Senior Statistical Assistant - Observatory for Cultural Statistics
OVERVIEW
Post Number : 1CAUIS0100PA
Grade : G-6
Parent Sector : UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Duty Station: Montreal
Job Family: Culture
Type of contract : Project Appointment
Duration of contract : 1 year
Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 31-JANUARY-2026
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
Duration of contract: 1 year with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
Background
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), established in 1999, is UNESCO’s statistical agency for 193 member states and 12 associated members. UIS provides internationally comparable data in education, science, culture, and communication and information, develops international standards and supports development capacity.
UIS’ 2022–2029 Medium-Term Strategy aims to ensure policymaking is based on reliable statistics, helping countries track progress toward national and global goals and learn from global experience. The UIS maintains education, culture and science and technology statistics databases– the official source of data of the UN system, used for various purposes, including for the global monitoring of SDG.
Purpose
The Senior Statistical Assistant will work in the Observatory for Cultural Statistics within the Science, Culture and Communication Statistics Section. In addition, to the regular tasks, the work will entail the modernization and expansion of the Observatory’s statistical processes and indicator production.
The Senior Statistical Assistant reports to an Associate Programme Specialist under the overall supervision of the Head of Section. The incumbent works within a multi-functional team comprising statisticians and thematic experts that contributes to the core mandate of the UIS with a focus on the Institute’s three strategic pillars of activity: the development of international norms, standards and methodologies, data production and brokerage and outreach.
The role includes maintaining regular communication with national statistical offices and ministries of culture and coordinating with other units within UIS. The position requires a strong attention to detail, adherence to statistical standards, and a commitment to ensuring the accuracy and usability of UIS culture data by global, regional, and national stakeholders.
Long Description
Main tasks and responsibilities
Within delegated authority, Senior Statistical Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:
- Compile, clean, validate, and process statistical data from multiple sources, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
- Maintain statistical series, indicators, databases, and metadata in line with UIS methodologies and international standards.
- Modernize cultural data production procedures to support the data collection and processing on cultural statistics.
- Modernize and automate the production of data from external data sources.
- Maintain the contact database of the Observatory for Cultural Statistics
Produce analytical outputs (charts, tables, dashboards) and prepare customized datasets to support production of analytical reports, reporting and decision-making. - Contribute to technical documentation, guidelines, and capacity-building materials to support data use and dissemination.
- Collaborate with colleagues across units to improve data workflows and perform other related duties as required.
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Completion of secondary, technical or vocational education is required.
Work Experience
- A minimum of eight years of experience in data processing, statistical analysis, or database management is required.
- Experience in the use of statistical software for data validation and processing, such as R, Python and management of large databases and multi-source datasets is required.
- Good knowledge of MS Excel, SQL and PowerPoint is required.
- Experience in data visualization applications (Tableau or similar) is required.
Skills and competencies
- An aptitude for numbers and the ability to present statistics in tabular and graphic form are required.
- Strong ability to manage and analyse large data sets with a statistical package.
- Strong organizational and analytical skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Excellent Oral and written communication skills.
Languages
- Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken) and good knowledge of French (written and spoken).
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- University degree or advanced university degree in data science, analytics, statistics, economics or a related field is desirable.
Work Experience
- Experience in Survey design and knowledge of Lime Survey (or similar software) is desirable.
- Experience with official statistics is desirable.
- Experience in data scripting is desirable.
- Experience in computer programming (e.g. Java) is desirable.
- Experience of working in cultural statistics is desirable.
- Experience in an international or multicultural context.
- Experience of working in a development context.
Languages
- Good working knowledge of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish) would be an asset.
BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS
UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc.
The approximate annual starting salary for this position is 55,741 CAD. For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.
SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as an interview.
UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.
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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.
UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
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