Senior Economist (Data Science)

The Senior Economist (Data Science) leads the Global Innovation Index (GII) as a strategic platform, enhancing global innovation measurement and policy by providing credible and comparable innovation data to Member States. The role involves managing data collection, developing innovation indicators, leveraging AI and technology, and advising Member States on innovation metrics and policy improvements.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full process of GII data collection and audit, coordinating across data providers, building new data partnerships and enforcing 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, turning complex data into clear findings for policymakers, business and media.
• Enhance the availability, accuracy and strategic use of innovation data by conceptualizing and overseeing a modern GII data infrastructure leveraging automation, advanced AI tools and robust data management processes.
• Contribute to the conceptual frameworks and methods underlying innovation indicators, defining measurement scope, indicator selection and analysis, including via the GII Innovation Ecosystems & Data Explorer and its profiles.
• Conduct research to guide new approaches aimed at closing gaps in measuring innovation and creativity, focusing on big and micro-data and scalable, comparable, high-quality indicators.
• Anticipate emerging innovation and develop next generation GII indicators across innovation finance, linkages, emerging technology areas, and real-world impact, drawing on big data and new sources.
• Provide technical advice to Member States on building composite indices, including subnational levels, and promote use of GII to improve comparability and methodological consistency of innovation metrics.
• Strengthen evidence-based policymaking by advising Member States on improving innovation performance and supporting GII National Task Forces worldwide.
• Share insights with other areas of the organization to support evidence based policy-making and shape messaging and dissemination of GII results to maximize impact.
• Build strategic partnerships and actively promote accession to WIPO treaties and greater use of WIPO Global IP Services.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in economics, data science, statistics, or related fields with developed quantitative and analytical skills in economics and/or data science.
• A first-level university degree plus two years of relevant professional experience in addition to the required experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• PhD in economics, data science, statistics, or related fields is desirable.
• At least seven years of professional experience in economics and data analytics, data production and development, and providing advice on measurement and policy.
• Experience in indicator development, advanced data analytics, statistical methodologies and 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, including interacting with high-level stakeholders, data providers, and academics.
• Experience with innovation economics, innovation indicators and innovation policy is desirable.
• Experience advising senior policy makers on improving innovation ecosystems and metrics is desirable.
• Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.
• Good knowledge of one or more other UN official languages, in particular Spanish, is desirable.
• Advanced knowledge of specialized software and IT tools for data science, database management, and coding (in particular R and possibly Python) in the context of composite indicators production.
• 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 and effective use of data and best practices.
• 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 to foster advanced data collection, auditing and indicator creation.
• Good understanding of the economics of innovation, analysis of innovation ecosystems and related policy options is desirable.
• Advanced knowledge of state-of-the-art approaches for the measurement of innovation is desirable.
• Familiarity with measuring creativity and creative outputs is desirable.

Skills

• Economics
• Data Science
• Statistical Methods
• Quantitative Analysis
• Data Analytics
• Indicator Development
• Database Management
• AI Tools Usage
• Team Management
• Cloud Management Solutions
• Relational Databases
• MariaDB
• SQL
• R Programming
• Python Programming
• Data Visualization
• Project Management
• Policy Advice
• Innovation Economics
• Innovation Indicators

Languages

English