Associate Director (Chief Data Officer), D-1, Florence, Italy

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, dedication

“Data saves lives. Data change lives.” Effective use of data is a major catalyst in making faster progress on the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), powering the work of governments and all partners to better fulfil the rights of the 2.4 billion children in the world.

The Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM) was established in 2019 to drive decision making and organizational learning, improve effectiveness and achievement of results of UNICEF and its partners to realize the rights and improve the life of every child. DAPM promotes data and monitoring to achieve transformative impact on children’s lives.The Division is responsible for driving, shaping and guiding UNICEF’s evidence-informed analysis, strategic planning, programme monitoring and organizational performance management. As such, DAPM enables the organization to deliver on results in a more coherent manner, based on agile and contextualized programming process, and on data, evidence, and analysis, as well as the application of human-rights based and results-based management approaches.

Within DAPM, the Data Team (DaT) which consists of the offices of Chief Data Officer and Chief Statistician, supports the whole data and analytical function across UNICEF both to make UNICEF more effective and impactful in its work, and to support governments and other actors to make a bigger difference in the lives of children.

On the one hand, the Chief Statistician’s Office leads on analytics of data about children to feed UNICEF programming and advocacy and produces priceless global public goods of data and statistics on children. On the other hand, the Office of the Chief Data Officer works across all UNICEF divisions and through regional offices to country offices both to help UNICEF create and sustain (1) the safeguards to identify and reduce to a minimum the risks and potential harms to children and UNICEF staff, beneficiaries and donors  inherent in data and digital technology, to undergo a responsible and safe digital and data transformation; (2) a robust governance of all forms of data at UNICEF to enable all of UNICEF to leverage all relevant data in service of better decisions and outcomes for children.

The importance of the role of Chief Data Officer is even greater in the fast-changing environment in which ever more powerful AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools are available, which require careful curation and use of data. The CDO (Chief Data Officer) will work with UN (United Nations) system on “UN 2.0” which includes both better digital transformation and strategic use of data; contributing to the Global Digital Commons, to supporting government use of data through the SG’s High Impact Initiative of Data which will feed into the Summit of the Future, all as ways to influence broader decisions and mechanisms to support the good use of data for children.

Thus, the Chief Data Officer’s Office/Team is accountable for:

1. Establishing a data policy that encourages safe and efficient use of all forms of data in UNICEF, and sustain a data community, provide tools and build capacity to follow that policy direction.
2. Developing and implementing data governance to ensure that UNICEF’s data ecosystem, including use of AI, is effective and safe.
3. Advocating for investment in data for children in relevant fora, within and outside the organization.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Director, DAPM, the Chief Data Officer provides intellectual, managerial, technical and advocacy leadership in UNICEF for the safe use of cutting-edge tools and platforms as well as all forms of data at global, regional and country levels within the overall mission of UNICEF to promote the rights of every child. The post is also the senior position with authority in UNICEF to promulgate and uphold standards of responsibility and ethics in data produced or used by any part of UNICEF. Additionally, the Chief Data Officer leads and manages the team, including mobilization of the resources they need to function. The Chief Data Officer’s Office/Team is composed of the Data Governance & Strategy Unit (including Data Protection & Privacy) and the Data Communications Unit. It is also matrixed with the Programme Effectiveness Team’s Safeguarding Unit.

Under the supervision of the Director, DAPM, the Chief Data Officer will:

1. Lead, manage, guide and represent the technical work of DAPM’s Office of the CDO:
   1. Development and implementation of a data policy
      1. Complete the Data Policy and relevant procedures, create the procedures, tools, communities and guidance for effective implementation of the Policy on Personal Data Protection to strengthen UNICEF’s action on Data Protection
      2. Establish a Data Governance mechanism (with or separate from Digital governance)
      3. Reflect issues of AI in Data Policy or support a new policy on UNICEF’s use of AI
      4. Ensure that all data-related policies include reference to data in emergencies
      5. Drive implementation of policies and governance across HQ divisions, RO (Regional Office) and CO (Country Office) offices. CDO will play a key role in building up the network of senior data leaders to support organization-wide rollout of a harmonized data approach.
   2. Guidance and building of Data Culture and Capacity as part of DAPM’s strategy on strengthening the Planning, Monitoring, Data and Analytics functions; including special considerations for emergencies
      1. Support and guide community and learning pathways to foster:
         1. Data savviness, Data leadership,
         2. Data stewardship including data planning,
         3. Data analytical capabilities (led by Chief Statistician)
         4. Data advocacy and communication
      2. Oversee the transformation of data action planning in every office, hooked into the country programme management cycle, and centered around cross-functional teams that deliver priority use cases for children.
   3. UNICEF data architecture and management including data sharing
      1. Lead UNICEF thinking and design of data architecture to ensure data are safely available across UNICEF to support analytical needs – this in close collaboration with ICTD (Information and Communication Technology Division) as they develop or review digital systems
      2. Support and guide the roll out and further development of tools and policies to support master data management
      3. Establish policy and guidance, and where necessary direct technical advice, to improve data quality to serve data needs including data ready for use in the development of AI systems and applications
      4. Ensure data governance including data responsibility are embedded in data management tools and practices by all actors in UNICEF, guide the selection of data management tools to serve implementation of data governance
      5. Guide setting up of structures to support data management within each office (bringing together data, monitoring, ICT/T4D, emergency and programme practitioners and sharing their data)
   4. Stronger data responsibility across all levels of the organization
      1. Ensure all the policy environment (and tools to support its implementation) on protection of personal and non-personal yet sensitive data, including a reference level for resolution of issues
      2. Support RD4C being mainstreamed into planning and implementation of data activities including in emergency situations and protracted humanitarian situations
   5. Responsible use of AI and other analytical tools using Big Data
      1. Guide use cases on implementation of AI in
         1. internal systems (working in close collaboration with HQ Divisions),
         2. UNICEF programming, and
         3. advocacy with Governments to make AI work for children
      2. Support intersection of the statisticians in DAPM, Programme Group, the Centre of Excellence for Tech for Development, the Office of Innovation for use of AI in programmes
      3. Support the Frontier Data Network bringing knowledge and other resources into UNICEF to help countries, and FDN nodes and communities to build capacity within UNICEF
   6. Directly and with partners, contribute to development of national data systems to function in emergency as well as development situations to:
      1. incorporate RD4C principles and tools
      2. improve Administrative Data Systems (joint with Chief Statistician and Programme Group)
      3. Frontier Data and related analytics (through nodes jointly with Chief Statistician)
2. Lead within, across and outside the Organization on Data governance, advocacy, knowledge management and communication:
   1. Lead data elements of relevant UNICEF bodies such as Digital Transformation Board; Global Management Team; AI Steering Committee
   2. Represent UNICEF as leading data expert in external fora such as those working on a global system of data governance, AI governance, Statistical data and metadata exchange (SDMX), digital/data commons and lead strategic positioning of UNICEF on data issues within and beyond the UN system including support to products of the Chief Statistician’s office
   3. Lead UNICEF’s knowledge management and communities on data including through mechanisms such as the Evidence Helpdesk and SharePoint site; contributing to internal and external knowledge-sharing fora; and guiding development of analytical capacities in country offices to bring together different knowledge streams to address country issues
3. Manage, nurture and develop DAPM’s Office of the CDO and its people:
   1. People Management
      1. Manage and maintain the highest quality standards for efficient and effective operation of the Unit, including recruitment, orientation and supervision of professional and support staff, formulation and monitoring of the annual workplan, management and monitoring of the budget including approval of travel plans, fulfilment of reporting requirements and oversight of day-to-day issues as required
   2. Resource mobilization
      1. Identify, develop, pursue and secure funding opportunities for UNICEF’s data strategy work with multilateral and bilateral agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sector foundations and other donors, all in conjunction with D&A Section
      2. Advocate and plan for distribution of funds within UNICEF to support this new and crucial area of work
      3. Oversee management of the relevant budgets and supervise the reporting to ensure timely fulfilment of donor reporting requirements

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

• An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in any data-related discipline (including – but not limited to – data science, statistics, economics, demographics) which could be an MBA. Specific, formal training and/or knowledge around the concepts of Data Governance, Use, Protection and Privacy is considered an asset.
• A minimum of thirteen (13) years of progressively responsible experience at national and international levels in generation and use of statistics or other data as well as other areas that could include applied statistics, information systems and data interpretation and championing the safe use of those data for impact.  At least 6 out of the 13 years required in senior leadership and management positions required.
• Demonstrated experience as a data professional with demonstrated ability to show the value of data to the “business” (whether in public or private sector organizations), and has worked to maximise that value for better results.
• Demonstrated experience working with and retaining a good working relationship with all forms of data tech, from data management to analysis, from storage to communication.
• Experience in and understanding of how to create and sustain a system of data governance which is enabling for the responsible and ethical collection, analysis and use of data.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead teams.
• Experience with leadership in managing relevant multi-partner projects and partnerships.
• Experience managing and influencing change in a large organization among partners and stakeholders outside of direct supervision scope.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
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For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also 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 cancelled.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.