Chief Information Officer/Director, D-2, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Valencia, Spain

Contract

This is a D-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 16 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 143,813 USD and 173,332 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, dedication.

Under the general direction of the Deputy Executive Director, Management, the incumbent of the post of Chief Information Officer/Director, Information and Communication Technology Division provides strategic leadership and overall direction to all Information and Communication Technology (ICT) activities in support of UNICEF's programmes, adding strategic value to and implementation support for digitally enabled innovation, and engendering a common digital vision and commitment to high performance across UNICEF. He/she fosters a culture of creativity, collaboration and learning in the digital work environment. The incumbent drives the continual transformation of the ICT function and leads the management and enforcement of UNICEF-wide corporate ICT guidance, frameworks, standards and policies, while enabling, local solutions to local problems.

How can you make a difference?

The CIO/Director’s key functional accountabilities include:

Provide global leadership and coordination through the setting of policy and standards for effective development and adoption of the UNICEF digital transformation, as well as be the custodian of the UNICEF digital blueprint for all digital information systems.

In collaboration with business process owners and key user groups, develop, enhance and maintain enterprise wide management information systems.

Informed by the needs of field country operations at the point of delivery, strengthen financial planning, and centralize accountability and funding for digital technology infrastructure, networks, connectivity and solutions globally.

Provide particular care to the requirements at the point of delivery, coordinate and facilitate with local stakeholders the needs for unique and differentiated solutions by, inter alia, assessing and piloting a broad scope of current and leading digital technologies to determine how these technologies can enable UNICEF to achieve its strategic objectives, including the necessary staff competencies for scale-up and deployment.

Drive modernization, efficiencies and change in the ICT infrastructure and services including the utilization of cloud services, enhanced mobility, open source technologies, AI/machine learning and use of other new and transformative technologies.

Provide reliable and cost-effective global network connectivity for UNICEF offices, including voice and data communications, and support for emergency operations, digital technology infrastructure and networks (with specialised “help desk” services when necessary).

Develop short- and longer-term strategic plans, in close consultation with internal stakeholders, such as regional offices and other headquarters offices, to implement the organization’s digital transformation and technology objectives globally, and to maintain effective information and communication technology (ICT) governance processes and priorities.

Aligning Digital Technology and ICT systems to corporate objectives and managing the scale up of mature digital public goods/infrastructure and innovation solutions. Establish and maintain partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to support the design and implementation of technology in UNICEF programmes.

In concert with other offices, design, develop and enhance the technologically enabled ability of UNICEF to harness its data capacity and capability to inform decision-making in real time.

Lead the Cybersecurity Programme, with a CISO, to establish, sustain and ensure proper definition, protection, security and management of the organization’s digital assets and its technology infrastructure, including effective business continuity and disaster recovery processes and procedures.

Establish, monitor and regularly update organizational risk management instruments such as digital/ICT standards and policies, including facilitating increased awareness and compliance with applicable governance and regulatory processes.

Establish and maintain a system of measurement to gauge customer, partner and staff satisfaction with the systems, networks, services and support (including governance) provided by ICTD.

Provide input into organizational normative, policy and strategic planning processes.

Prepare and implement annual division workplans in line with organizational strategic priorities, available resources and office management plans; ensure achievement of workplan objectives, monitor progress and report on results.

Direct and manage effectively and efficiently the administrative, finance, human and capacity development resources within ICTD, in accordance with applicable rules, regulations and policies.

Develops and supports effective partnerships with Technology industry private sector, academia and other opinion leaders to contribute to the development of normative agenda and accelerate results through scale up of technology enabled solutions. Supports effective partnership and UNICEF's engagement at the inter-agency level, on common system ICT related issues.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced university degree or equivalent in computer science, software-engineering, information systems management, business administration or a related field with specialized training as below:
• Minimum of 15 years of professional experience in posts of increasing leadership and managerial responsibility in the international, national public or private sector.
• Practical professional experience, at the national, regional and global levels, leading multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams delivering corporate digital / information communication technology solutions and services.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Spanish or another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) is an important asset.

Person Profile

• Proven ability to lead, convene and manage transformation of large business units
• Strong communicator
• Proven empathetic staff leadership and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong creative and critical thinking ability to improve systems, streamline/simplify processes and information flow.
• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in ICT in a large organization.
• Excellent organizational development skills combined with proven ability to succeed in a complex multicultural environment.
• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in ICT planning and demonstrated leadership skills.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) and UNICEF competencies:

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others
• Nurtures, leads and manages people

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Remarks:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.