Statistical/Research Assistant (IOTC Data Management Assistant)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; British Columbia; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An international organization is seeking a Statistical/Research Assistant to manage and analyze fisheries data. The candidate will ensure data quality, draft reports, and provide technical support. Applicants should have a secondary education and four years of experience in statistical support, with strong skills in statistical software and MS Office. Knowledge of fisheries and languages is advantageous. This position is located in Victoria, Seychelles.

Qualifications

• Four years of experience in statistical support work.
• Working knowledge of English (proficiency - level C).
• Very good knowledge of office technology equipment.

Responsibilities

• Select and extract relevant data for databases.
• Draft and edit statistical reports for analysis.
• Review data for consistency before processing.
• Assist in producing tabulations for publications.
• Prepare statistical material for meetings.
• Provide guidance on statistical methods.
• Recommend improvements to procedures.
• Perform other duties as required.

Skills

Statistical software use

Data analysis

Office productivity software

Teamwork

Education

Secondary School Education

Tools

MS Office applications

Statistical software

Job description

Organizational Setting

FAO's commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations. The Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) is responsible for the economic, social, institutional, governance and policy aspects of FAO's activities related to fisheries and aquaculture and their development, with particular emphasis on human well‑being, food security and poverty reduction; post‑harvest utilization, marketing and trade with due regard to the protection of the environment, food security and well‑being of fishing communities; collection, compilation, validation, trend analysis and dissemination of the best available and up‑to‑date fishery statistics and for the dissemination of FAO's information on all aspects of world fisheries and aquaculture. The Division is also responsible for FAO's activities related to the management and conservation of the living aquatic resources used by fisheries and aquaculture, including the biodiversity and ecosystem maintenance, with particular emphasis on most vulnerable and threatened species and habitats; management of responsible fisheries and aquaculture in accordance with modern management standards and best practices; development of fisheries technology, with due regard to the protection of the environment, food security and well‑being of fishing communities, including the safety of fishers and fishing vessels. The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) established in 1993 under the provisions of Article XIV of the Constitution of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The IOTC's objective is to promote cooperation among the Contracting Parties (Members) and Cooperating Non‑Contracting Parties of the IOTC with a view to ensuring, through appropriate management, the conservation and optimum utilisation of stocks covered by the organisation's establishing Agreement and encouraging sustainable development of fisheries based on such. The IOTC implements its policy and activities through its secretariat, based in Seychelles. The Commission has four key science‑based functions and responsibilities which enable it to achieve its objectives. Briefly these include: reviewing the status of the stocks and to gather, analyse and disseminate scientific information (including catch and effort statistics and other relevant data); supporting research and development activities in respect of the stocks and fisheries covered by the IOTC; adopting, on the basis of scientific evidence, Conservation and Management Measures (CMM) to ensure the conservation of the stocks covered by the Agreement; and reviewing the economic and social aspects of the fisheries based on the stocks covered by the Agreement.

The position is located in Victoria, Seychelles in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) within the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI).

Main Purpose

The Statistical/Research Assistant (IOTC Data Management Assistant) performs and coordinates the full range of technical, procedural and record‑keeping support duties contributing to statistical data collection and presentation. He /she ensures quality, validity and consistency of data and information produced and presented within his/her area of responsibility.

Supervision Received/Exercised

The Statistical/Research Assistant (IOTC Data Management Assistant) reports to the Fishery Officer (IOTC Data Coordinator). Work is performed with initiative and independent judgement. Managerial guidance received is focused on the quality and validity of results. The incumbent may provide procedural and technical guidance to other statistical support staff.

Working Relationships

The incumbent interacts, supports and cooperates with managers and staff on various levels within the Division, the entire Organization, including Decentralized Offices and external partners, in collecting and providing statistical information and analysis.

Key Functions/Results

• Select and extract relevant data to be used for construction and updating of databases or other statistical material; assist with specialised research and regularly update statistical information available in the Organisation's Website
• Draft and edit statistical reports, including tables and graphs for analysis
• Review data prior to processing for computer storage or analysis; cross‑check data in a database to identify and redress inconsistencies
• Assist with the production of tabulations for publications and/or ad‑hoc reports; use and customise statistical software to respond to data editing requests from a variety of clients
• Prepare statistical material and documentation for internal and international meetings
• Use statistical software to assist with specific analyses and programme edits, such as to identify or forecast events, patterns and causal flows
• Provide guidance to staff on relevant statistical methods, systems and procedures; orient and train other statistical support staff in the work unit
• Recommend improvements to operating procedures and systems used
• Perform other duties as required

Impact Of Work

The incumbent's work impacts directly on quality and consistency of statistical and research support activities. He/ she plays a lead role in the provision of statistical programme support services for successful achievement of the organisational unit's mandate.

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Secondary School Education
• Experience: Four years of experience in statistical support work
• Languages: Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English
• IT Skills: Very good knowledge of standard MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical Skills

• Familiarity with basic statistical methods for summarising and analysing data
• Very good knowledge of contemporary software used in statistics and data search techniques
• Experience using office productivity software (e.g., Microsoft Word, PowerPoint) for reporting and presentations
• Very good knowledge of relevant corporate computerised systems, policies and procedures
• Good knowledge of communication and documentation standards

Desirable Qualifications and Skills

• Knowledge of or interest in fisheries, marine resources, and their conservation and management
• Interest for statistics, data management, and quantitative analyses
• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail and accuracy
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of French

Residency

General Service Staff are recruited locally. To be eligible for this position, candidates must be nationals of the country of the duty station or possess an existing visa/work permit and reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of the application. "Commuting distance" means the distance within which staff members can travel daily between their place of work and their residence.