Statistician, New York, Closing date: Tuesday, 7 April 2015

Closing date: Tuesday, 7 April 2015

Posting Title: Statistician, P3

Job Code Title: STATISTICIAN

Department/ Office: Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Duty Station: NEW YORK

Posting Period: 6 February 2015-7 April 2015

Job Opening number: 15-STT-DESA-39488-R-NEW YORK (X)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Special Notice

This vacancy is subject to availability of post.

Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the UN Secretariat, the selection will be recorded as a temporary assignment.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

Organizational Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Population Division was created in 1947 with the mandate of strengthening the capacity of the international community to address current and emerging population issues by providing timely and accessible population data for all countries and areas of the world and to contribute to the advancement of population studies and to the informed development of population-related policies. The Statistician reports to the Population Affairs Officer of the Population Data Unit (PDU).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Statisticians will be responsible for the following duties:

Organizes, designs, plans and carries out the collection, evaluation, analysis, compilation and dissemination of statistical data by selecting methods of data collection, selecting and implementing methods for checking collected data, and selecting and implementing appropriate methods for data processing for incorporation into databases.
Participates in the development, implementation and management of statistical database(s).
Provides training and technical support on data collection programmes, country practices and other related information.
Participates in the development or revision of standards on statistical concepts, definitions and classifications by performing methodological research.
Prepares draft technical documents for international, intergovernmental and expert group meetings and assists in drafting relevant reports.
Organizes and participates in seminars, working groups and expert meetings as a technical resource person.
Guides and trains other staff in the application of Bayesian statistical modelling.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism

Knowledge of statistical principles and practices.
Ability to conduct independent research and analysis.
Ability to identify issues, formulate options and make conclusions and recommendations.
Shows pride in work and in achievements;
demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns;
shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges;
remains calm in stressful situations.
Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Teamwork

Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise;
is willing to learn from others;
places team agenda before personal agenda;
supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position;
shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Accountability

Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments;
delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards;
operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules;
supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments;
takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in statistics, mathematics, demography, economics, sociology or related field.
A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the collection, compilation, analysis and dissemination of statistical data or related area is required.
Experience with complex statistical databases and analysis of census and survey microdatasets in the field of population is desirable.
Experience developing and implementing Bayesian hierarchical models and programming in the R software language are desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required.
Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment Method

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

United Nations Considerations

Job openings posted on the Careers Portal are taken off at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.

Applications are automatically pre-screened according to the published evaluation criteria of the job opening on the basis of the information provided by applicants. Applications cannot be amended following submission and incomplete applications shall not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to a reference checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on 'The Application Process' and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on 'Manuals' on the upper right side of the browser on Inspira.

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.

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