Data Management Specialist [Open to Tier 0, 1 & 2 applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0 : UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1 : Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2 : UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated : All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The Human Development Report Office (HDRO) is responsible for producing the global Human Development Reports and advancing the advancing the human development approach through independent analysis, data and statistics, digital knowledge products, outreach, and policy engagement. Since the first Human Development Report in 1990 introduced the Human Development Index as a broader measure of progress beyond income alone, HDRO has continued to expand the evidence base, measurement tools, and policy discourse on human development.
Within HDRO, the Digital, Data and Knowledge Management, Outreach and National Human Development Reports team is central to how the office manages, shares, and extends the value of its knowledge. The team oversees HDRO's digital presence and platforms, curates its data systems and statistical products, and stewards the knowledge management tools and repositories that underpin the office's work. It advises on National Human Development Reports (NHDRs), supporting the network of country-level reports that translate the human development approach into national policy contexts, and leads outreach and dissemination efforts that bring HDRO's research to a global audience of policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and wider public.
Across all these functions, the team is also driving the responsible adoption of emerging technologies — including artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLM) — to strengthen how HDRO manages knowledge, expands access to its research and data, and streamlines internal workflows. In doing so, the team plays a strategic role in ensuring that human development knowledge remains not only rigorous, but also accessible, relevant, and impactful across UNDP and the wider global community.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the Digital, Data and Knowledge Management Advisor - team lead, and under the overall direction of the HDRO Director, the Data Management Specialist is responsible for managing HDRO's data systems and digital platforms, and for ensuring that HDRO's data and knowledge products are well-maintained, high-quality, and effectively disseminated.
The role has two core pillars: (i) data management — overseeing HDRO's structured and unstructured data systems, ensuring data quality, and producing data visualizations and digital storytelling products; and (ii) digital platform management — maintaining and improving HDRO's website, data platforms, and related technical infrastructure, including publishing content, performing updates, managing vendors and service providers. The Specialist will also support HDRO's emerging use of AI-enabled knowledge management tools, working in coordination with UNDP's specialized digital and AI teams and external partners, as this remains a developing area for the office.
The role requires strong data management and technical/platform skills, quality assurance discipline, user orientation, and the ability to manage vendors and work effectively across teams.

Duties and Responsibilities

Manage HDRO's data resources and produce data visualizations:

• Manage HDRO's Human Development Data Center, data exploration tools, databases, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), downloadable datasets, and related metadata and documentation, and perform regular data updates.
• Prepare, validate, document, and publish datasets in standardized formats across HDRO's data platforms, website, APIs, and knowledge products.
• Conduct data quality assurance, including consistency checks, version control, metadata review, and source validation.
• Support the integration of HDRO datasets with wider UNDP and UN data systems, standards, and taxonomies.
• Maintain organized repositories for source data, processed data, documentation, and publication-ready files.
• Develop interactive and static visualizations, dashboards, charts, and maps for HDRO reports, websites, presentations, and digital platforms, using tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Python, or R.
• Contribute to the HDR launch and participate in UNDP briefings.
• Liaise with relevant UNDP units and research institutions on data standards and interoperability needs.

Manage HDRO's digital platforms and technical infrastructure:

• Curate and update HDRO's public website using Drupal Content Management Systems (CMS) ensuring continuous operations, and that content is accurate, current, and accessible, and perform regular updates.
• Manage and perform updates to HDRO’s Human Climate Horizons data platform.
• Manage digital service accounts and workflows, including GitHub, cloud hosting, CMS, web analytics, and DNS/CDN services.
• Monitor platform performance, resolve or escalate technical issues, and coordinate with vendors and IT colleagues to ensure reliability.
• Lead procurement, contract management, and performance oversight of vendors and service providers for digital and data-related services.
• Improve accessibility, usability, and user experience across HDRO's digital products.
• Provide technical inputs to proposals, concept notes, and internal planning documents on data and digital platform needs.

Support development of AI-enabled knowledge management tools:

• Support HDRO's exploration and responsible adoption of AI and large language model tools, working closely with UNDP's specialized digital, AI, and information security teams and external vendors.
• Coordinate on the design, testing, and rollout of AI-enabled tools for knowledge retrieval, summarization, and workflow support.
• Help prepare HDRO's data and documentation for AI applications, including metadata tagging and source traceability, in coordination with technical partners.
• Support quality assurance and human-in-the-loop review of AI-supported outputs, in line with UNDP's AI governance and ethical standards.
• Monitor developments in AI and knowledge technologies relevant to HDRO's work and flag opportunities for adoption.
• Perform other relevant tasks as required.

Institutional Arrangement:

• The Specialist will be part of HDRO's Digital, Data and Knowledge Management, Outreach and NHDRs team, reporting to the team lead.

Competencies

Core:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3:

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3:

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3:

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3:

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3:

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3:

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3:

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Digital & Innovation - Data analysis:

• Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making

Digital & Innovation - Data engineering:

• Ability in programming languages such as SQL, Python, and R, be adept at finding warehousing solutions, and using ETL (Extract, Transfer, Load) tools, and understanding basic machine learning and algorithms.

Digital & Innovation - Data governance:

• Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases and operate data visualization technologies.

Digital & Innovation - Digital product management:

• Ability to design and lead digital product development including testing, ongoing product iteration, product strategy and delivery.

Communication - Web production and development:

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master´s degree or equivalent in computer science, data science or a related field is required); or A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in computer science, data science or a related field in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with Master´s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of experience in data management of structured and unstructured datasets, digital data analytics, or related discipline is required.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Strong data management skills (including Structured Query Language (SQL) with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of data with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experience with REACT, D3JS, Content Management Systems (Drupal)
• Excellent organizational and self-management skills.
• Effective team player demonstrating commitment to UNDP values and displays sensitivity and adaptability.
• Good communication and inter-personal skills.

Desired additional Skills and Competencies:

• Experience in data visualization applications
• Experience in AI/LLM tools and platforms
• Ability to communicate complex, abstract concepts using both visual, and written language.
• Knowledge and experience in using data science frameworks. Analytics and coding skills (Phython, R or similar) are a strong assest.

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.