Statistics Officer/Adviser – Social (GEDSI)

• Noumea-based position
• Attractive expatriate package
• Join the principal development organisation in the region

 

Description

The Pacific Community (SPC) is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, supporting development since 1947. We are an international development organisation owned and governed by our 27 country and territory members. In pursuit of sustainable development to benefit Pacific people, our unique organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health surveillance, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Statistics for Development Division (SDD) is based in SPC’s headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia. The division employs approximately 30-45 staff, all of whom are all based in Noumea. SDD’s goal is to help the Pacific Island Countries and Territories achieve “highly competent and sustainable national statistics systems that meet national and international statistics needs for evidence-based policy, planning and monitoring.” SDD has a regional statistical system leadership and coordination role; and also supports the region directly in data infrastructure, collection, statistical methodology, analysis and dissemination.

The role – the Statistics Officer /Adviser – Social (Gender, Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion) will shape and lead SDD’s work program to strengthen the production, availability, analysis and use of statistics on gender, equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) and related social statistics for Pacific Island countries and territories, including guiding statistical production, and providing statistical technical support and training.

 

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Ways of working

• Contribute as an individual and team-member to the organisational or ‘ways of working’ objectives in the division business plan.
• Coordinate support for gender, equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) statistics with the rest of the team and division’s activities and ways of working as well as with regional frameworks and priorities.
• Ensure other divisional staff are actively engaged in this role’s activities through peer review, shared projects and code, coordinated missions and tasks, and joint authorship.

Development and improvement of Pacific gender, equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) and related social statistics and indicators

• Ensure well designed and run programs of work are implemented to improve Pacific Gender Statistics and Pacific Disability Statistics through concrete actions in partnership with member countries and development partners.
• Work in close collaboration with other SPC Divisions, including Human Rights and Social Development (HRSD) to ensure GEDSI statistics and data needs are identified and addressed.
• Review and report periodically progress in the development of GEDSI statistics and indicators across countries.
• Represent professionally SDD and region in international technical working groups.
• Foster and maintain regular liaison and technical collaboration with key technical partners (including UNW, UNICEF, ABS, ADB, UNESCAP, UN Stats, Stats NZ, PIFS, MSG, SIAP, USP).

Collection, analysis, dissemination and communication of GEDSI and related social statistics and indicators

• Collect, compile, analyse and classify gender, human rights and related social statistics in collaboration with member countries using census, survey and administrative data as the primary data sources.
• Produce statistics and indicators using appropriate statistical methods with respect to international best practices and standards.
• Ensure statistics and indicators are compiled into national, sub-regional and regional statistics tables and indicators are regularly updated and disseminated through the Pacific Data Hub in collaboration with other SDD team members.
• Develop analytical reports, fact sheets and other knowledge products for the Pacific region and countries using GEDSI statistics and indicators in collaboration with PICTs and other SDD team members.
• Produce technical papers and guidance on gender, human rights and related social statistics and indicators in the Pacific.

Technical assistance, training and support

• Provide timely and useful responses to member country and other user requests for assistance with the sourcing and analysis of gender, human rights and related social statistics and indicators.
• Ensure formal training is provided, including workshops, on-the-job-training and supervising professional attachments in the collection, analysis and reporting of gender, human rights and related social statistics.
• Support HRSD in identifying and meeting GEDSI data needs through official statistics and indicators.
• Ensure support is provided to improve and innovate data collection methodologies in GEDSI and in addressing risks and ethical challenges in sensitive topics, in order to expand the information needed to fill research and data gaps.
• Maintain partnership and collaboration with other agencies involved in monitoring GEDSI issues in the region, including UN Women, HRMI and other related agencies and ministries.

 

For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.

 

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in statistics, data science, gender, development studies or other academic discipline related to the role.

Technical expertise

• Relevant experience in official statistics or related areas. 10 years’ experience is desirable for the Statistics Adviser level and 5 years’ experience is desirable for the Statistics Officer
• Strong understanding of Pacific and/or international GEDSI statistics and issues.
• Strong skills and demonstrated experience with the production, analysis and interpretation of census, survey and administrative data related to gender, disability and human rights.
• additionally, for appointment at the Statistics Adviser level, understanding of the importance of statistics and data for policy development and planning, including for sustainable development goals.
• Good understanding of the challenges developing countries (particularly small island states) face in the collection, production, analysis and use of official statistics.

Language skills

• Excellent oral and written English language communication, and competence in writing and delivering technical reports and presentations.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Demonstrated ability to work with people from different national and cultural backgrounds.

 

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – This vacant position is budgeted for 3 years and is subject to renewal depending on performance and funding.

Remuneration – Appointment will be made at either the Statistics Adviser – Social (Gender, Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion) level band 11 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 4,206-5,161 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 622,159-763,470 (USD 5,594-6,865; EUR 5,214-6,398); or the Statistics Officer – Social (Gender, Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion) level band 9 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 3,209 – 3,915 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 474,675 – 579,141 (USD 4,268-5,207; EUR 3,978-4,853) . An offer of appointment for an initial contract will be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews. SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia.

Benefits for international staff employees based in New Caledonia – SPC provides subsidised housing in Noumea. Establishment and repatriation grant, removal expenses, airfares, home leave travel, health and life and disability insurances and education allowances are available for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Employees are entitled to 25 working days of annual leave per annum and other types of leave, and access to SPC’s Provident Fund (contributing 8% of salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution).

Languages – SPC’s working languages are English and French.

Recruitment principles – SPC’s recruitment is based on merit and fairness, and candidates are competing in a selection process that is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory. SPC is an equal-opportunity employer, and is committed to cultural and gender diversity, including bilinguism, and will seek to attract and appoint candidates who respect these values. Due attention is given to gender equity and the maintenance of strong representation from Pacific Island professionals.  If two interviewed candidates are ranked equal by the selection panel, preference will begiven to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s private policy.

 

Application procedure

Closing date: 12 May 2024 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference: CR000218

Applicants must apply online at http://careers.spc.int/

Hard copies of applications will not be accepted.

For your application to be considered, you must provide us with:

• an updated resume with contact details for three professional referees
• a cover letter detailing your skills, experience and interest in this position
• responses to all screening questions

Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage if all the above documents are not provided. Applicants should not attach copies of qualifications or letters of reference.  

Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.

SPC does not charge a fee to consider your application and will never ask for your banking or financial information during the recruitment process.

Screening questions (maximum of 2,000 characters per question):

1. Please share your experience in the collection, processing, analysis and/or dissemination of statistics on gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI).
2. Which area(s) of GEDSI statistics are you specialised in? Provide examples of how you show your thought leadership in this area.
3. Provide an example of your experience in building capability for statistics production and use. What strategies did you use, what challenges did you face, and how did you overcome these challenges?

 

Position Description