OVERVIEW
The Technical Manager (TM) supports the technical program, activities and products of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD), a global multi-stakeholder initiative to improve the production, analysis and use of data for sustainable development, housed at the United Nations Foundation.
The TM, working closely with the Director for Data Ecosystems Development and other colleagues, will be responsible for supporting country level engagements intended to catalyze progress on addressing key data issues for sustainable development at both national and subnational levels. In addition, the TM will provide expertise and support on other technical aspects of the GPSDD strategy and workplan including the use of APIs to drive innovation on data for sustainable development. The TM should also be well versed in the latest technology and data sharing and use methodologies and tools and have some background in data science to support the overall activities of the GPSDD Secretariat as well as our country level stakeholders.
The GPSDD is a fast-growing, dynamic international partnership bringing together over 200 different organizations including governments, UN agencies, private companies, civil society organizations, and many others. We convene, connect and catalyze action to address the problems of poor data use, access, quality and production, and to work with stakeholders to fully harness the new opportunities of the data revolution in the service of sustainable development. We aim to link and align action, capacities and resources across geographies, sectors and data communities.
We are looking for a dynamic and well-rounded Technical Manager who can easily engage at the country level, especially within a developing country context, to identify and support how data and technology can best support needs based on local context. The position will also guide how the GPSDD brings Partners together to strengthen data ecosystems, and how open data, earth observation and geospatial data, big data and citizen generated data can be accessed and used to achieve the SDGs and sustainable development more broadly.
RESPONSIBILITIES
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Work closely with the Director for Data Ecosystems Development to further define the overall strategy and workplan for data ecosystems to support the GPSDD network and development of in-country data ecosystems.
- Engage on a regular cadence with our country partners to identify key points of engagement to further support their data roadmap for sustainable development process.
- Engage with select technical partners to identify opportunities for their engagement in support of country level implementation on the SDGs.
- Further support the development of modules for the Data4SDGs Toolbox.
- Further support the development of API Highways including identifying relevant data clusters for incorporation, guide iterative development stages, and drive usage to increase the number of visualizations and applications.
- Drive innovation on API Highways through organizing challenges and hackathons.
- Provide recommendations on how our overall online experience can be better used to more readily connect supply and demand including facilitating the exchange of lessons learned.
- Support the development of case studies and blogs about innovation on the use of data and technology to support sustainable development and social good.
- Represent GPSDD as needed, at public events including in country engagements with our country partners
- Other duties as assigned.
SELECTION CRITERIA
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Master's degree required in public policy, data science, geography, statistics, natural resources, international development, sustainable development or other relevant field, plus 7-10 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience with policy influence and communications in data science, statistics, or international affairs preferred.
- Experience developing data programs and strategies especially within a developing country context.
- Experience designing workshop processes with country officials and extended stakeholders to understand needs and drive outcomes.
- Demonstrated understanding of APIs and technical issues including principles and standards, interoperability, open data, data visualization and apps, and data for action and decision making.
- Well versed on key issues, challenges and opportunities across data communities (official statistics, geospatial, big data, open data, IoT, and citizen generated data.
- Excellent writing, editing, interpersonal, and oral communications skills.
- Creativity and a strong knowledge of new ways to communicate about data.
- Attention to detail and adherence to deadlines.
- Strong skills working in teams and across many types of organizations – collaborator; problem solver; relationship-builder; with a knack for convening stakeholders across varied sectors.
- Sense of humor; highly organized; demonstrates grace under pressure; and delivers results in a fast-paced environment.
- A willingness to travel, domestically and internationally (around 25-35%, depending on needs) and the ability to interact with people from diverse, multi-cultural backgrounds.
- Ability to meet regular attendance/tardiness policy.
- Ability to work under pressure and handle stress.