Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP provides integrated programmatic, policy and financing solutions to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, UNDP has created a Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and the Crisis Bureau (CB) are the two anchor Bureaux of the GPN.

In this context, the newly established Governance, Rule of Law, and Peacebuilding (GRP) Hub, a joint endeavor with the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), provides leadership and advisory services to enhance UNDP’s impact on governance and peacebuilding, ensuring the integration of democratic governance and human rights into crisis response and recovery. 

Through Local Action, the GRP Hub seeks to contribute to peace and development, achieving a visible impact on communities and improving lives by delivering integrated solutions that harness global expertise and partnerships. The Local Action Unit works closely with local and regional governments as key development players, highlighting their role as public service implementers, as drivers of innovation and the closest institution to people. 

Local and regional governments are already responsible of over 65% of the SDG targets, most of them linked to basic service provision from water, sanitation, mobility, climate action, health or education. Cities and territories are playing a big part on the implementation of SDGs, that are becoming a new tool for strategic planning and budgeting in the mid to long-term. Since 2015, local governments and their associations have been increasingly active in promoting the SDGs through advocacy, working with their local population and partners in transposing the spirit of Agenda 2030 in cities and territories. Local Governments have also started to use SDGs as a strategic framework to deliver better and more innovative public services linked to SDG targets and indicators. As part of the SDG Local Action project, UNDP is one of the implementing partners of the Mayors Challenge, a global initiative to reimagine the most essential services that cities deliver to residents.

Within this context, the SDG Local Action project is seeking to recruit a Tech Lead Analyst, Software Engineering and Data Science to support the implementation of the 2025 Mayors Challenge project in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The project implements a data-driven public policy methodology to anticipate citizens’ needs and proactively offer services, with potential for replication across different target groups. Its initial application takes place through the Plataforma Pequenos Cariocas, a priority initiative of the Rio de Janeiro City Hall focused on early childhood. The project uses the Integrated Municipal Registry (RMI), a consolidated database in the municipal data lake integrating information from Health, Education, and Social Assistance, enabling advanced analytics and a more integrated view of citizens. Based on this infrastructure, the project combines analytical models and proactive communications, especially via WhatsApp, to expand access to services and generate data that supports more effective public policies. The Tech Lead Analyst will provide senior technical leadership for the design, development, integration, and sustainability of the project’s data and software solutions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager and in close coordination with IplanRio, relevant municipal technical teams, and UNDP, the Tech Lead Analyst, Software Engineering and Data Science will perform the following functions:

A. Lead data engineering and integration

• Lead the modeling, integration, and transformation of data from multiple municipal secretariats into the Integrated Municipal Registry (RMI); 
• Oversee the development and maintenance of reproducible, scalable, and well-documented data pipelines; 
• Ensure data quality, consistency, traceability, and governance across project data assets; 
• Guide technical decisions related to data architecture and interoperability. 

B. Lead analytical and machine learning development

• Lead the development of analytical and machine learning models to identify patterns, risks, and opportunities relevant to public service delivery; 
• Oversee exploratory data analysis and validation processes to generate actionable insights; 
• Ensure appropriate model testing, monitoring, and refinement over time; 
• Apply and promote the use of model interpretability techniques, where relevant. 

C. Support product development and decision-making

• Translate analytical results into practical recommendations and data products for public policy use; 
• Work closely with technical teams and sectoral teams to align solutions with operational and policy needs; 
• Contribute to the design of proactive communication and service delivery mechanisms informed by data. 

D. Ensure technical standards,  sustainability and knowledge management 

• Establish and promote best practices for versioning, documentation, reproducibility, and code quality; 
• Contribute to the definition of technical standards, architecture, and implementation approaches for the project; 
• Support the long-term sustainability, maintainability, and scalability of the solution; 
• Provide technical guidance to other team members and facilitate collaboration across disciplines. 

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the project. 

Institutional Arrangements

The Tech Lead Analyst will act in close coordination with the Project manager, allocated at IplanRio, municipal technical teams from the City Hall, including the relevant teams from Health, Education, and Social Assistance, and UNDP, contributing to the technical implementation of the project.

The Analyst will report to the Advisor, cities and local governments based in UNDP HQ in New York, USA.

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build and/or /maintain coalitions/partnership.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

Functional/Technical competencies

Business Management: Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels. 

Business Management 

• Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making. 

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system. 

Digital

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum two (2) years (with a master’s degree)  or four (4) years of (with a Bachelor’s degree) of  qualifying experience includes in data modeling and machine learning, complex data and integration of multiple sources, developing analytical pipelines, software development.

Required  skills:

Desired additional skills:

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Portuguese and English is required.

Professional Certificates

• Technical certifications in cloud platforms, data engineering, machine learning, or software development are an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.