management, statistics, public administration, public information.

Knowledge &Skills

• Data storing and retrieving skills on cloud platforms.
• Experience using visualization tools (preferably Tableau) and setting up dashboards.
• Ability to capture requirements and translate them into insights. • Experienced use of Data Science tools such as Jupyter, Matlab, Knime, SPSS, SAS, or similar Statistical tools.
• Programming Languages such as R, Python, Javascript or related is desirable.
• Advanced SQL skills.
• Knowledge of Python and R.
• Proven experience working in a busy analytical environment and handling complex analysis.
• Experience and knowledge of data optimization and visualization tools such as Palantir Foundry, Tableau and Power Platform are preferred.

Languages: Excellent command written and spoken English

All WFP Employees are expected to demonstrate the competencies and standards of behaviour aligned with our core values and defined in the WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK, namely:

• Leading by example with integrity,
• Driving results and delivering on commitments,
• Fostering inclusive and collaborative teamwork,
• Applying strategic thinking,
• Building and maintaining sustainable partnerships

EXPECTED OUTPUT

1. Data solutions portfolio management and assurance

• An aligned data roadmap with the country office’s digital roadmap. Delivery of solutions outlined in the country office data roadmaps.
• Monitoring and visualization on identity and transfer management and reconciliation processes through existing datasets established for COs as per corporate standards.
• Supported the effective use of data systems and helped to enable other government– related data partnerships.
• Recruited new talent based on evolving regional needs.
• Ensured that regional data coordinators and analysts are aligned with the global data strategy.
• Data solutions training conducted and supported the global framework for Data Literacy rollout.

2. Business Relationship and Engagement support

• Organized and facilitated regional data event that would promote global best practices, local digital solutions, and use cases focused on data and build capacity for the broader network of data fellows and champions of the global data literacy strategy.
• Working closely with a vast network of WFP partners, existing CO champions and the more comprehensive data team, develop and implement a data literacy training program for diverse roles and profiles within WFP field operations
• Helped the BRM identify use cases from the field and support their development in collaboration with HQ. Similarly, supported HQ-led use cases for rolling out in the field.

3. Data Governance

• Guided the work of the Regional Data Working Group
• Provided support to the Regional Senior Management team in preparing and actively participating in the Data Management Committee and Global Data Literacy Working Group.

4. Reported progress and issues to Regional Bureau relevant heads of units, Regional Directors and Deputy Regional Directors and the Technology Division, senior management team.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

WFP’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand oversees operations in 17 country offices including the Pacific, reaching 30 million people with assistance. The portfolio of our work ranges from humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, to school meals in Cambodia and Laos, supporting government, social protection schemes in India and Pakistan, climate change adaptation in Nepal and Sri Lanka, nutrition for mothers in Bangladesh and Timor-Leste, to emergency preparedness in Indonesia and the Pacific.

WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.