Chief, Data, Digital & Innovation
Organizational Context
The United Nations Development Coordination Office (DCO) in New York, part of the UN Secretariat, oversees the Resident Coordinator system to accelerate the 2030 Agenda. This role sits within the SDG Coordination, Policy, and Programme Division, reporting to the Director. The Chief, Data, Digital & Innovation Section leads the organization's efforts in data, digital solutions, and innovation, aligning with the UN 2.0 shift.
Job Purpose
The Chief, Data, Digital & Innovation Section is responsible for leading DCO's corporate data, digital solutions, and innovation initiatives to enhance business solutions across the Resident Coordinator system, in alignment with the UN 2.0 agenda. This involves transforming data into actionable insights to support evidence-based decision-making, strategy development, and execution. The role drives digital innovation, acts as a change agent by implementing a UN 2.0 transformation strategy, and fosters a digital-first mindset. It ensures the effective delivery of corporate services for data, digital, and innovation, collaborating with internal and external partners to build a robust digital ecosystem and optimize investments in technology. The position leads a specialized team focused on advancing data analytics, innovation, and digital transformation to achieve organizational objectives and sustainable development outcomes.
Responsibilities
Provide strategic guidance on developing and implementing databases, data collection systems, and analytics strategies to optimize statistical efficiency and quality. Lead and supervise a team in identifying, analyzing, and interpreting trends from structured and unstructured data. Direct the full data lifecycle analysis, including requirements, activities, and design. Translate organizational needs into strategic reporting documents, ensuring alignment with broader goals and integrating analytics into decision-making. Plan, direct, and manage the work program for data analysis, including staff supervision and performance evaluation. Oversee the development and implementation of data systems and analytics capabilities, ensuring appropriate processes and quality control. Manage strategy development and execution for key projects, reviewing implemented models against technical and strategic criteria. Collaborate with management to prioritize organizational and information needs.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of progressive experience in applied analytics, business intelligence, information management, statistics, project management, or stakeholder management is required. Experience in managing and coordinating team activities, including hiring, training, performance evaluation, and deadline management, is essential. Proficiency in data storytelling and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Qlik, R) is required. Experience with version control tools (e.g., Git), relational databases (SQL), and programming languages (Python, R) is desirable.
Skills
Analytical skills, data modeling and interpretation, report writing, team management, strategic direction, communication, teamwork, judgment, decision-making, leadership, data storytelling, data visualization, database management, programming (Python, R), SQL, project management.