Operations Research Analyst jobs in United States

Background

The Knowledge Project is a joint initiative between UNDP's Regional Bureau for Arab States and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) established in 2008 and aimed at producing high-quality knowledge products and promoting knowledge sharing and dialogue.

2021 marked the beginning of a new phase of the Knowledge Project where main activities consisted of revising the Global Knowledge Index, revamping the knowledge4all portal and mobile application, producing the third and last edition of the Future of Knowledge Foresight Report series, and organizing Knowtalks. Among the 2023's main activities, the Knowledge Project team will start the pilot implementation of its newly launched Regional Skills Initiative. The latter aims at strengthening the transmission mechanism between skills development and poverty reduction by equipping talents in the region with core employability and soft skills, foundational digital skills, and technical skills to increase their likelihoods in finding and retaining jobs.

The initial phase of this initiative; i.e. the pilot phase targets around 5500 Arab learners from eight Arab countries and is expected to last 16 months starting in January 2023. This phase consists of conducting workshops to bring together public sector, private sector, and educational institutions' representatives in each of the targeted countries to discuss and update the skills gap analysis to tailor the offer to the priorities and challenges. Moreover, the project will start by pinning down the skills gap and planning for the future skills of the targeted groups and translate the identified needs of employers into skills that can be acquired through the proposed curricula. Applying thorough pre-selection and selection surveys, the learning content will be tailored to support the development of the right skills for the right people.

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Adviser and Project Manager, the Project and Research Analyst will be responsible for effectively managing and coordinating project activities of the Regional Skills Initiative. S/he will also provide expertise and implementation support on capacity building and resource mobilization and partnerships. The Project and Research Analyst will also facilitate and support the work with UNDP's country offices, private and public sectors, educational institutions, and entrepreneurs.

The Project and Research Analyst will lead the implementation and development of the skills initiative under the direct supervision and guidance of the Chief Technical Adviser. He/She will assume the following responsibilities and duties:

1. Project Management and Development
   • Provide analytical and strategic support to the leadership to ensure the successful implementation of the Skills Initiative.
   • Support the development and implementation of innovative and novel approaches to address the skills gap in the Arab States aligning with project objectives.
   • Support the establishment and activation of collaboration mechanisms with national and international experts to review existing national skills strategies and contribute to the development of new strategies that align with the project's vision.
   • Support in project designs, strategies, proposals, reports, and other relevant documents; and in ensuring that these documents provide strategic recommendations on skills development in the Arab States region.
   • Represent the initiative in the different national, regional, and international venues, events, and platforms.
   • Support the coordination with other similar UNDP initiatives at both country and regional levels in addition to fostering synergies and knowledge-sharing among various projects to enhance overall impact.
2. Research and Knowledge Management
   • Support the development and implementation of a comprehensive research strategy that aligns with the initiative's objectives. Define key research areas, methodologies, and timelines to ensure effective implementation and sustainable impact.
   • Monitor the collection of relevant data from national and international sources to understand the skills landscape, employment trends, and existing skilling initiatives. Develop analytical and outreach products based on the analysis of such data among other evidence to identify gaps, opportunities, and areas for intervention.
   • Develop and implement mapping activities including skills mappings, gaps analysis, stakeholder and ecosystem mappings, assessments, and similar activities and output documents.
   • Identify and document best practices and lessons learned from successful youth skilling programs globally.
   • Utilize research findings and data analysis to inform the development of evidence-based policies and youth skilling programs.
   • Support in the development of a knowledge sharing framework to disseminate research findings and key insights to relevant stakeholders, partners, and beneficiaries.
   • Contribute to the management and facilitation of workshops, seminars, and conferences to share knowledge and foster learning.
   • Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with national and international experts in the field of youth skilling to gain valuable insights and expertise.
   • Contribute to strengthening partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, and think tanks to strengthen the initiative's research capacity and access to relevant data and expertise.
   • Support the development and implementation of MEAL frameworks and tools to ensure that indicators are aligned with program objectives. Use research findings to assess the impact and effectiveness of the initiative's interventions.
   • Support the establishment of a robust knowledge management system to organize and store research data, reports, and other relevant materials. Ensure easy access to knowledge resources for the initiative's team and external stakeholders.
   • Encourage a culture of continuous learning within the initiative's team. Use research findings to identify areas for improvement and implement evidence-based changes to enhance the impact of the skilling initiative.
3. Reporting and Partnerships
   • Analyze and monitor the progress of the Skills Initiative, identifying areas of success and potential challenges. Provide timely advice on corrective actions to ensure the smooth delivery of project objectives.
   • Support on the fulfillment of different reporting requirements and deadlines.
   • Actively participate in project work planning, monitoring, and reporting.
   • Serve as the project's focal point with course providers, facilitating seamless coordination and information exchange.
   • Maintain and strengthen constructive relations with existing partners, stakeholders, and beneficiaries.
   • Proactively forge new relationships with relevant stakeholders including public and private sectors to enhance collaboration in implementing project activities.
   • Conduct partnership mapping to identify potential collaborators and resources. Engage in resource mobilization efforts including preparing funding proposals and donor briefings to secure support for the Skills Initiative.
4. Communication and Advocacy
   • Use various communication channels to raise awareness about the project's objectives and outcomes.
   • Support in corporate and advocacy efforts sharing project updates and results with relevant stakeholders and the wider community.
   • Act as a key liaison in disseminating project-related information to stakeholders, course providers, and beneficiaries. Facilitate information-sharing to maintain transparency and alignment with project goals.
5. Team building and Development
   • Support in ensuring that all members are aligned with the initiative's goals and work together seamlessly to achieve its objectives.
   • Foster a culture of inclusion and diversity within the team.
   • Support in ensuring that team members are well-informed about the initiative's progress, changes, and key decisions. Contribute to transparent communication and active listening.
   • Contribute to a positive and supportive work environment that values collaboration and innovation.
   • Contribute to a safe space for team members to express concerns and work together to find resolutions.
   • Contribute to team-building activities and workshops to strengthen team bonding and cohesion.
   • Support the professional growth and development of team members by providing training opportunities and access to relevant resources. Contribute to the learning culture within the team.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

The selected Project and Research Analyst will be working under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Adviser/Project Manager. Also, the incumbent is expected to maintain effective working relationships with the various stakeholders. S/he will supervise the Research and Coordination Associate and Project Assistant.

Competencies

CoreAchieve Results: LEVEL 2: Set and align challenging achievable objectives for multiple projects have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Proactively mitigate potential risks develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Proactively initiate and champion change manage multiple competing demands.

Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Political savvy navigate complex landscape champion interagency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic AreaNameDefinitionDigital and innovationDigital learning and development Knowledge of digital learning methods and ability to design and develop digital learning programmes.

Business Direction & StrategySystem Thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business DevelopmentKnowledge generation Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge relevant for context or responsive to a stated need.

Business ManagementCommunication Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communications; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Ability to manage communications internally and externally through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.

Partnership managementRelationship management Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners build sustain and/or strengthen working relations trust and mutual understanding.

ProsperityInclusive growth Future of work automation and technology.

ProsperityInclusive growth Job / Employment / Decent work promotion.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in education, social sciences, economics, business administration, or other related field is required.
• A first level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) with two (02) additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master's degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience

• A minimum of two (02) years (with Master's degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor's degree) of work experience in policy research and advocacy in the thematic areas of social science, skills development, upskilling and reskilling, and employment.

Required skills

• Excellent computer literacy (MS Office; Windows; Internet);
• Excellent report writing and analytical skills.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Proven experience in a similar position in UN agencies or international organization;
• Extensive experience working in the Arab States region;
• Experience in skilling workforce development, livelihoods or employability programmes and initiatives, technical or higher education programs or online programs;
• Technical experience or knowledge of massive open online courses and online education courses systems and platforms;
• Experience in maintaining and building partnerships and collaborations.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English and Arabic both oral and written is required.
• Knowledge of French is a strong asset.

Professional Certificates

N.A

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and as such we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates therefore undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information please see.