Programme Manager (Data Capacity & Use), (P-4), Fixed Term, Office of the Chief Data Officer, DAPM, #107801

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, a chance

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 the use of data and monitoring to achieve transformative impact on lives of children.

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) is the global go-to for data on children. It leads the collection, validation, analysis, use and communication of the most statistically sound, internationally comparable data on the situation of children and women around the world. For this purpose, both traditional and innovative data and analysis – including administrative and household survey data as well as geospatial analysis, big data and machine learning – are used. DaT upholds the quality, integrity and organization of these data and makes them accessible as a global public good on the data.unicef.org website.

DaT provides leadership, strategic and normative guidance and technical support to generate data and evidence on children. The team works together with other teams within UNICEF as well as partner organizations, to support data and statistical systems strengthening at the country level. DaT is also fostering a data-driven transformation in how UNICEF works internally and together with partners that includes positioning UNICEF as a leader on data for children, protecting children through governance of data and building an organization-wide culture of data.

In that context, the role of a Programme Manager (Data Capacity & Use) is pivotal to drive the use of data to accelerate progress towards realizing child rights across UNICEF and beyond in our work with partners. Timely, high quality, and relevant data offer critical guidance to decision makers faced with difficult programmatic, operational, or administrative decisions including timely recognition of the need to pivot. When data inform policy, they institutionalize good practice grounded in knowledge of what works. Availability of data unlocks opportunities to develop new products and services taking advantage of (big) data processing capabilities such as artificial intelligence (AI), an opportunity to drive economic vitality in countries. Taken together, when used well, data can transform delivery of results for children. This role of data is recognized in the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025 which highlights data as a change strategy.

At the same time, there is risk inherent in data production and use. When used badly, data can erode children’s rights including, and often starting, with the right to privacy. Consequently, data need to come with safeguards: robust data governance including data protection and privacy. The CDO serves the twin objectives of putting in place: (a) the safeguards to identify and reduce to a minimum the risks and harms to children and UNICEF staff due to data production and use to undergo a responsible and safe digital and data transformation, and (b) the enabling environment for data and data capacities for UNICEF to enable all of UNICEF to leverage data as a change strategy in context of overall strengthening the Planning, Monitoring, Data and Analytics capacities of UNICEF in service of better decisions and outcomes for children.

Purpose for the job:

People, their experience, expertise, and passion, are at the heart of delivering the twin objectives of the CDO; they drive the responsible use of data across UNICEF and beyond. The incumbent will lead the design and global rollout of UNICEF’s new program for strengthening foundational capacity of UNICEF staff to use data well in support of the delivery of results for children. This includes guidance to UNICEF country offices on how to strategically invest in building data capacity in the country office to be developed in close collaboration with UNICEF Regional Data Leads. This will, in turn, strengthen UNICEF capacity to effectively engage with governments and other partners to strengthen country data systems and practices. The incumbent will design and introduce a new role to UNICEF (the “data steward”) with the objective to drive data use and reduce data risks, a key role to realize the twin objectives of the CDO. The incumbent will mobilize support for effective data use at UNICEF and promote a culture of data-informed decision making. The incumbent will contribute to UNICEF’s strategic positioning and advocacy to shape the global conversation on data to drive progress for every child.

For the role, UNICEF is looking for a talented team player with experience in using data to drive impact eager to embrace the challenge of building data capacity at global scale across UNICEF country offices. Listening skills, curiosity, and interest in country and regional context as input in strategic capacity development will be crucial for success in the role.

How can you make a difference?

1. Support development of a shared vision and approach to data investments across UNICEF and lead the development of the “People and Data Culture” component of UNICEF efforts to operationalize data as a change strategy
   1. Develop a roadmap and progressive roll-out plan for the “People and Data Culture” component of data as a change strategy (this includes data capability building and the data stewardship function, see 3. and 4.), as key element of the strategic strengthening of Planning, Monitoring, Data and Analytics function within UNICEF, seeking alignment across UNICEF divisions and offices as well as adoption of best practices from across the UN and other partners
   2. Ensure connectivity between global, regional, and country strategic investments in data, specifically, shape global efforts to enable regional and country offices to support achievement of country and regional priorities
   3. Foster application of global frameworks (e.g., “data action plans”, see 2.) and best practices to data efforts at country and regional level to accelerate progress
2. Lead further development and implementation of a framework to guide strategic investments in data in UNICEF country and regional offices (“data action planning”)
   1. Guide a revision of the current framework for data action plans
      1. Lead the development of a methodology to identify and prioritize data use cases, integrate, test, and validate this methodology into the framework for data action planning in collaboration with country and regional offices
      2. Lead the development of a methodology to increase a country’s capacity to use data to prepare for and respond in an informed manner during emergencies and crises, integrate, test, and validate this methodology in collaboration with country and regional offices
   2. Coordinate and promote a coherent approach to provide support to country offices on data-related enquiries and issues, promote entry points for demand-driven engagement through data action planning as part of the UNICEF country programme planning process
   3. Provide advice and support to country and regional offices in the development of country and regional data action plans adapted to context
   4. Foster and mainstream capacity and demand for data action planning, contribute to knowledge sharing and learning across countries, regions, and at global level
   5. Manage the global LTA (long-term agreement) mechanism for data action planning and its implementation to expand UNICEF capacity for data action planning including capacity development and performance monitoring of LTA holders
3. Lead the development and oversee the implementation of a framework to identify the necessary data capabilities in UNICEF country offices and to guide choices on the structure of a country office data function (“data capability building”)
   1. Develop a framework to identify and guide investments in data capabilities necessary to achieve priorities in country offices in consideration of country office characteristics (size, resourcing, etc.), integrate in the framework necessary analytics capabilities in collaboration with the DAPM Chief Statisticians Office (part of DaT)
   2. Promote a coherent approach to data and analytics capacity building in country offices with the (adjacent) planning and monitoring functions in collaboration with the DAPM Programme Effectiveness team (PET), leverage PET expertise in change management
   3. Harmonize the framework with other, ongoing digital and innovation capability building initiatives led by the UNICEF Information Technology Division (ICTD) and Office of Innovation (OOI), respectively, to ensure coherent support to capacity building to country offices
   4. Test and validate the framework in close partnership with country and regional offices, mobilize support for effective data use across all levels and promote a culture of data-informed decision making at UNICEF
   5. Lead implementation and use of the framework to guide decisions by country offices on investment in and the structure of the country office data function, iteratively refining the framework for data capabilities building in the process
   6. Lead the development of a plan to provide scalable support to country offices on data capability building including learning programmes and pathways using existing (rights and results-based management training, etc.) and new products, LTA mechanisms, etc.
   7. Provide strategic oversight for the continued rollout of UNICEF Evidence Helpdesk, in collaboration with UNICEF ICTD, Office of Global Research and Foresight (GORaF) and Office of Evaluation (OOE) including efforts to drive further, yet targeted adoption of the helpdesk (more of the “right” queries) and to analyze inbound inquiries to identify opportunities for better programmatic support
4. Design, validate, and roll-out the role of a data steward in UNICEF country and regional offices to drive responsible use of data (“data stewardship function”)
   1. Design and roll-out the role of the UNICEF data steward, a key role to drive responsible use of data in country and regional offices; data to make decisions, to inform operations, and to serve in the development of data products
   2. Develop a set of generic TORs for the data steward function and an operating model for the function in country context, validate the role with country and regional offices, and proactively drive adoption of the role
   3. Lead the development of effective and engaging learning content, programmes, and pathways for data stewards leveraging expertise from across individuals and teams (data protection, data privacy, data governance, data standards, data communication, data advocacy, etc.)
   4. Lead the development of an approach to provide scalable support and to continue to deepen the expertise of data stewards at country or regional level including a community-based approach
5. Contribute to the organization’s strategic positioning on data for children across UNICEF, with partners, and beyond through targeted advocacy
   1. Lead and coordinate UNICEF’s engagement in the UN Secretary General’s High Impact Initiative “The Power of Data”, drive engagement of country offices across regions
   2. Identify and contribute compelling examples of effective, responsible data use in countries and regions and work with the data communications team on dissemination for compelling UNICEF data advocacy
   3. Write and publish articles and blog posts, seek opportunities to present at meetings, contribute to resource mobilization efforts
6. People management
   1. Manage a small team of 1-3 specialists in country support, capacity development and learning, provide oversight over their day-to-day work and support in growing their careers at UNICEF and beyond

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field (social sciences or a related field). Education or formal training in data or statistics is a strong asset.
  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in areas relevant to the role.
• Hands-on prior experience processing and extracting value from data through data analytics, statistics, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, monitoring, or information management.
• Proven expertise in identifying opportunities to use data through effective stakeholder engagement, whether that is the use of data to guide decisions, to inform operations, or to develop data products.
• Strong analytical skills and expertise in the development of framework to build organizational capacity with a firm focus on practical solutions as part of a result-oriented approach.
• Experience in the development and roll out of complex, global programmes.
• Experience in international development, UNICEF regional or country office experience is considered an asset, as is experience working in an emergency or humanitarian context.
• Familiarity with data governance, data protection, data privacy, and data stewardship is considered an asset, as is familiarity with concepts of change management.
• Experience in managing and growing the careers of junior staff is considered an asset.
• Soft skills:
  • A strong team player with the ability to engage and motivate stakeholders.
  • A good listener and excellent communicator, written and verbal communication, with a keen interest in bringing along others with diverse backgrounds and interests.
  • Ability to connect with and mobilize support across levels, from leadership to specialists.
  • Curiosity, resilience, and optimism
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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

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. 

Remarks:

The Division is currently undergoing organizational changes, therefore the location of the post is subject to change. As such, the selected candidate has the option of starting the assignment remotely or should the candidate already be in New York, s/he would be expected to relocate to another location as the case may be, during the contractual period. Please note that the new location for DAPM is set to be Florence, Italy, starting summer 2024.

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.

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.

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.