Senior Econometrician

Vacancy No: RAPS/2/2015/STATISTICS/01 Title: Senior Econometrician Grade: P.4 Contract type: Fixed-term Appointment	Date: 21 May 2015 Application Deadline (midnight Geneva time) 21 June 2015 (14 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications   Organization unit:   DDG/P STATISTICS Duty Station:  Geneva, Switzerland
General introduction The following are eligible to apply: - ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations. - External candidates. Staff members with at least five years of continuous service with the Office are encouraged to apply and will be given special consideration at the screening and evaluation stage. In accordance with the Staff Regulations and letters of appointment, successful candidates for positions in the Professional category would be expected to take up different assignments (field and Headquarters) during their career, the desirable length of an assignment in any specific position being two to five years, following which the incumbent should be willing to move to another assignment and/or duty station. Within the context of the Office's renewed efforts to promote mobility, staff members seeking mobility are encouraged to apply to vacancies. Mobility will be given special consideration at the screening and evaluation stages. The specific language requirements for this position are detailed hereunder. Candidates whose mother tongue is not one of the ILO working languages (English, French and Spanish) shall possess a fully satisfactory working knowledge of at least one of the working languages in order to apply. If appointed, and if so required as per the position requirements, they may be required to acquire a working knowledge of a second working language during their initial years of service in the Office. The ILO values diversity among its staff. We welcome applicants from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to erecruit@ilo.org. Applications from qualified candidates from non- or under-represented member States, or from those member States which staffing forecasts indicate will become non- or under-represented in the near future, would be particularly welcome. A list of these countries is in Appendix I. Successful completion of the Assessment Centre is required for all external candidates. Conditions of employment are described in Appendix II.
INTRODUCTION The position is located in the Data Production and Analysis Unit of the Department of Statistics (STATISTICS). The Department is responsible for compiling and making available in a timely manner ILO statistics related to the world of work. It coordinates statistical activities and oversees the quality control. STATISTICS supports the development of international statistical standards in the field of labour through the International Conference of Labour Statisticians, the UN Statistical Office and other international fora. As a priority, it provides ILO constituents with technical assistance to improve their ability to produce primary data in accordance with agreed standards. The Data Production and Analysis Unit is responsible for the main ILO statistical database ILOSTAT, a pillar of the ILO knowledge system. The position is responsible for the timely production of labour and decent work statistics, by specified geographical coverage, production of statistical briefs and publications, further development of indicators and carrying out of capacity building initiatives. The incumbent reports to the Head of the Data Production and Analysis Unit.
Description of Duties 1.Develop and implement new statistical methods and revise existing econometric models and statistical methods for imputation of missing national data, estimation and analysis of decent work and labour market data and related macroeconomic, demographic and social indicators. 2.Maintain and further develop the ILO's Economically Active Population, Estimates and Projections (EAPEP) model and related econometric models for regional and global estimation of main labour market indicators. Apply and maintain regular seasonal adjustment methods to existing and future selected short term time series included in ILOSTAT. 3.Conduct high-quality labour market statistical analysis for publication in ILO reports, including Short-Term Indicators statistical briefs and analytical statistical reports on the Key Indicators of the Labour Market, as well as other special reports, including reporting to the G20 and on the Sustainable Development Goals. 4.Produce country-level econometric estimation and projection models in support of activities and projects aimed at strengthening national labour market information systems. This will include occupational projections models to examine shifts in the occupational structure of economies, in occupational demand and to determine skills mismatches with potential implications for education, TVET and skills systems. This work will involve close collaboration with national statistical offices and labour and planning Ministries, as well as other units in the ILO. 5.Draft technical guides and training materials on econometric methods and models for labour market estimation, imputation, projections and statistical analysis, including seasonal adjustment methods. Provide training to ILO constituents on these topics. 6.Compile indicators and conduct statistical and econometric analysis on the basis of microdata from household and establishment surveys in order to provide inputs to statistical and analytical products of the Office. This will require close collaboration with the Microdata and Knowledge Management Unit. 7.Provide guidance and oversee the work of staff dedicated to the compilation of decent work indicators and labour market data ensuring that team outputs are according to quality standards and concepts based on internationally agreed definitions as those agreed by the International Conference of Labour Statisticians. 8.Develop and strengthen relationships with other international organizations, research institutes and academic institutions aimed at enhancing ILO's capacity to expand its repository of labour statistics, and increase its visibility in the area of econometric modelling for labour markets in order to provide better products to its constituents. These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties: 1. Responsible for the development of a work programme in a selected field of labour statistics and other related topics. Initiate, coordinate and ensure the collection, evaluation, processing and dissemination of statistical data. Develop appropriate methods, plan surveys and other statistical inquiries for obtaining the relevant data. 2.Supervise and coordinate establishment of databases. 3.Ensure the quality of collected data for accuracy, consistency and comparability. 4.Develop new or revise existing statistical methods and quantitative models for analyses and estimates. 5.Develop and revise international standards on statistical concepts, definitions, classifications and methods and write manuals to assist countries and other constituents in their statistical development while ensuring international comparability. 6.Provide administrative and technical backstopping, guidance and advice to other ILO technical departments; field experts and constituents of the Organization in the planning, operation and evaluation of statistical programmes. 7.Organize seminars, workshops, training sessions, expert meetings etc. within and outside the Organization. Represent the Organization at various meetings. Prepare relevant reports. 8.Promote cooperation and maintain liaison with other related fields within the organization and with relevant statistical agencies, both national and international.
Required Qualifications
Education Advanced university degree in Economics or other social sciences with strong background in quantitative methods, economic analysis and econometric models. Knowledge of computer science and its application to statistical work.
Experience Eight years of professional experience at the national level or five years at the international level which should include experience in developing, handling, analysing and maintaining large scale statistical databases. Experience as an advanced user of popular statistical packages like SPSS, Stata, and particularly with seasonal adjustment packages like DEMETRA, TRAMO or similar. Demonstrated work experience in supervising staff in the collection, data quality assurance and dissemination of statistical data. Demonstrated experience in analysing micro data, using statistical methods and quantitative models for analysing of labour statistics at an advanced level. Proven publications record.
Languages (See also above) Excellent command of one working language of the Organization (English, French, Spanish) and working knowledge of a second. One of these languages should be English.
Competencies  In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires: Technical competencies - Ability to: conceptualize statistical problems and find solutions; negotiate and agree on the transfer/exchange of information and to ensure the relevance and validity of statistical information for dissemination; initiate and execute projects; synthesize research and reach empirically based conclusions on related topics; formulate new concepts and methodologies, training materials, alternative courses of action and project proposals; prepare technical reports and advice, recommendations and standards; communicate econometric models and statistical concepts in a clear way to different audiences; evaluate and monitor technical cooperation activities and projects and supervise the work of junior staff. Behavioural competencies - Ability to lead and engage in teamwork in a multi-cultural setting. Gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required.
Additional Information: Evaluation (which may include one or several written tests and a pre-interview competency-based assessment centre) and the interviews will tentatively take place between August and October 2015. Candidates are requested to ensure their availability should they be short listed for further consideration.
APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR WRITTEN TEST.
APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW.
APPENDIX I
Angola Antigua and Barbuda Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Barbados Belize Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Cabo Verde, Republic of Cambodia Chad China Congo Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Djibouti Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Gabon Gambia Georgia Grenada Guatemala Guyana Haiti Iceland Indonesia Iraq Japan Kazakhstan Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Latvia Liberia Libya Maldives, Republic of the Malta Marshall Islands Montenegro Mozambique Namibia Nicaragua Oman Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Poland Qatar Republic of Korea Russian Federation Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Solomon Islands Somalia South Sudan, Republic of Suriname Swaziland Syrian Arab Republic Tajikistan Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu United Arab Emirates United States of America Uzbekistan Vanuatu Yemen
APPENDIX II CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules. - The first contract will be issued for a twelve-month period (for Geneva-based positions) and a twenty-four month period (for non Geneva-based positions) - A successful external candidate will be on probation for the first two years of assignment. - Any extension of contract beyond the probation period is subject to satisfactory conduct and performance. Grade: P.4 Salary and post adjustment (with dependants) US$ Salary Minimum 72605 rising to Maximum 94720 Post adjustment for Geneva Minimum 67958 Maximum 88657 Salary and post adjustment (without dependants) US$ Salary Minimum 67611 Maximum Maximum 87613 Post adjustment for Geneva Minimum 63283 Maximum 82005
Please note that the above salary levels are determined according to the criteria established by the International Civil Service Commission. The ILO is international public sector employer and salary and other employment conditions are not negotiable. Other allowances and benefits subject to specific terms of appointment: Children's allowance (except for the first child if the dependent rate of salary is paid in respect of that child); Children's education grant (per child per year); Pension and Health Insurance schemes; 30 working days' annual leave; Assignment Grant; Entitlement to transport expenses of personal effects; Repatriation Grant; Home-leave travel with eligible dependants every two years; Rental subsidy (if applicable). Recruitment is normally made at the initial step in the grade. Salaries and emoluments are exempt from taxation by the Swiss authorities and, on the basis of international agreements or national law relating to presence or residence abroad, are generally exempt from taxation by other governments. In the absence of exemption, in most cases tax paid will be reimbursed in accordance with an ILO document which will be supplied upon request. While the successful candidate will be initially working in Geneva, he/she may be assigned to any duty station designated by the Director-General of the ILO.
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO's e-Recruitment website at: erecruit.ilo.org. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants. Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including assessment centres, technical tests or interviews.