Statistician

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The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

The Statistics Division develops and advocates for the implementation of methodologies and standards for data collection, validation, processing and analysis of food and agriculture statistics. In 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 countries. In addition, the Division disseminates many publications, working papers and statistical yearbooks, that cover agricultural and food security relevant statistics (including prices, investments, production, trade and agri-environmental statistical data).

The Statistics Division also has a mandate to coordinate and ensure the quality of FAO statistical activities across the Organization. Within these general functions, the Statistics Division\:
1. Plans, reviews, approves and monitors the biennial statistics programme of work, including elements planned under the Priority Programme areas of the Organization;
2. Steers and facilitates FAO statistical governance, both externally and internally;
3. Develops and promotes the adoption of corporate statistical policies, standards, classifications and methodologies;
4. Establishes and monitors policies and guidelines for FAO data-related/statistical processes, from data collection to data dissemination;
5. Reviews and provides clearances to all data collection and statistical activities performed by FAO, including clearance of statistics/data-related projects, surveys, questionnaires, acquisitions and uses of non-traditional data sources for statistical purposes, data dissemination platforms, vacancy announcements and terms of reference of statisticians and data scientists;
6. Monitors institutional compliance to FAO Data and Statistical Quality Assurance Framework;
7. Supports the monitoring of FAO's results framework, in partnership with the Office of Strategy, Planning and Resources Management (OSP);
8. Coordinates statistical capacity development initiatives;
9. Liaises with Member countries to assess users' needs for statistics and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) monitoring;
10. Develops partnerships with other agencies and resource partners for collaborative work in the area of statistics.

The post is located in the Statistics Division (ESS) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Statistician reports to the Director, ESS.

Technical Focus
Under the general supervision of the Director ESS, leads the Quality Assurance efforts of the Division. More specifically, the Statistician will work in the following statistical domains\:
• Data and Statistical Quality Assurance and Management
• Development and Implementation of statistical standards, policies and tools to improve quality of FAO statistical processes and data assets
• Technical clearances of data collection, data platforms and other data-related/statistical activities performed by FAO
• Quality assurance and audits of FAO statistical processes and data assets
• Capacity development on statistical and data quality-related matters

Key Results
Comprehensive technical, statistical, analytical and/or policy analysis services and the development of specialized tools, methodologies, systems and/or databases to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of the programme of work and related products, projects, publications and services.

Key Functions
• Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams and short-term work groups, leads and/or participates in Divisional teams, participates in Organization-wide committees, project teams and working groups and provides specialized expertise on international technical networks and or technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Coordinates the collection, review, processing and/or analysis of key social/economic/environmental indicators, based on either traditional statistical methods/sources or on unstructured sources and data science methods to support the delivery of economic and social development programmes of work whether focused on products, projects, publications or services.
• Designs and develops improved/updated technical, statistical and/or analytical tools, systems and databases.
• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting in support of the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative tools and methodologies to be used within the Organization or by external stakeholders.
• Coordinates the production of a variety of technical reports and provides input in flagship publications, technical documents, Divisional publications and/or web pages.
• Coordinates and provides responses to requests and provides technical and/or policy advice, assistance and solutions to Regional, Subregional and Country Offices including technical backstopping of field projects.
• Coordinates and provides capacity development services, including the planning and organization of training workshops and seminars and the preparation of related information, materials, on-line tools and information kits.
• Coordinates the organization, conduct and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the development/production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with Corporate Strategies and Divisional plans.
• Promotes international cooperation and collaboration, advocates best practices, knowledge sharing, increased policy dialogue, and provides technical expertise at international meetings and conferences.

Specific Functions
• Ensures the overall implementation of FAO Statistics and Data Quality Assurance Framework and, as necessary, lead the revision of the framework based on most recent developments in data and statistical quality management.
• Oversees the development and monitor the implementation of corporate statistical policies, standards and tools to regulate and improve the quality of FAO statistical production processes and data assets based on the Generic statistical business process model (GSBPM) and FAO Statistics and Data Quality Assurance Framework.
• Establishes and manages quality assurance, control and audit mechanisms to monitor quality of FAO statistical processes and data assets, including data and statistics produced for non-traditional data sources such as earth observation and other big data.
• Oversees the planning, conduct and data analysis of FAO's Quality Assessment and Planning Survey (QAPS) which gathers information on all FAO's statistical activities and information systems included in FAO Biennial Statistical Programme of Work, and assesses the extent to which they meet FAO's quality standards.
• Organizes and conducts in-depth quality reviews or quality audits on specific FAO statistical processes and outputs, including the development of a proposed plan of quality reviews/audits and its endorsement by FAO Data Coordination Group (DCG) every two years, the development of the quality review/audit assessment framework, the conduct of the quality review/audits and the presentation of their findings and recommendations to the DCG.
• Identifies quality management gaps in current FAO statistical processes and data outputs and provide strategic and technical recommendations on ways to address them.
• Oversees the review and clearance of all data collection and statistical activities performed by FAO, including the clearance of statistics/data-related projects, questionnaires, acquisitions and uses of non-traditional data sources for statistical purposes, data dissemination platforms, vacancy announcements and terms of reference of statisticians and data scientists.
• Leads the development and implementation of a corporate capacity development programme on quality-related policies, standards, best practices and tools targeting FAO employees involved in statistical and data production.
• Provides support and guidance to technical units for producing and using corporate quality indicators to document the quality of FAO statistical production processes internally and externally.
• Continuously promotes a quality culture within the Organization.
• Represents ESS in international meetings related to data quality management.
• Identifies and makes specific recommendations on possible areas for joint activities and partnership between FAO and other statistical organizations to improve the quality of FAO statistical outputs.
• Performs other related duties supporting ESS' mandate as requested.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in statistics, mathematics, economics, agricultural economics or a related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in the compilation and analysis of food and agricultural statistics in national or international organizations from which at least two years focusing on quality management of data and statistical activities including the establishment of quality policies, processes and tools to achieve desired quality objectives for statistical production activities and outputs.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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

Technical/Functional Skills
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
• Strong command of statistical methods including\: data presentation, analysis and descriptive statistics; main continuous
and discrete random variables (binomial, normal, standard normal, log-normal) and their properties; probability distributions; conditional probability, probabilities of intersections of events, Bayes' theorem; correlation and rank correlation; sampling and sample size\: simple, stratified, and multistage random sampling; Inference, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and significance; linear regression (single and multiple) comparison of population means and variances, ANOVA; Chi-square and goodness of fit tests; nonlinear models\: maximum likelihood estimation; elements of survey and questionnaire design.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the compilation, validation and analysis of food and agriculture statistics.
• Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in quality assurance.
• Extent and relevance of knowledge of the main data sources used for the compilation of food and agricultural statistics,
their underlying quality limitations and how to address them.
• Extent and relevance of experience in designing, planning and managing quality reviews or other data quality
enhancement projects.
• Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in software used for processing and analysing food and agriculture
data.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting technical reports/documents.
• Demonstrated ability to mobilize resources.

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FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

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• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http\://www.whed.net/
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance\: https\://fao.service-now.com/csp

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