Statistician (Food Security And Nutrition)

Job Description - Statistician (Food Security And Nutrition) )

Job Overview

The Statistics Division (ESS) at FAO develops and advocates for the implementation of methodologies and standards for data collection, validation, processing and analysis, particularly in the food and agriculture statistics domain. The incumbent will work in the Food Security and Nutrition Statistics team and coordinate the implementation of projects that generate reliable food security and nutrition statistics to inform monitoring frameworks, classification systems and policy interventions.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the implementation of two key initiatives: producing reliable information on food security and nutrition to guide policies and interventions to end hunger and malnutrition, and supporting governments to improve the affordability of healthy diets.
• Provide technical and managerial leadership, overseeing the design, implementation and quality assurance of statistical programmes and projects.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams, participate in divisional and organization‑wide committees, and provide specialized expertise on international technical networks and standard‑setting bodies.
• Coordinate the collection, review, processing and analysis of key social/economic/environmental indicators using traditional and data‑science methods.
• Design and develop technical, statistical, analytical tools, systems and databases.
• Conduct research, data collection, validation, analysis and reporting to support development of standards and innovative methodologies.
• Produce technical reports and contribute to flagship publications and technical documents.
• Provide technical and policy advice to regional, subregional and country offices, and serve as technical focal point for projects.
• Plan and deliver capacity development activities, including training workshops, seminars, and online tools.
• Assist in resource mobilisation, procurement and contract management, and support project governance and reporting.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in statistics, mathematics, economics, agricultural economics or a related field.
• At least seven years of relevant experience in food security and nutrition statistics, including design, implementation, quality assurance of programmes, methodological development, indicator production, capacity development and partnership coordination.
• Working knowledge (Proficiency Level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (Level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
• Strong command of statistical methods: data presentation, analysis and descriptive statistics; probability distributions; inference, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing; linear and nonlinear regression; survey and questionnaire design.
• Experience in compilation, validation and analysis of statistics, survey methodology, and use of statistical software.
• Experience managing statistical programmes and capacity‑development projects at national and regional levels.
• Demonstrated ability to mobilise resources.

EEO Statement

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non‑and under‑represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
• All applications will be treated with strict confidentiality.

Benefits

• A competitive compensation and benefits package in accordance with UN salaries.
• Dependency allowances.
• Rental subsidy.
• Education grant for children.
• Home leave travel.
• 30 working days of annual leave per year.
• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund.
• International health insurance; optional life insurance.
• Disability protection.

General Information

• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• Extension of fixed‑term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds.
• Appointment will be subject to medical fitness, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.