Associate Data Scientist

Hardship Level

D

Family Type

Non Family with Residential Location

Family Type

Non Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Residential location (if applicable)

Budapest, Hungary

Grade

PR2

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date

2025-06-11

Deadline for Applications

July 3, 2025

Standard Job Description

Associate Data Scientist

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The UNHCR Data Transformation Strategy 2020-2025 envisions that by 2025 UNHCR becomes a trusted leader on data and information related to refugees and other persons of concern, thereby enabling actions that protect, include and empower. The Strategy stipulates investing in four complementary priority areas: data management and governance; information systems; capacities and skill development; and culture for evidence-informed decision-making.
The Associate Data Scientist will apply innovative methods (e.g. machine learning / AI, data mining, remote sensing, topic extraction, predictive analytics, etc.) and explore the use of innovative data sources (e.g. big data, geospatial data and imagery, etc.) to improve the production, analysis and dissemination of data in global forced displacement and statelessness situations. In these areas, the incumbent will oversee and implement research and analytics, recommend and facilitate enhancements to data systems and processes, provide training and capacity building, and represent the organization at the technical level in relevant fora. The Associate Data Scientist will thereby play a crucial role in helping UNHCR harness the power and potential of these innovative techniques and data sources, achieve the vision of the Data Transformation Strategy, and further enhance its ability to save lives, protect rights and build a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.
The Associate Data Scientist reports to a senior staff member in the Division/Bureau or to the Senior Data Scientist in the Global Data Service. The incumbent will work closely with relevant colleagues in delivering the expected outcomes for the concerned entity. The incumbent will also liaise with external partners and stakeholders as/when required. S/he may directly supervise staff at the General Service category.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.


Duties
- Apply data science techniques to global forced displacement and statelessness situations to improve both understanding of population behaviour, needs, and vulnerabilities as well as capacity to monitor and evaluate the impact of UNHCR policies and programmes.
- Draft concept papers, prepare background analyses, and briefings to build support for the use of data analytics and data science techniques throughout UNHCR, in collaboration with relevant Services and Divisions.
- Provide consultation and guidance to non-technical audiences and develop and implement guidance on integrating advanced data and analysis in routine decision-making processes.
- Promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture. Conduct trainings to improve technical and research skills of headquarters and field staff in the area of data science and/or advanced statistical analysis, in collaboration with the Global Learning and Development Centre.
- Contribute to the research on the use of alternative data sources to produce data on global forced displacement and statelessness situations.
- Facilitate open access to anonymized forced displacement data while addressing protection and privacy concerns over microdata managed by UNHCR.
- Advance analytical techniques and data quality assurance approaches in UNHCR, bringing them in line with international statistical standards and analytical best practices.
- Apply predictive analytics techniques to produce population statistics.
- Contribute to the visualisation and reporting of data findings creatively in a variety of formats.
- Support the development and enhancement of UNHCR data systems interoperability and systematic adoption by providing advice on data science techniques.
- Support the dialogue across UNHCR in collaboration with the appropriate colleagues for improvement of inter-operability and responsible access to corporate systems
- Contribute to the delivery of high-profile analytical products, in consultation with the relevant operational teams, including field operations.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).

- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Economics,
Computer Science, Public Policy, Demography,
Geography, Engineering Quantitative Social Sciences
or other relevant field with a focus on data science.

Certificates and/or Licenses
UNHCR ODM Module 7 Registration Module 8 and Module 5
HCR Operational Data Management Learning Programme
Information Management Evaluation Training
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Strong quantitative background in statistics, economics, mathematical or computer science modelling or similar; experience in data collection, management, cleaning, processing, and applied analysis using statistical software or computer/programming languages such as Python, Stata, SAS, R, SPSS, MATLAB, SQL etc. Experience in ensuring the operational relevance of analytical and/or research work. Solid understanding of forced displacement-related issues. Drive, proven sense of initiative, results orientation, flexibility, leadership qualities, as well as effective teamwork skills. Experience working with Big Data and/or Statistical Learning methods. Experience writing technical reports. Experience presenting work to both technical and non-technical audiences. Willingness to experiment in data innovation and big data and push the boundaries in applying technical skills for development and humanitarian action. Ability to work flexibly, creatively and to multitask as the need arises. A high degree of self-motivation, positive attitude and drive.

Desirable
Experience in process re-engineering (process redesign, process transformation, or change management). Experience with data sharing, data anonymization, statistical disclosure control, data management, and data analysis. Experience with data visualization tools such as D3.js, Power BI and Tableau. Experience with UNHCR's corporate applications and operational data. Demonstrated understanding of civil registration and other national population registration systems. Knowledge of UNHCR and interagency policies, standards, programmes and operations.

Functional Skills
DM-Data Collection and Analysis
DM-Data collection methodologies
DM-Data Interoperability
DM-Data Management
DM-Data science methodologies
DM-Population census and econometrics
DM-Qualitative data analysis
DM-Quantitative data analysis
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Coordination in Forced Displacement situations
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.


All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

The incumbent must demonstrate strong technical expertise in systems and applications development / maintenance. The candidate should exhibit sound judgment, effective communication skills, and a proactive, team-oriented mindset. A proven ability to supervise and collaborate with staff is essential. Familiarity with the operational challenges specific to the context in Ukraine is also required.

Key responsibilities include maintaining and enhancing the SIDAR (Shelter Information Damage and Response) application, managing bulk data uploads, and training users and partners on SIDAR functionalities. The role also involves creating data visualizations using Power BI.

The incumbent should possess hands-on experience with AngularJS, Node.js, MS SQL Server, and .NET, HTML, CSS.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

,

,

Desired languages

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Under the overall supervision of Senior Information Management Officer, the Associate Data Scientist will be responsible to manage, maintain and improve the Shelter Information Damage Assessment and Response (SIDAR) system.

The Shelter Information Damage Assessment & Response Database (SIDAR), developed in response to the full-scale Russian invasion, is a unified damage database with practical applications for shelter and housing responses in Ukraine. This tool, a joint initiative by the Shelter Cluster and UNHCR, is developed in coordination with Ukrainian authorities and Shelter/NFI Cluster partners. It offers shelter response actors access to up-to-date information on the extent of damage at the address level, along with details on whether repairs are planned, ongoing, or completed. The HNRP 2025 highlights SIDAR as a key operational support tool for ongoing emergency responses and the transition to durable solutions.

Living and Working Conditions

Ukraine is currently designated as a non-family country location, with Dnipro and Kharkiv classified as “E” duty stations and Odesa as a “D” duty station with 4-week R&R cycle, whereas Kyiv and Lviv are classified as “D” duty station with 6-week RR Cycle and Budapest being a designated R&R location for all duty stations. English is not widely spoken, access to hard currency is possible from local banks (rents are normally paid in USD). International staff rent private apartments in the cities of their duty stations. The quality of life is of average European standard, with relatively solid infrastructure. However, the volatile security situation, which includes frequent missile and drone attacks that trigger air raid alarms, requiring immediate move to the shelters (frequently during nights) affects the living and working environment on everyday basis resulting with sleep deprivation, high levels of stress, affecting the staff welfare and wellbeing. In addition, due to massive attacks on the country’s critical infrastructure there are frequent and prolonged electricity power cuts, coupled with lack of generators in private multistorey buildings and apartments, which may also affect elevators, heating, water, and possible sewage systems, leading to an overall unpredictable and at times difficult living situation, especially in winter. Due to the state of war, there is a country wide curfew in place from 00:00-05:00 every day. Also, all airports are closed, and air-traffic is not available, resulting in travel within and in and out from/to Ukraine being done mainly by car and local trains, supported by official shuttle for Poland and Moldova border crossing. Average train ride combined with shuttle by road from Kyiv to Poland, Hungary or Moldova airports ranges from 11-17 hours with train tickets selling very quickly. Movement between different locations within and outside Ukraine is not allowed during workdays and weekends/public holidays unless there is a specific approval from the Agency Representative.  

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been present in Ukraine since 1994 and substantially increased its presence and response after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The geographical presence within Ukraine has significatively expanded to deliver the emergency response. The country office is located in the capital, Kyiv, and sub- and field offices are currently located in Dnipro, Kyiv, L’viv, Odesa and Kharkiv.

The war in Ukraine has caused death and suffering on a dramatic scale. In 2025, more than 12.7 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection, according to the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. Some 3.7 million people are internally displaced, while around 6.8 million refugees from Ukraine are recorded across Europe and beyond. Some 75,000 people, including some of the most vulnerable notable older people and people with disabilities, live in collective sites spread across the country. Ukraine also hosts asylum-seekers and refugees and is home to thousands of people who are stateless or at risk of statelessness.

The massive destruction of civilian infrastructure, with the energy sector being particularly targeted has made life extremely challenging for millions of people who have lost their homes and livelihoods, and has severely disrupted access to electricity, water, heating as well as critical services, including healthcare, education and social protection services. Humanitarian access continues to be hampered, particularly in frontline areas as well as to areas under temporary occupation of the Russian Federation. Civilians remain exposed to serious risks to their physical security and integrity, particularly in eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. The risk of GBV, including sexual violence, continues to prevail, alongside family separations, loss of housing and properties, as well as identity and civil documentation. Populations displaced or otherwise affected by the war live in situations of deprivation, following the loss or damage of their housing, loss of income, and often become dependent on an overstretched social protection system.  

The Government of Ukraine maintains a strong lead role in responding to the needs of its population and UNHCR supports the Government and its central and local institutions to provide protection, shelter/housing, cash and in-kind assistance to displaced and other people impacted by the war. Currently, UNHCR has MOUs with five-line ministries, the First Lady’s foundation as well as the Office of the Ombudsman, 19 regional state administrations and agreements with 14 partners to deliver assistance and support the localization of the response.

Under the leadership of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, UNHCR operates as part of the Inter-agency humanitarian response, working in close coordination with local authorities and humanitarian partners. UNHCR is leading three clusters - Protection, Shelter and NFIs, and CCCM. The strategic orientation of UNHCR’s response is to reach people, particularly those with specific vulnerabilities, who remain in frontline and heavily affected areas with immediate relief while supporting displaced people and those who have remained in their homes, or returned, with protection advice, housing support, livelihoods advice and cash assistance to enable their recovery and attainment of durable solutions.

Protection needs to be truly at the center of this response, as the highest critical needs of the population caused by the international armed conflict are in the area of protection. Since Ukraine is a highly sophisticated country with a strong government leadership and well-established administrative, social protection and digital systems, it is essential to design and deliver UNHCR’s protection programs in a way which simultaneously addresses immediate needs and supports the further development of sustainable and inclusive national protection systems.

With the EU having voted to confirm Ukraine’s accession to the EU at the end of 2023, Ukraine will also embark on a series of substantial and long-term reforms in numerous sectors, including justice and home affairs, which presents an opportunity to contribute to strengthened and more inclusive protection, asylum and statelessness reduction systems. Working closely with government authorities, local community representatives and partners from the embassies, UN, civil society and international financial institutions, amongst others, is thus key to ensuring that UNHCR’s response is closely aligned with and complementary of national and local strategies and recovery plans.

As the war continues, new urgent humanitarian needs are created every day, alongside protracted ones and peoples’ and communities’ efforts to recover and rebuild their lives in war-torn communities. Among the IDPs and refugees from Ukraine, the majority express a hope and desire to return to their homes as soon as the security situation allows. The protection needs of the population thus need to be analyzed and addressed both from a humanitarian as well as from an early recovery and durable solutions perspective, with UNHCR playing a leading role in this work.

Security:

The international armed conflict in Ukraine is ongoing and the Russian Federation Armed Forces temporarily occupy parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The frontline is the primary area of kinetic military operations, particularly in the eastern, and southeastern regions, and north of Kharkiv.  Cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, aero-ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been targeting vital civilian and military sites, including airports, since the start of the invasion. As a result, commercial air travel is suspended, and vehicles and trains are the only modes of transportation. Since 2023, there has been an increase in attacks targeting civilian infrastructure throughout the country.

Whilst the UN has not been targeted directly, the threat of collateral damage continues to remain in place, with cases of UNHCR IPs reporting collateral damages, and several humanitarian workers recorded as been killed and injured since the start of the full-scale invasion. The UN Security Management System (UNSMS) applies a comprehensive Security Risk Management (SRM) process to identify security threats and evaluate risk levels. The security risk levels are regularly reviewed. Currently, the most significant threats and hazards are associated with the international armed conflict, with current risk levels ranging from “high” to “Very High” or “Unacceptable” in areas with ongoing hostilities.

This has resulted in a decrease of humanitarian space, making it difficult and sometimes impossible to access people in need in frontline areas.  When assessing risk levels, the security personnel and the UNHCR Representative, as part of the country’s Security Management Team, adhere to the SRM process as defined by the UNSMS. In general, the projected risk level in all three SRM areas where the UN/HCR operates is “High”.

Therefore, applicants for positions in Ukraine should be prepared to work in a highly dynamic security environment where unexpected events occur frequently. Air raids are common, and staff may be required to work from bunkers or underground car parks, metro stations, and other locations for extended periods. Power and water outages are to be expected and will make life more challenging during the winter months. Depending on the evolution of the war, disruptions to public services such as shops, banks, and restaurants may occur. Curfews are in place throughout the country, and mission travel must be authorized by the Representative or designated managers, subject to the completion of mandatory BSAFE, SSAFE, and IFAK training and security clearance procedures. Private trips within the country are prohibited for international staff.

The Field Security Unit works closely with UNDSS and other interlocutors of the UNSMS to ensure that program activities can be implemented within the acceptable level of risk by following the required measures and procedures set up and approved by the Designated Official. Due to the country's evolving operational and security environment, UNHCR needs to maintain strong security contingency preparedness supporting its mandate of providing protection and assistance to people in need.

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

DM-Data Collection and Analysis, DM-Data collection methodologies, DM-Data Interoperability, DM-Data Management, DM-Data science methodologies, DM-Population census and econometrics, DM-Qualitative data analysis, DM-Quantitative data analysis, IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Coordination in Forced Displacement situations

Education

Bachelor of Arts: Applied Mathematics, Bachelor of Arts: Computer Science, Bachelor of Arts: Data Science, Bachelor of Arts: Demography, Bachelor of Arts: Economics, Bachelor of Arts: Geography, Bachelor of Arts: Public Policy, Bachelor of Arts: Statistics

Certifications

HCR ODM Module 7 Registration - UNHCR, HCR Operational Data Management Learning Program - UNHCR, Information Management - Other

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Change capability & adaptability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Bi-Annual 2025 Compendium - Part B

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearance