Senior Statisticians at the African Union

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).  We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Statistician

Requisition ID: 781
Locations: Addis Ababa - Ethiopia and Morocco
Organization: African Union Commission - AUC
Reports to: Principal Officer, Migration Statistics
Directorate/Department : African Migration Observatory/ HHS.
Division: Office of the Deputy Director, Migration Statistics Unit
Number of Direct Reports: 5
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Job Grade: P3
Contract  Type: Regular
Slot: 5 Openings

Purpose of Job

• Reporting to the Principal Officer (Migration Statistics), the Senior Statistician is responsible for collecting, compiling, analysing, interpreting quantitative data and communicating results to users with the aid of statistical techniques and computer programmes.
• S/he ensures that complex statistical concepts are explained in a way the users can understand, and advise on strategy.

Main Functions

• Develop strategic and annual activity work-plans for his/her assigned AU Region in line with the Observatory’s strategic goals, objectives and priorities.
• Present and defend resource requirements needed to carry out the annual regional work-plan.
• Develop technical proposals and budgets on surveys in accordance with the Observatory’s strategic priorities.

Specific Responsibilities

• Design and implement data gathering/management computer systems and software
• Work closely with AU Member States and RECS to collect data, assess results, analyse trends and make forecasts.
• Apply statistical methodology to complex data.
• Organize regional and continental workshops, seminars and conferences;
• Contribute to the compilation of briefing notes, strategy documents, and regular regional/continental reports on migration.
• Participate in relevant regional/continental working groups to ensure coordination of work plan development, implementation strategies and evaluation plans for applicable activities.
• Present information in a variety of formats, conveying complex information to end users.
• Monitor data collected throughout its shelf life.
• Oversee the monitoring and supervision of consultants commissioned to undertake surveys for the Observatory.
• Monitor performance and prepare progress reports against annual work-plans and recommend changes to activities under his/her purview.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Principal Officer, Migration Statistics.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• A Master's Degree in a numerate discipline such as Statistics, Demography, Mathematics, Computer Science or Survey Methodology or other related disciplines with seven (7) years continuous and combined work experience in the following areas, out of which three (3) should be at supervisory level:
• Working with survey data and secondary data.
• Proven track-record of working and liaising with high-level government and donor officials.
• Demonstrable experience in supervising and leading teams, and delegating tasks and authority.
• Demonstrable experience in drafting technical documents for executive level consumption and/or peer review.
• An understanding of the African Union way of working and managing associated relationships with Member States/RECs and partners is preferred.
• Planning and implementing large-scale statistical surveys.
• Mastery of migration issues on the continent is expected.
• An understanding of the African migration landscape.
• Proven experience interacting with international and regional public partner agencies.

Required Skills:

• Excellent capacity to conceptualize, plan, develop, implement, monitor and evaluate programmes.
• Ability to work under pressure, stay on track and meet deadlines
• Personal commitment, goal oriented and drive for results, flexibility and respect for diversity.    
• Ability to operate in a multicultural environment.
• High level of autonomy at work, yet with profound team-spirit
• Strong written and oral communication skills, in particular proven ability to write clear and concise reports;
• Experience with statistical applications and methods for social research.
• Knowledge and advanced use of at least two of the following tools: R, Sawtooth CBC/HB, Stata, SAS, SPSS, Matlab, Python, XLStat
• Demonstrated ability with regard to computer skills, including word-processing, proficiency with e-mail and internet applications and experience in using office software applications such as MS Excel, Power Point and Word.
• Proficiency in at least one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese or Spanish). Knowledge of one more or several other working languages would be an added advantage.
• Adaptive, patient, resourceful, resilient and flexible
• Pro-active and solutions oriented
• Strong analytical skills and mathematical ability. A clear understanding of statistical terms and concepts
• Excellent written and oral communication, problem-solving skills
• Ability to communicate results and findings to non-statisticians
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Inter-personal skills, including experience in interacting with stakeholders and decision-makers in order to build strong collaborative relationships with governments and partners.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight
• Developing others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous improvement orientation

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous improvement orientation

Tenure of Appointment

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period.
• Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Gender Mainstreaming:

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Languages:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Remuneration
Indicative basic salary of US$ 37,453.00 (P3 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (48% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 18,547.20  (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Application Deadline  17th January, 2022.