Research Associate, Research Analyst, Data Scientist

UNU-WIDER is looking for an outstanding individual with strong commitment and potential to support the research programme of the Institute. Closing date: 27 October 2017, 23:59 UTC+3.

The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars, engaged in research, postgraduate teaching and capacity development, and dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity-building, to solutions to the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

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UNU-WIDER is a leading international development economics think tank. The Institute provides economic analysis and policy advice with the aim of promoting sustainable and equitable development for all. It is a unique blend of think tank, research institute, and UN agency — providing a range of services from policy advice to governments, as well as freely available original research. For more information on UNU-WIDER and its work programme, please visit www.wider.unu.edu

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UNU-WIDER is in the process of setting up a joint research, policy and capacity-building programme with the National Treasury (NT) of the Republic of South Africa that engages key local and regional institutions and aims to help achieve economic transformation and inclusive growth in the Southern African region.

A key area of work in this programme is to conduct policy-relevant research on public revenue mobilization on the South African tax system. The programme will make available the tax administrative data collected by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) for use as a tool in economic policy-making and integrate further the various micro-level databases available in South Africa.

UNU-WIDER is looking for an outstanding individual with strong commitment and potential to support this programme. The position is based at NT or SARS in Pretoria, South Africa.

Under the supervision of the Director of UNU-WIDER, the Research Associate will perform a key role in creating, maintaining, and updating administrative tax data from South Africa, and making it available for researchers. The Research Associate will:

• create and manage micro-level databases
• update databases on a regular basis to incorporate the latest relevant available data and variables
• generate manuals describing the process of updating the databases, including basic descriptive tables and figures and analysis of data quality
• ensure consistent use of the datasets within the programme
• actively explore new micro-data sources
• participate in data projects that involve the comparison of data from tax records with data from other sources
• assist researchers in accessing the data, answer their queries, and run computer code and extract results as needed for non-South Africa-based researchers
• communicate regularly with programme stakeholders on specific data requirements
• ensure that secure computers used for accessing the data are up to date with computing power and statistical software
• assist in a scoping study on remote data access and its possible implementation
• assist in drafting research studies and management reports
• perform other duties as requested by the supervisor.

• a minimum of a master’s degree in economics, statistics, or equivalent social science, with a minimum of three (3) years of relevant work experience
• demonstrated ability to independently carry out, create, update and manage databases
• required knowledge of computer programme languages, especially Stata; knowledge of other computer programming languages — in particular R is an advantage
• excellent drafting skills and fluency in both oral and written English
• excellent team player with strong, well-developed interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.