Under the supervision of the Director, DAPM, the Chief Data Officer provides intellectual, managerial, technical and advocacy leadership in UNICEF for the safe use of cutting-edge tools and platforms as well as all forms of data at global, regional and country levels within the overall mission of UNICEF to promote the rights of every child. The post is also the senior position with authority in UNICEF to promulgate and uphold standards of responsibility and ethics in data produced or used by any part of UNICEF. Additionally, the Chief Data Officer leads and manages the team, including mobilization of the resources they need to function. The Chief Data Officer’s Office/Team is composed of the Data Governance & Strategy Unit (including Data Protection & Privacy) and the Data Communications Unit. It is also matrixed with the Programme Effectiveness Team’s Safeguarding Unit. Under the supervision of the Director, DAPM, the Chief Data Officer will:
Lead, manage, guide and represent the technical work of DAPM’s Office of the CDO:
Development and implementation of a data policy
Complete the Data Policy and relevant procedures, create the procedures, tools, communities and guidance for effective implementation of the Policy on Personal Data Protection to strengthen UNICEF’s action on Data Protection
Establish a Data Governance mechanism (with or separate from Digital governance)
Reflect issues of AI in Data Policy or support a new policy on UNICEF’s use of AI
Ensure that all data-related policies include reference to data in emergencies
Drive implementation of policies and governance across HQ divisions, RO (Regional Office) and CO (Country Office) offices. CDO will play a key role in building up the network of senior data leaders to support organization-wide rollout of a harmonized data approach.
Guidance and building of Data Culture and Capacity as part of DAPM’s strategy on strengthening the Planning, Monitoring, Data and Analytics functions; including special considerations for emergencies
Support and guide community and learning pathways to foster:
Data savviness, Data leadership,
Data stewardship including data planning,
Data analytical capabilities (led by Chief Statistician)
Data advocacy and communication
Oversee the transformation of data action planning in every office, hooked into the country programme management cycle, and centered around cross-functional teams that deliver priority use cases for children.
UNICEF data architecture and management including data sharing
Lead UNICEF thinking and design of data architecture to ensure data are safely available across UNICEF to support analytical needs – this in close collaboration with ICTD (Information and Communication Technology Division) as they develop or review digital systems
Support and guide the roll out and further development of tools and policies to support master data management
Establish policy and guidance, and where necessary direct technical advice, to improve data quality to serve data needs including data ready for use in the development of AI systems and applications
Ensure data governance including data responsibility are embedded in data management tools and practices by all actors in UNICEF, guide the selection of data management tools to serve implementation of data governance
Guide setting up of structures to support data management within each office (bringing together data, monitoring, ICT/T4D, emergency and programme practitioners and sharing their data)
Stronger data responsibility across all levels of the organization:
Ensure all the policy environment (and tools to support its implementation) on protection of personal and non-personal yet sensitive data, including a reference level for resolution of issues
Support RD4C being mainstreamed into planning and implementation of data activities including in emergency situations and protracted humanitarian situations
Responsible use of AI and other analytical tools using Big Data
Guide use cases on implementation of AI in
internal systems (working in close collaboration with HQ Divisions),
UNICEF programming, and
advocacy with Governments to make AI work for children
Support intersection of the statisticians in DAPM, Programme Group, the Centre of Excellence for Tech for Development, the Office of Innovation for use of AI in programmes
Support the Frontier Data Network bringing knowledge and other resources into UNICEF to help countries, and FDN nodes and communities to build capacity within UNICEF
Directly and with partners, contribute to development of national data systems to function in emergency as well as development situations to:
incorporate RD4C principles and tools
improve Administrative Data Systems (joint with Chief Statistician and Programme Group)
Frontier Data and related analytics (through nodes jointly with Chief Statistician)
Lead within, across and outside the Organization on Data governance, advocacy, knowledge management and communication:
Lead data elements of relevant UNICEF bodies such as Digital Transformation Board; Global Management Team; AI Steering Committee
Represent UNICEF as leading data expert in external fora such as those working on a global system of data governance, AI governance, Statistical data and metadata exchange (SDMX), digital/data commons and lead strategic positioning of UNICEF on data issues within and beyond the UN system including support to products of the Chief Statistician’s office
Lead UNICEF’s knowledge management and communities on data including through mechanisms such as the Evidence Helpdesk and SharePoint site; contributing to internal and external knowledge-sharing fora; and guiding development of analytical capacities in country offices to bring together different knowledge streams to address country issues
Manage, nurture and develop DAPM’s Office of the CDO and its people:
People Management
Manage and maintain the highest quality standards for efficient and effective operation of the Unit, including recruitment, orientation and supervision of professional and support staff, formulation and monitoring of the annual workplan, management and monitoring of the budget including approval of travel plans, fulfilment of reporting requirements and oversight of day-to-day issues as required
Resource mobilization:
Identify, develop, pursue and secure funding opportunities for UNICEF’s data strategy work with multilateral and bilateral agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sector foundations and other donors, all in conjunction with D&A Section
Advocate and plan for distribution of funds within UNICEF to support this new and crucial area of work
Oversee management of the relevant budgets and supervise the reporting to ensure timely fulfilment of donor reporting requirements
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in any data-related discipline (including – but not limited to – data science, statistics, economics, demographics) which could be an MBA. Specific, formal training and/or knowledge around the concepts of Data Governance, Use, Protection and Privacy is considered an asset.
A minimum of thirteen (13) years of progressively responsible experience at national and international levels in generation and use of statistics or other data as well as other areas that could include applied statistics, information systems and data interpretation and championing the safe use of those data for impact. At least 6 out of the 13 years required in senior leadership and management positions required.
Demonstrated experience as a data professional with demonstrated ability to show the value of data to the “business” (whether in public or private sector organizations), and has worked to maximise that value for better results.
Demonstrated experience working with and retaining a good working relationship with all forms of data tech, from data management to analysis, from storage to communication.
Experience in and understanding of how to create and sustain a system of data governance which is enabling for the responsible and ethical collection, analysis and use of data.
Demonstrated capacity to lead teams.
Experience with leadership in managing relevant multi-partner projects and partnerships.
Experience managing and influencing change in a large organization among partners and stakeholders outside of direct supervision scope.
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
