Organization: UNEP – United Nations Environment Programme
Location: Nairobi
Grade: Senior level – P-5, International Professional – Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
Information Technology and Computer Science
Closing Date: 2024-11-14
Org. Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP’s Corporate Services Division is the guardian of UNEP’s corporate interest, mitigating its exposure to risk and supporting the organization with management tools, plans and related capacity building. It oversees UNEP’s efficient and effective management, in line with UNEP’s accountability requirements, rules, regulations and UN core values. This post is located in UNEP’s Corporate Services Division, Enterprise Solutions Section (ESS) at the Nairobi duty station. ESS undertakes a wide range of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Information Management services, activities and projects. It works closely with internal clients throughout the project life cycle to tailor the services to their needs ensuring that the solution meets the required objectives from a specification, resource and time perspective. Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director of CSD, and with an additional reporting line to the Chief Digital Officer, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
Responsibilities
1. Strategic Alignment and Leadership: • Provide authoritative technical and policy advice to the senior management team and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) working groups on systems development and the implications of various alternatives, on business publications and other related issues; Identify and plan for future needs; Develop and disseminate best practices; • Conceptualize, develop strategies for and oversee the design and implementation of UNEP- wide Information and Communications Technology (ICT) initiatives in accordance with the Organization’s approved Digital Governance Process and in line with UNEP’s Digital Transformation strategy in the areas of ICT DevOps, information management, resource management, infrastructure management and data engineering advanced analytics; • Prepare and monitor the budget, work programme and spending plan for UNEP-wide ICT initiatives; • Develop and maintain innovative solutions to resolve problems that impact a critical area of the organization’s work; • Support UNEP’s Digital Transformation subprogramme with regards to infrastructure and platform management needs, and any other requirements that may arise, subject to resource capacity and organizational priorities; • Act as the Chair to the UNEP-wide ICT Solutions Group within the overall UNEP Digital Governance Process, in close collaboration with the Office of the Chief Digital Officer. 2. ICT Oversight and Cybersecurity: • Ensure the development of standards, procedures and practices to ensure a stable and effective ICT environment, including the development and monitoring of performance measures; • Oversee the organization’s Information Security Management and ensure Cybersecurity compliance with UN Secretariat and International Standards; • Devise policies and solutions designed to protect against threats to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the Agency’s data/information, communications, systems, and other digital assets; • Ensure that projects meet established time and cost parameters and standards of technical quality, as well as reflecting user needs and minimizing duplication of functionality across the organization. 3. Leadership and Coordination of Projects and Services: • Responsible for outsourcing and establishing Service Level Agreements (SLA) with appropriate service providers. • Lead and direct UNEP’s corporate team of information systems officers information / programme management officers, and assistants as well engage the ICT focal points both in Headquarters, Offices Away from Headquarters (OAHs), and in the UNEP Multilateral Environment Agreement (MEA) secretariats in the implementation of UNEP-wide ICT initiatives; oversee activities for the ICC section; plan and allocate work assignments; coach, mentor and evaluate staff; participate in recruitment and selection of new staff. • Manage and oversee multiple, concurrent and often disparate tasks for ICT projects that often involve innovative applications, dissimilar systems, data, advanced analytics, as well as databases and highly complex system integration and linkages, with internal and external stakeholders. 4. Coordination with the UN bodies: • Liaise and coordinate with the UN HQ ICT office (OICT) to ensure UNEP’s requirements are considered within the UN secretariat ICT strategy and UNEP’s compliance with global Secretariat ICT initiatives when possible. • Represent UNEP on various ICT committees with the United Nations setting, such as UN Digital Technology Network (DTN) and various working groups established under the DTN. 5. Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. 6. Perform other related duties as assigned.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Comprehensive knowledge of UN ICT policies, procedures and operations; Broad knowledge of all aspects of complex, global IT system design, development, implementation and management. Familiarity with UNEP’s business operations and systems, such as the linkages between UNEP’s home grown local systems and the UN-wide enterprise systems such as the various Umoja modules (IPMR, SSA, BI, IP, FI, etc), Inspira, and the UN Partner Portal is desirable. Ability to develop and oversee large centralized or decentralized institutional systems; Knowledge and experience in a range of computer languages and development paradigms; Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives. Ability to improve processes and approaches; Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement on difficult issues; Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: Empowers others to translate vision into results; Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; Drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; Demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. VISION: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; Clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; Generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; Conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities. TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in computer science, information systems, mathematics, statistics, business administration, public administration or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.
Job – Specific Qualification
Additional certifications in Project Management Prince 2, Service Delivery ITIL, and/or Information Security Management CISM are desirable.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of computer information systems or related area is required. Experience in developing and overseeing institutional ICT systems at the international level is required. Experience in developing and implementing ICT strategies and governance frameworks, familiarity with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Information Security Management and risk mitigations, Enterprise Data Platform / Warehouse (EDP/W) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems is desirable. Experience in the United Nations Common System organizations or similar international organization is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable. NOTE: Fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of “confident” in two of the four areas.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
Appointment against this post is for a period of six (6) and may be subject to extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. When completing the AP form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Contact Us” link.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.