[Hiring] ICT Specialist - Data Engineering @UNDP

Role Description

The ICT Specialist - Data Engineering will provide seasoned technical leadership, subject matter expertise, platform modernization, data governance, DataOps, and analytics enablement support to UNV ICTS. The role functions as a lead technical resource for enterprise data engineering and related platform capabilities, providing technical authority through architecture guidance, engineering standards, quality assurance, and expert advisory services rather than through direct supervision of UNV personnel.

Duties and Responsibilities

• A. Technical leadership, subject matter expertise, and enterprise data platform architecture
  • Act as a technical authority for UNV ICTS Data Teams's enterprise data engineering function.
  • Serve as UNV ICTS Data Team's technical subject matter expert for enterprise data engineering and data platform architecture.
  • Exercise independent technical judgment, establish technical best practices, and influence technology direction.
  • Establish and maintain technical standards, architectural principles, and best practices.
• B. Data integration, transformation, and engineering delivery
  • Design, develop, and optimize scalable ETL/ELT workflows.
  • Develop reusable transformation frameworks using Azure Data Factory, Databricks, PySpark/Python, SQL, Delta Lake, and related tools.
  • Implement reliable data-processing logic for batch and near-real-time data flows.
• C. Data modelling, semantic layer, and analytics enablement
  • Lead the design and enhancement of dimensional, normalized, and semantic data models.
  • Collaborate with business analysts, BI developers, and stakeholders to translate business requirements into trusted data products.
  • Support optimization of Power BI semantic models, DAX measures, and model performance.
• D. Data quality, governance, lineage, and compliance
  • Design and implement data validation frameworks and quality checks.
  • Advise on practical implementation of data governance principles and compliance-oriented controls.
  • Document business rules, data definitions, transformation logic, and data-quality thresholds.
• E. DataOps, automation, CI/CD, and observability
  • Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines for data engineering code.
  • Implement automated testing, validation, and deployment practices.
  • Establish monitoring, alerting, and logging using appropriate observability tools.
• F. Business intelligence, reporting, and decision support
  • Support the design, development, optimization, and lifecycle management of Power BI reports and dashboards.
  • Ensure BI solutions are grounded in reliable, well-governed data.
  • Contribute to improved data accessibility and usability for management reporting.
• G. Stakeholder engagement, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement
  • Work with ICTS teams, business sections, data consumers, and stakeholders to identify data needs.
  • Produce and maintain pipeline architecture diagrams, data dictionaries, and knowledge materials.
  • Participate in code reviews, peer testing, and continuous improvement activities.

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects.
• Learn Continuously: Proactively mitigate potential risks and develop new ideas.
• Adapt with Agility: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons.
• Act with Determination: Think beyond immediate tasks and take action.
• Engage and Partner: Navigate complex landscapes and champion collaboration.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Appreciate the benefits of a diverse workforce.

People Management

The position has no direct supervisory responsibilities. The role is intended to provide technical leadership and vendor/resource oversight through subject matter expertise, architecture guidance, quality assurance, and management of vendor-delivered outputs.

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

• Data Engineering: Ability in programming languages such as SQL, Python; understanding of basic machine learning.
• Data strategy and management: Knowledge to draft or execute a data strategy.
• Data governance: Knowledge of data science and skills to develop data management tools.
• Data analysis: Ability to extract, analyze, and visualize data.
• Data Management & Analytics: Knowledge in data management and data sciences.
• Solutions Architecture: Ability to design and manage information-system architecture.
• Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform, and model data.

Required Skills and Experience

• Education: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in relevant fields, or a first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience.
• Experience: Minimum five (5) years of relevant professional experience with a Master's degree, or seven (7) years with a Bachelor's degree.
• Required skills:
  • Proven experience designing and maintaining cloud data pipelines and ETL/ELT workflows.
  • Hands-on experience with Azure Data Factory or equivalent ETL/ELT tools.
  • Experience with Databricks, Delta Lake, Azure SQL, and related architectures.
  • Experience implementing data quality, validation, and governance practices.
  • Experience with CI/CD and version control for data solutions.
  • Experience supporting Power BI semantic models and dashboards.
• Desired skills:
  • Experience translating complex business requirements into enterprise data solutions.
  • Experience with Azure Functions, APIs, or event-driven workflows.
  • Experience with monitoring/observability tools.
  • Experience with AI/ML data pipelines and analytics enablement.
  • Experience with data privacy and secure data engineering practices.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required.

Other

• Candidate should demonstrate intrinsic motivation, self-direction, and strong documentation discipline.

Disclaimer

• Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
• The successful candidate will hold a UNDP NPSA contract.
• This vacancy announcement is open to Tier 1 and 2 candidates only.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity and encourages qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment and expects all selected candidates to adhere to relevant standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.

Use of AI by candidates

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

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process.