Data Specialist

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

Organizational Setting

The Statistics Division (ESS) develops and advocates for the implementation of methodologies and standards for data collection validation processing and analysis of food and agriculture these statistical domains it also plays a vital role in the compilation processing and dissemination of internationally comparable data and provides essential capacity building support to member addition the Division disseminates many publications working papers and statistical yearbooks which cover statistics relevant to agricultural and food security (including prices production trade and agri-environmental statistical data). The Statistics Division is involved in the management of a number of large-scale projects aimed at improving statistical methodologies and establishing best practices for the collection collation processing dissemination and use of data relevant to food security agriculture and rural areas.

ESS is also mandated to strengthen the coordination of FAO statistical activities to monitor the implementation of statistical standards across the statistical units and to provide quality assurance to all FAO statistical processes and statistical outputs. Within this context the SDW project on the modernization and integration of the FAO statistical system is funded by Capital expenditures Fund (CAPEX) and aims to achieve the (i) implementation of an integrated Statistical Data Warehouse (SDW) and (ii) build a harmonized dissemination platform for FAO statistics.

Reporting Lines

Consultants and PSA subscribers in ESS will work under the general supervision of the Chief Statistician/Director of the Statistics Division and under the direct supervision of the Dissemination and Outreach Team Leader. They may be called upon to collaborate with other FAO Divisions and teams.

Technical Focus

Consultants and PSA subscribers will support the data migration from FAO databases and systems to the Statistical Data Warehouse for dissemination in the external platform. They will use technical and analytical skills to analyse data and communicate their findings.

Tasks and responsibilities

Consultants and PSA subscribers will contribute to and/or take responsibility for one or more of the following tasks:
Conduct data cleaning preparation validation and analysis of statistical datasets for integration into the data warehouse.
Build routines to manipulate and transform the data inputs and automatize the transfer of data inputs from various data sources and formats.
Support management of SDMX structural metadata.
Conduct quality checks of data and structural metadata outputs (disseminated data and data prepared by automated systems) in compliance with statistical standards and prepare reports on the quality.
Develop routines for automatic data reporting and exchange from the dissemination platform to other platforms.
Develop methods and routines using relevant tools to improve data management and automation of data integration.
Create data visualizations using relevant software.
Collaborate with stakeholders relevant to the Statistical Data Warehouse Project.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

For Consultants: Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Statistics Mathematics Data Sciences Computer Sciences Data Management or related disciplines; Consultants with bachelors degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
For PSAs: University degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Statistics Mathematics Data Sciences Computer Sciences Data Management or related disciplines.
At least five years of years of relevant experience in collecting manipulating analysing and disseminating significant amounts of statistical data.
Working knowledge (level C) of English.

FAO Core Competencies

Results Focus
Teamwork
Communication
Building Effective Relationships
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

Extent of knowledge and relevant experience in statistical data management and data dissemination.
Extent of knowledge of and relevant experience in the use of at least one of the data analysis tools such as R Python SQL and Excel.
Extent of knowledge of and relevant experience in relational databases database design and database systems such as MySQL PostgreSQL or MS SQL is desirable.
Knowledge of the Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX) standard and compliant tools will be an asset (such as dotStatSuite FMR FMR workbench).
Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.

HOW TO APPLY