Senior Economist (Data Science)

Job Description – Senior Economist (Data Science) Grade: P4 Contract Duration: 2 years (initial, renewable subject to satisfactory performance) Duty Station Geneva, Switzerland Organizational Context The position is located in the Composite Indicator Research Section (CIRS) of the Department for Economics and Data Analytics (DEDA). CIRS studies how intellectual property (IP), innovation, and intangible assets drive economic growth, using data science to map global innovation trends and technology diffusion. It delivers flagship products such as the Global Innovation Index (GII) and supports the development and use of composite and other innovation indicators to advance innovation measurement. Purpose Statement The Senior Economist (Data Science), reporting to the head of section, drives the GII as a strategic platform, strengthening global innovation measurement, benchmarking, and policy by providing member states across nearly 140 economies with a credible and comparable basis for innovation decision‑making. Through the production and continuous development of the GII and its components, the role transforms data into actionable insights that enable governments to enhance innovation indicators, performance, and policy. Work Relations The incumbent closely collaborates with other DEDA and IES sections and cooperates with national government agencies, national and international statistical bodies, and other inter‑governmental organizations to improve IP and innovation ecosystems. Duties and Responsibilities Maximize the quality of GII World Innovation Cluster and Innovation Economy Rankings: manage the full process of GII data collection and audit, coordinate across data providers, build new data partnerships, and enforce robust quality controls to deliver the report reliably and on time. Lead the analysis and author chapters of the GII, providing substantive inputs to its components and turning complex data into clear findings for policymakers, business, and media. Build the GII infrastructure of the future leveraging technology and AI: conceptualize and oversee a modern GII data infrastructure, utilizing automation, advanced AI tools, and robust data management processes to enhance data quality and reliability. Develop the conceptual frameworks and methods underlying innovation indicators, defining measurement scope, indicator selection, and analysis, and conduct research to guide new approaches for measuring innovation and creativity. Engage member states: provide technical advice on building composite indices, promote the use of the GII to improve comparability and methodological consistency, and strengthen national technical capacities in data analysis and index development. Contribute to growth: share insights with other areas of the organization, support evidence‑based policymaking, and shape messaging and dissemination of the GII results to maximize their impact across regions and media. Perform other related duties as required. Requirements Advanced university degree in economics, data science, statistics, or related fields with developed quantitative and analytical skills. A first‑level university degree plus two years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. PhD in economics, data science, statistics, or related fields. Experience (Essential) At least seven years of professional experience in economics and data analytics, the production and development of data, and providing advice on measurement and policy. Experience in indicator development, advanced data analytics, statistical methodologies, classifications, advanced database management, AI, and managing teams of internal and external data scientists and data providers. Experience with external cloud management systems and relational databases (e.g., MariaDB, SQL). Experience working in an international setting, interacting with high‑level stakeholders, data providers, and academics. Experience with innovation economics, innovation indicators, and innovation policy. Experience advising senior policymakers on improving innovation ecosystems and metrics. Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English. Good knowledge of one or more other UN official languages, in particular Spanish. Job Related Competencies (Essential) Advanced knowledge of specialized software and information technology tools for data science, database management, and coding (in particular R and possibly Python). Excellent analytical, organizational, drafting, and project management skills. Good command of data visualization tools. Ability to handle heavy workloads and manage prioritization. Ability to supervise and guide economists, data analysts, and manage teams. Ability to coordinate database and IT requirements with external and internal solutions and suppliers. Demonstrated ability to build relationships with senior stakeholders internally and externally and influence decision‑making through credible data. Ability to maintain effective partnerships with public and private third‑party data providers and work in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. Ability to apply advanced AI tools, including to foster advanced data collection, auditing, and indicator creation. Job Related Competencies (Desirable) Good understanding of the economics of innovation, the analysis of innovation ecosystems, and related policy options. Advanced knowledge of state‑of‑the‑art approaches for the measurement of innovation. Familiarity with measuring creativity and creative outputs. Communicating effectively. Showing team spirit. Demonstrating integrity. Producing results. Showing service orientation. Seeing the big picture. Seeking change and innovation. Developing yourself and others. Mobility and Salary WIPO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director General and may be assigned to any activity, office, or duty station of the Organization. The selected candidate may be required to relocate from time to time to new functions or another duty station. Salary: net annual salary in US dollars, before tax and insurance deductions, with a post adjustment multiplier variable for cost of living. Base salary for Grade P4: $77,326 (USD). Post adjustment: $67,119. Combined, the total is $144,445 (USD). Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official UN exchange rate. Equal Opportunity Employer Applications from qualified women, qualified nationals of unrepresented Member States, and under‑represented geographical regions are encouraged. #J-18808-Ljbffr