Work for the IMF. Work for the World.
The Statistics Department (STA) provides global leadership on statistical methodologies and standards for the Fund, its member countries, and the international statistical community. It supports Fund surveillance and lending operations to strengthen member countries’ capabilities to produce and disseminate macroeconomic and financial statistics for sound policymaking. STA collaborates with other Fund departments, donors, and other external partners to ensure that data needs for bilateral and multilateral surveillance and lending operations are met.
The Statistics Department has an opening in its Data Operations division for a Data Architect/Sr. Data Architect. Under the supervision of the Division Chief and the two Deputy Division Chiefs, the Data Architect/Sr. Data Architect advises and guides in the design and implementation of a reference economic data architecture that promotes a secure, standardized, accessible, and efficient structure for the collection, organization, storage and dissemination of end-to-end data flow. Additionally, the Data Architect/Sr. Data Architect supports the Fund’s data governance bodies in the formulation of principles for strengthening economic data management practices across the Fund and to member countries.
Specific duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Designs, implements, and maintains a scalable data architecture with logical, conceptual, and physical data models that support Fund and departmental objectives and comply with data governance measures and standards. Develops design solutions for data acquisition, integration, and transformation that are scalable and reliable.
- Co-leads with the Data Architect in STADS the formulation of policies, procedures, and guidelines for strengthening the Fund’s data governance framework, including a set of directives to govern admission to the IMF Data catalogue.
- Identifies innovative technology enhancements to increase efficency, improve data quality, and analytic capabilities. Applies emerging technologies to tactical and strategic business objectives.
- Contributes to the ongoing assessments of departmental business needs and database requirements. Collaboratively identifies and implements technical solutions to simplify business functions and improve information sharing. Participates in and provides support to Fund-wide groups in the formulation and updating of information management strategies, architectures, and implementation plans.
- Coordinates with related IT domains experts and the Data Architect in DS to share knowledge on data governance practices for the Fund and develop a strategic plan for data infrastructure and platforms focused on data quality, data security, and data integration.
- Works with business stakeholders to identify critical data entities and attributes and capture how users interpret data across the Fund. Assists in garnering leadership buy-in for data management initiatives across the Fund.
- Support the division’s capacity development program to modernize data dissemination using the Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX) standard in member countries, including by providing technical assistance in data modeling of statistical datasets, tools and business processes developed by the SDMX community.
- Develops and/or applies methods, protocols, and specifications for the effective collection, exchange, storage, accessibility, and resolution of data quality issues. Assists in the development of data quality metrics that track and measure data quality continually.
- Liaise with the Fund’s Information Technology Department (ITD), Data Architect in STADS, and other international agencies on the upgrades of SDMX tools and processes required by the Fund to adapt to newer versions of the standard.
Minimum qualifications:
Educational development, typically acquired through the completion of an advanced university degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics or related field of study or equivalent, plus a minimum of six years of relevant professional experience; or a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field of study plus a minimum of twelve years of relevant professional experience, is required.
In addition to the minimum qualifications described in the job standards, the candidate should also possess some of the following:
- Demonstrated experience with designing, modeling, and implementing SDMX artifacts, including code lists and data structure definitions.
- Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of developments in data architecture, data modeling, data design, and related processes.
- Experience in contributing to IT capital projects.
- Experience with the application of statistical data management principles, concepts, techniques and methods.
- Demonstrated knowledge of end-to-end data management lifecycle.
- Strong experience with data tools integration and related processes.
- Understands interrelationships between data sets to identify ways to integrate and merge existing data sets.
- Experience prioritizing and executing data management initiatives across a diverse group of stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of metadata management and how it can be aligned with users’ needs for better discovery and retrieval of data.
- Knowledge of current and emerging technologies around data management systems and tools.
- Knowledge of the suite of models and standards developed and maintained by the international statistical community, such as the GSBPM and the GSIM, and of other international standards, is desirable. Knowledge of one or more mainstream programming language for data analytics (R, Python, Java, etc.) would be a distinct advantage.
- Strong problem-solving skills to build robust, scalable and maintainable technical solutions at scale.
- Solid knowledge of data-related Fund operations, including the Fund’s Standards for Data Dissemination, would be an asset.
The successful candidate should have an analytical mindset, with keen attention to detail and proven problem-solving skills. S/he should have a strong drive for results, with the ability to effectively prioritize and adjust quickly to changing priorities. S/he should be client-oriented, with excellent inter-personal skills and the ability to work well with a team of diverse staff, and with national authorities and staff of international agencies, in a highly collaborative environment. S/he should demonstrate exceptional collaboration skills, being able to foster teamwork, share knowledge, and build productive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders. In addition, s/he should have strong written and oral communication skills, including proven ability to communicate and explain complex issues in clear, concise and persuasive language.
This vacancy shall be filled by a 3-year Term appointment in accordance with the Fund’s new employment rules that took effect on May 1, 2015.
A regular staff member who is selected to fill the vacancy will maintain their open-ended status. If the selected candidate is a contractual employee, they will be offered a Term staff appointment. Staff members already on a term appointment will continue their current term but may receive an extension provided that their current term appointment has not already been extended.
Department:STADO Statistics Department Data Operations Division
Hiring For: A12, A13
The IMF is committed to achieving a diverse staff, including age, creed, culture, disability, educational background, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, nationality, race, religion and beliefs, and sexual orientation. We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process.