Data Scientist (Data for Insight)

Position Title: Data Scientist (Data for Insight)

Duty Station: Berlin, Germany

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P2

Type of Appointment: Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 12 September 2024

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. Read more about diversity and inclusion at IOM at www.iom.int/diversity.

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process.

For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candidates
2. Candidates from the following non-represented member states: Antigua and Barbuda; Barbados; Comoros; Congo (the); Cook Islands; Guinea-Bissau; Holy See; Iceland; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Madagascar; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu

Second-tier candidates include:

All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states.

Context:

IOM´s Global Data Institute (GDI) is the primary source of data about population movements worldwide. IOM established the Global Data Institute to harness the power of its data for operations, making meaning of global migration patterns, and informing foresight. IOM’s strategic investment in GDI transforms its data on displacement, migration, drivers, and solutions in the service of IOM’s strategic priorities and wider UN system.

IOM´s GDI delivers:

• Data for action that saves lives and delivers solutions for internal displacement, including through DTM which informs almost 90% of UN humanitarian needs assessment. Data analysis informs investments in displacement solutions, including by international finance institutions.
• Data for insight that facilitates regular migration pathways, disaggregated by sex, age, nationality, educational and skill profile whenever possible. This includes migration flow estimates and flow monitoring and a range of analytical activities to inform the establishment, enhancement and expansion of regular migration pathways, often in partnership with IOM´s Regional Data Hubs.
• Data for strategic foresight for preparedness and anticipatory action as the UN leader in data-driven decision-making through a whole-of-organization approach, at scale in its global, regional, and country-level planning and operations. GDI collaborates with other agencies and partners on timely analysis of emerging trends and population movements.
• Data foundations for UN’s primary community-level data with GDI’s secure, at-scale system ensuring sustainable, cost-effective data for action, insight, and foresight. The system fosters data fluency organization-wide through standardized data collection at country level, & end-to-end central, secure integration and analysis.

The Global Data Institute capitalizes on synergies between its three units – Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), the Global Migration Data Analysis Center (GMDAC), and the Data Impact and Strategy Unit – and it collaborates across IOM in whole-of-organization, data-driven operations. The Institute also collaborates with a network of regional data specialists to illuminate the global data story of human mobility.

Within GDI, GMDAC compiles, models, and delivers data analytics on global, national, comparable population movements, complementing statistical approaches with cutting-edge computational modelling and estimation techniques, triangulation of multiple datasets and generation of high-impact interactive web-based visualizations and data storytelling.

The Data Scientist (Data for Insight) will be based at the Mobility Data Lab, an agile collaborative mechanism established within the GDI and hosted in GMDAC to unlock the full potential of IOM’s vast data resources, and focuses on data analytics for insight that facilitates regular migration pathways.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the GDI Director in close coordination with the Head, Mobility Data Lab, and Chief of GMDAC, the Data Scientist (Data for Insight) will focus on contributing to the generation of timely and impactful data-driven insights on current population movements and their drivers as well as on the impact of establishing, expanding and enhancing migration pathways.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

Technical

• Assist in the identification, analysis, and interpretation of trends or patterns, using basic machine learning techniques and statistical methods to help identify relevant features and variables in structured sources of information and data;
• Contribute to the design and development of data science products that reveal insights and provide an understanding or knowledge of the data that would otherwise not be detected without the application of advanced analytical methods such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, data and text mining, natural language processing, statistics, and use of relevant algorithms and computational approaches;
• Contribute to the design and development of customized visualization and presentation products that reveal the findings of analysis for clients, suitable for all forms of production to include briefings, reports, documentation to oversight bodies, interactive interfaces, and publication quality outputs;
• Assist in the exploration, identification, and acquisition of data sources to help deliver data analysis for use in decision making and advancing IOM strategic priorities;
• Enable broader use of data sources by applying quality methods to structure, clean, format, parse, and standardize for analytical use.

Support execution of projects

• Provide technical support to help inform decisions, strategies and workflows with data and information, particularly in relation to migration pathways;
• Participate in the development of process improvement mechanisms for data analytics tasks;
• Provide technical and process support to project teams in the implementation of databases, data collection systems, data analytics and other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and quality;
• Maintain close working relationships with key clients to encourage the use of data science methods that support their programmatic areas with solutions that assist them in accomplishing their mandates;
• Track and report on progress regarding department specific data initiatives;
• Contribute to mobilization of resources.

Support collaboration on data analysis across organization

• Encourage the use of data science solutions through internal stakeholder training and the provision of technical inputs for the development of products, tools and processes to augment data fluency across the organization.

You will perform any job-related activity required to meet the overall goals and objectives of GDI, as well as in coordination with IOM headquarters departments, regional and country offices where relevant.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

Collaborate with data engineers, data scientists, data analysts and other data-focused specialists; establish and maintain relationships with counterparts and technical staff in relevant Secretariat units and in UN funds, programs and other UN specialized agencies, as well as representatives in national governments, international organizations, consultants, and non-governmental oragnizations (NGOs).

Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s Degree in Data science, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, Economics or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience.
• Coursework in applied economics/econometrics/mathematics/statistics is a distinct advantage.

Experience

The following experience is required:

• A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in data science, data analytics, applied mathematics, information management or related area.

The following experience is desirable:

• Machine Learning: Demonstrable experience in applying machine learning techniques to real-world problems. This should include supervised and unsupervised learning, model evaluation, and tuning.
• Natural Language Processing: Experience with text analysis and natural language processing (NLP) techniques.
• Experience analysing data relevant to population movements (migration, displacement), such as data analysis of demand and supply in labour markets.

Skills

The following skills is required:

• Statistical Analysis: Competence in statistical analysis, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis.
• Programming: Strong programming skills in languages commonly used in data analysis, ideally R or Python.

The following skills is desirable:

• Data science: Familiarity with tools such as Jupyter, Knime, and big data tools and frameworks like Hadoop and Spark.
• Data Visualization: Proficiency in data visualization tools (e.g., Python libraries like Matplotlib, Seaborn, or data visualization platforms like Tableau).

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Notes

1 Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the Organization’s vision. Assists others to realize and develop their leadership and professional potential.
• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.p df

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates endorsed by the Appointments and Postings Board will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and background verification and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.