Jobs vacancy at UN, exp. March 2012

Interested in working in a great team on an exciting innovative project at the United Nations? The following jobs are currently being advertised:

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI): Mobile Data Analysis Research Project

Date of Issuance: 28 February 2012

Deadline: 5 March 2012

Submit EOI to: info@unglobalpulse.org

The UN’s Global Pulse initiative is seeking expressions of interest to perform a six-month research project analyzing Indonesian mobile phone usage data. Quantitative data analysis and research experience with analysis of large-scale mobile phone usage data or other communication records is essential. This project will require experience working in Indonesia and/or fluency in Bahasa Indonesia or Javanese. The full Terms of Reference and deliverables will be provided to qualified respondents of this EOI.

The scope of work for this research project is to conduct analysis of mobile phone usage data, focusing both on behaviors/use patterns, as well as on the structural and temporal characteristics of the mobile phone call network, and to correlate these properties with external “ground truth” data that will be made available to the researcher(s). This data may include official statistics such as census data, inflation or employment indicators, household surveys, including vulnerability assessments from UN agencies, time and location of specific events such as price shocks, crop failures or introduction of new social services and development programmes, etc. The ultimate aim is to discover potential indicators of socio-economic well-being that could one day be used for routine crisis impact monitoring and for more agile and better targeted social protection policies and programmes.

Download the full announcement, with research project details and submission information, here.

Global Pulse Project Assistant (Jakarta, Indonesia)

VACANCY DETAILS

Vacancy Code: VA/2012/NAO/DG/06-02

Post Title: Project Assistant

Post Level: LICA

Contract Type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement

Org Unit: NAO/DG/Global Pulse (Consultancy will be administered by UNOPS - www.unops.org - for Global Pulse)

Duty Station: Jakarta, Indonesia

Duration: Three months (with the possibility of an extension)

Closing Date: 29 February 2012

BACKGROUND

Global Pulse is an innovation initiative in the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General, harnessing new digital data to help the public sector understand sooner how communities are coping with the impacts of global crises. To this end, Global Pulse is developing a twenty-first century approach to impact monitoring, building social software for evidence-based decision making, and establishing a network of “Pulse Labs” to mainstream the use of real-time data analysis into development policy.

Pulse Labs are national facilities established to support the public sector by developing analytical and technological capacity for harnessing real-time data to strengthen social protection. Central to the Pulse Labs mission is the development of sustainable “dual-use” systems that simultaneously provide value directly to vulnerable communities while also generating real-time information to help the public sector understand quickly how populations are being affected, respond with agile, targeted policy interventions, and generate evidence for advocacy at the global level.

Global Pulse is establishing a Pulse Lab in Jakarta in partnership with the Government of Indonesia. The lab will function as an open innovation space where policy experts together with UN development practitioners and other partners can experiment with new types of data and emerging technologies and evaluate their potential to enhance both public policy decision-making and community resilience.

Global Pulse is recruiting a Project Assistant to support the daily operations of the Pulse Lab in Jakarta.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position reports to the Coordination Specialist in the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office. Within their delegated authority, the Project Assistant will maintain daily working relations with BAPPENAS staff, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, and UNDP staff to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery.

The Project Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

- Support the Resident Coordinator’s Office in all matters relating to UN Global Pulse in Indonesia;

- Support BAPPENAS as directed to ensure project implementation;

- Prepare regular and timely reports and keep management appraised on all aspects of project implementation;

- Liaise with UN Agency partners on project issues related to the Pulse Lab and serve as the first point of contact;

- Interact with Government officials and liaise with UN support services to oversee day-to-day project implementation, as well as liaise with funders and private sector partners;

- Provide inputs to preparation of work plans as well as assist in the proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports;

- Establish and maintain a key contacts database, including Government and other stakeholders;

- Establish and keep up to date a resource mobilization list of key contacts;

- Collect and share background information on the project with all involved parties on a regular basis;

- Support networking with relevant partners and stakeholders and ensure that Global Pulse activities are

harmonized with other UN activities in the country;

- Support public awareness events such as UN Day, exhibitions, tech industry meet-ups, the media, etc.;

- Provide administrative support to the organization of conferences, workshops, retreats and other

events;

- Prepare routine correspondence, memoranda and reports;

- Extract, input, copy and file data from various sources;

- Maintain files in hardcopy and electronic filing of all supporting and project documentation;

- Travel as necessary to support activities of the Pulse Lab

- Carry out other duties as requested by the Project Manager.

REQUIRED SELECTION CRITERIA

Corporate Competencies:

- Planning and organizing – Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates the appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently; good organizational skills; has the ability to work quickly and accurately under time constraints. Good multi-tasking skills, with the ability to coordinate, prioritize and organize workload, meet deadlines and work under pressure;

- Communication - Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others; asks questions to clarify; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Excellent web- based communication skills.

- Teamwork - Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Proven capacity to work with collaborative teams across different locations and with different technical skills. Able to work in a multicultural team environment to achieve common goals. Able to deal patiently and tactfully with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

- Professionalism - Resourcefulness, initiative, tact. Ability to maintain accurate records. Knowledge of UN administrative procedures and organizational structure. Creative and able to think outside the box in developing innovative solutions for the project. Demonstrates commitment to the UN mission, vision and values.

Functional Competencies:

- Knowledge Management and Learning - Shares knowledge and experience; actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

- Leadership and Self-Management - Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude. Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure. Ability to establish priorities to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan with minimum supervision. A high sense of initiative and good judgment. Ability to perform a variety of repetitive and routine tasks and duties. Ability to review data, identify and adjust discrepancies.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE/LANGUAGE

- Secondary level education

- At least five years of relevant experience, preferably in project administration.

- 1-2 years experience working for a UN entity, familiarity with UN Rules and Regulations.

- A good understanding of social media and the telecommunications industry is required.

- Excellent computer skills including word processing, spreadsheet and other software packages.

- Must have experience working in Indonesia.

- Fluency in Bahasa Indonesia. Fluency in oral and written English. Knowledge of an additional official language of the United Nations is desirable.

Additional Considerations

- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

- Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.

- Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

- UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post. Please note that this is a local post and is open to all nationals of the country of the duty station and to individuals who have a valid work permit.

For more information on UNOPS, please visit the UNOPS website at www.unops.org.

HOW TO APPLY

Qualified candidates may submit their application, including a letter of interest, complete Curriculum Vitae and an updated United Nations Personal History Form (P.11) (available on our website), via e-mail to DGVAS@unops.org. Kindly indicate the vacancy number and the post title in the subject line when applying by email.