Information Technology Officer, P3 at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

This post is located in UNEP/Ozone Secretariat, at the Nairobi duty station. Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Executive Secretary, the incumbent will be responsible for the following functions:

Responsibilities

1. Server and System administration: a) Setting up, installation, configuration, upgrade, and regular maintenance of required systems and software, including Linux operating systems, Apache servers, Drupal, and Postgres database server; b) Establishing of redundancies, rollovers, and recovery plans, including backup and disaster recovery; c) Responsible for security aspects, including adherence to UN/OICT standards, user access control to various systems or sub-systems; d) Monitoring, detecting, and rectifying any incidents that occur, including monitoring of server logs; e) Maintaining user and technical documentation, including hardware and software inventory and licenses.
2. 2. Website and web-based tools: (a) Review the structure of the website with a view to enhancing its stability, effectiveness, and user-friendliness across all major platforms, including mobile platforms; (b) Perform website enhancement and customization tasks in line with Ozone Secretariat requirements, following best practices and standards, including information / cyber security aspects; (c) Provide first-level maintenance and troubleshooting support for web content management and hosting system/applications; (d) Prepare necessary technical documentation for website tools and modules, update procedures and processes as necessary and measure and periodically report on key performance indicators; (e) Conduct research and make recommendations on web tools/software/technologies and services to enhance the Secretariat’s digital presence.
3. IT support during the conferences: (a) Improvise and maintain the Secretariat’s online forum for document review; (b) Undertake exploratory missions to the meeting venues, identify information-technology-related challenges and propose and implement solutions; (c) Work with the information technology team of the venue to ensure the infrastructure to support the meetings is in place; (d) Maintain and support the database for the registration of participants at meetings and ensure that all registrations are acknowledged; Set up the physical registration of participants at the venue and b responsible for all technical aspects of physical and virtual registration. (f) Lead and manage the provision of the IT infrastructure and service during conferences including online registration, logistics, WiFi access, security aspects, network infrastructure, side-events registration, videoconferences, paperless and virtual meetings services.
4. Capacity-building: a) Develop and sustain partnerships with internal and external parties with a view to share knowledge and keep abreast of all developments in the IT domain; (b) Build capacity among staff, with regard to web strategy by providing training and raising awareness on technical aspects to help ensure enhanced outreach, engagement, and growth of the Secretariat’s website
5. Administrative tasks: (a) Contribute to the IT-related procurement exercises and assist administration by identifying options, vendors, and contractors that supply infrastructure solutions and services. (b) Prepare briefs, reports, studies, and work plan proposals to achieve organizational successes related to IT functions (c) Maintain active liaison with relevant IT focal points of other MEAs, UNEP Divisions/Offices and UN agencies to identify and collaborate on synergies in IT products and services. Coordinate with other UNEP MEAs around registration, monitoring, and reporting on meeting participants; (d) Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor and the Executive Secretary.

Competencies

1. PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of information technology/information management, particularly in systems analysis, database design and programming. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, to include proficiency in the development and implementation of systems of moderate size/complexity. Knowledge of interactive systems; good knowledge of organization’s information infrastructure and IT strategy as it relates to user area(s). 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
2. CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
3. TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology. Understands applicability and limitations 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 science, information technology, information systems or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience

1. A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in Unix/Linux system administration, website administration and maintenance, and related areas is required.
2. Experience in Drupal Content Management Systems, web analytics, web programming languages including HTML/CSS and PHP is required.
3. Experience in database administration, GitHub, Django framework and Python is desirable.
4. Experience of network communications protocols and security standards, mobile applications, graphic editing, gamification development, and web-based collaborative platforms is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations language is an added advantage.

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 position is for an initial period of one (1) year and may be subject to extension.

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

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.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Internal Applicants – When completing the 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.

Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations.

On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. 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. 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.

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.

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.