Associate Data Specialist
Organizational Context
The UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), part of the UN Secretariat's Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO), support countries in achieving development priorities and SDGs. This reform-driven initiative, recalibrated in 2026, focuses on data, digital, innovation, and a mission-driven culture. The Associate Data Analyst role is situated within the UN RCO in Colombo, Sri Lanka, reporting to the Head of the RCO.
Job Purpose
The Associate Data Analyst plays a crucial role in supporting the UN Resident Coordinator Office's mission by developing and implementing databases, data collection systems, and analytics to optimize statistical efficiency and quality. This involves collaborating with internal and external counterparts, including UN agencies, consultants, and NGOs, to share information and best practices. The role contributes to the UN's reform efforts by enhancing data-driven decision-making, supporting the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs, and fostering the UN 2.0 shift towards data, digital, and innovation. The analyst will also contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning products, develop reports and dashboards, and assist in capacity-building initiatives for staff and national partners.
Responsibilities
Implement and maintain databases, data collection systems, and analytics to enhance statistical efficiency and quality. Analyze and interpret trends and patterns using statistical methods, identifying key features and variables from data sources. Acquire, clean, and manage data, while implementing process improvements for data analytics tasks. Develop monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) products for UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks. Co-design digital tools and dashboards with national statistical partners to track SDG progress. Create reports, dashboards, and visualizations to communicate findings and support decision-making. Track progress on data initiatives and contribute to data product creation. Gather business requirements to identify pain points and support data-driven analysis. Integrate monitoring milestones and indicators into data pipelines. Assist in UNCT statistical capacity-building and provide support for data-related training and 'data clinics'.
Work Experience
A minimum of two years of progressive experience in data manipulation and analysis, including foundational concepts like data structures and statistical methods, is required. Experience with the full data lifecycle (collection, wrangling, analysis, visualization, deployment, monitoring, reporting) is also necessary. Experience in quality assurance of data analysis outputs is required. Experience in communicating complex technical matters and assessing data accuracy/consistency is desirable.
Skills
Analytical thinking, Strategic thinking, Data validation, Data analysis and interpretation, Communication of technical matters, Data life cycle management, Statistical methods, Technological awareness, Planning and organizing, Working collaboratively.