Job Description

Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.

June 12, 2026

H (no hardship)

Family

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-26

Data Policy Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The UNHCR Data Transformation Strategy 2020-2025 envisions that by 2025 UNHCR becomes a trusted leader on data and information related to refugees and other forcibly displaced and stateless persons, thereby enabling actions to protect and to empower them. The strategy envisages data and information management functions in UNHCR carried out in a complementary and inter-linked manner between Headquarters Divisions and Services, Regional Bureaux, country operations and key external partners, including forcibly displaced and stateless persons. Global Data Service translates UNHCR's data vision and strategy into implementation across the organization, through direct and indirect service delivery, coordination and collaboration, and advocacy to and with internal and external UNHCR stakeholders.
The role of the Data Policy Officer is to support corporate efforts to provide guidance on UNHCR's collection, analysis, storage, and dissemination of operational data and information relating to forcibly displaced and stateless persons and their situation, including on data protection standards.
Regardless of the location of the positions, whether at Headquarters, regional or country levels, in close consultation with relevant Divisions and other entities, the incumbent drives the initiatives aimed at setting standards, policy, and guidance for data management and encourages development of secure and interoperable operational data systems for UNHCR agility and modernization. For HQ-based positions, the Data Policy Officer engages in reviewing and validating specialized operational data standards, policies and guidance proposed and drafted by respective subject-matter experts to ensure coherence and harmonization across UNHCR. The incumbent is a reference for coordination of the efforts to monitor compliance with operational data standards across different types of data systems and processes to inform future standard setting and policy enhancement, as well as ensuring the overall reliability of evidence for data informed decisions. In line with the above, the incumbent also advances the concept of data protection/privacy by design and by default. S/he acts as a technical advisor on the interoperability of data collected both internally and externally, and how to store and disseminate non-personal data responsibly to help establish an open data culture.
For HQs positions, in accordance with UNHCR's mandate, the incumbent supports the efforts of the Global Data Service for advocacy for the interests of UNHCR populations of concern and UNHCR as an institution in global interagency data coordination fora in collaboration with other Sections of the Global Data Service, relevant Divisions, entities and Regional Bureaux as required.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Facilitate consensus on developing, consolidating, documenting, communicating and monitoring compliance with organizational data standards and policies that deliver an ethical, coherent, and quality-driven approach to data and its use for protection and solutions to forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
- Provide technical advice on data-related norms, standards and guidelines in internal policies and external agreements.
- Identify opportunities within UNHCR's external partnerships and collaborations for improving data management services for UNHCR and for UNHCR's partners.
- Uphold and ensure the respect of data protection principles, especially the data protection by design and by default concept, in all aspects related to the processing of personal forcibly displaced and stateless persons data and raise needs for further norm setting and development with the HQ DPO.
- Represent UNHCR in humanitarian and development related interagency discussions on data policy initiatives, including on data gathering, data responsibility and standards, in coordination with subject-matter experts and the relevant UNHCR interagency and external relations colleagues.
- Ensure in-house coherence and close cooperation between various entities focused on the collecting, analysing and sharing data in regards to all forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
- Consolidate and disseminate operational data standards, policies, rules and guidance from the Global Data Service, along with those of subject-matter experts and other internal data stakeholders in UNHCR.
- In collaboration with relevant Sections in the Global Data Service, Divisions and other internal entities, support the establishment of internal system interoperability of corporate operational data systems by translating UNHCR data rules into data system requirements and by mainstreaming data requirements from corporate systems into data norms and standards guidance and tools.
- Monitor compliance with data rules and standards within the Area of Responsibility (AoR), including identifying policy non-compliant or redundant corporate data systems.
- Contribute to fostering and maintaining new partnerships with UN, private sector, development partners, global level organizations and other actors geared towards achieving solutions for system-wide data interoperability and data system linkages.

For HQ positions only
- Support Regional Bureaux and the DIMAs in developing regional monitoring plans for data policy, guidance, norms and standards compliance at country level.
- Enhance UNHCR's global data standards and norms to maximize the possibility of compatibility with member states and development actor data practices in order to support social inclusion, forcibly displaced and stateless persons resilience and the objectives of the Global Compact for Refugees

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Business Administration, Information Technology, Law,
Political Science, Social Science, Economics,
Statistics, Demography, Data Science,
Development or other relevant field

Certificates and/or Licenses
Training on Emergency Registration
Operational Data Management Learning Programme
UNHCR Needs Assessment eLearning
Interagency Coordination Learning Programme
Evaluation Training
Global Learning Programme
JIPS Profiling Coordination Training
HCR Risk Management Basics & ERM Programme
HCR Leadership for Humanitarians
MLP - Management Learning Programme
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Field experience, preferably in a humanitarian context. Relevant work experience in the area of standards and policy setting, data protection and capacity development. Strong understanding of the principles and concepts of international protection and UNHCR. Ability to explain data and related systems in accessible language for business owners and to translate business requirements to data technical teams. Experience with phases of the data management lifecycle and associated methodologies. Demonstrated data literacy, especially the ability to derive information from data and present evidence to decision-making. Ability to implement policies and procedures which are adapted to the data protection, standards setting and capacity development needs. Experience working with partners, including host and donor Governments, humanitarian and development partners. Ability to innovate and design policies, structures and systems which improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the UNHCR data processes. Ability to effectively present complex information to all levels of management. Proven ability to address multiple tasks in a courteous and service-oriented manner in demanding working conditions that often have short deadlines.

Desirable
Experience in process re-engineering (process redesign, process transformation, or change management). Experience with data sharing, data management, and data analysis. Technical expertise in registration, identity or biometric management systems. Experience with UNHCR's corporate applications and operational data. Hands on experience with design and implementation of related operational data systems. Thorough understanding of relational data theory and other methods of data structure. Experience designing primary data collection systems. Knowledge of national and international statistical systems. Demonstrated understanding of civil registration and other national population registration systems. Demonstrated knowledge of UNHCR and interagency policies, standards, programmes and operations.

Functional Skills
*CO-Drafting and Documentation
*DM-Data Management
*IT-Computer Literacy
CL-Cluster Information Management Tools, Resources and Approaches
DM-Data Collection and Analysis
DM-Data collection methodologies
DM-Data governance, quality assurance and preservation
DM-Data Interoperability
DM-Data science methodologies
DM-Database Design & Development
DM-Development of and revision of data standards
DM-Population census and econometrics
DM-Protection Data Management Systems
DM-Qualitative data analysis
DM-Quantitative data analysis
IT-IT Refugee Systems & Applications
PG-Needs Assessment and Response Analysis
PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
PR-Individual Case Management
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
RG-Civil Registry Systems Analysis
UN-UN/UNHCR Inter-agency Policies, Standards, Programmes, and Partnerships
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Essential attributes:
• Experience working across HQ–regional–field interfaces in complex organizations
• Demonstrated exposure to developing or implementing guidance, standards, or policies
• Experience supporting compliance, risk, or data protection processes in operational settings

Desirable attributes:
• Familiarity with inter-agency or UN system coordination is highly desirable

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Global Data Service (GDS) oversees, guides and supports UNHCR’s data work. It covers a broad range of data dimensions, ranging from the highly operational registration work, through statistics and information management all the way to records and archives as well as overall data governance. UNHCR will undergo transformations in the coming years, which will increasingly be reliant or driven by data. The organization will develop a new Data Strategy and this will also lead to a transformation of the Global Data Service itself.  

Building on the 2020-2025 Data Transformation Strategy, UNHCR will develop a Data Strategy for the multi-year period from 2027, which will build on the data governance gains of the transformation strategy. The Data Policy Officer, reporting to the Head of GDS, operates at the intersection of Headquarters, Regional Bureaux, and country operations.

The incumbent contributes to translating strategic objectives into practical policies and standards, supporting compliance and risk management, and ensuring alignment with data protection and governance frameworks.

https://unhcr365.sharepoint.com/teams/gds-ods9/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx-sourcedoc={8D7CEC09-F083-41D9-85A8-92344FE3AE67}&file=UNHCR Data Governance Framework - Charter Draft v11 Jan 2026.docx&action=default&mobileredirect=true&DefaultItemOpen=1

Working across a decentralized and diverse operational environment, the role requires balancing normative rigor with operational feasibility, engaging a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, and supporting learning and data literacy efforts to strengthen data use across UNHCR.

The role requires a strong understanding of UNHCR as an organization, the role of formal and informal guidance as well as a strong understanding of process management across diverse operational and HQ contexts. 

He or she will build and maintain close relations with HQ Divisions and Entities, notably the Design, Development and Risk Service, and will also coordinate closely with DIMAs in the six Regional Bureaux and – as required – country operations. The incumbent will supervise one staff member working on learning.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Data Science, Bachelor of Arts: Demography, Bachelor of Arts: Development Studies, Bachelor of Arts: Economics, Bachelor of Arts: Information Technology, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science, Bachelor of Arts: Statistics

Certifications

Data Management - Other, Emergency Registration - Other, Evaluation Training - Other, Global Learning Programme - Other, HCR Leadership for Humanitarians - UNHCR, HCR Management Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Risk Management Basics & ERM Program - UNHCR, Interagency Coord Learning Program - Other, JIPS Profiling Coord Training - Other, Needs Assessment e-Learning - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Policy research & development, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Accelerated Posting Compendium 2026 - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance