Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Manager, NO-3, Caracas, Venezuela

Contract

This is a NO-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-3 contracts.

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, a fair chance

The ICT function supports UNICEF’s mission and strategic plan by enabling programme and operational effectiveness and efficiency through innovation, partnerships, and providing ICT solutions and services in a timely, secure, and safe manner.

How can you make a difference?

1. Manage the ICT function and provide technical and operational support:

• Manage ICT and supervise staff to enable the implementation of corporate ICT priorities, solutions, and services;
• Prepare ICT-related plans, budget set priorities, and performance indicators as well as year-end assessments, reviews, and reporting;
• Safeguard the physical and logical security and safety of the ICT environment and infrastructure;
• Provide quality assurance of projects and activities in accordance with ICT functional accountabilities
• Monitor risks and threats to the ICT environment or infrastructure and take appropriate action;
• Manage compliance and escalate exceptions (proactive) and deviations (reactive);
• Manage ICT-related communication materials internally, from NYHQ, GSSC, or the regional office;
• Support the office business continuity plans development and ensure the inclusion of ICT inputs and perspectives;
• Act as UNICEF focal point for inter-agency activities;
• Liaise with the regional office, GSSC, and ITSS to keep abreast of new initiatives and opportunities to innovate and modernize office operations and to contribute to the collective ICT evolution.
• Validate the compliance with the host government regulatory requirements vis-à-vis the Basic Cooperation Agreement (BCA), i.e., data collection of sensitive information or personally identifiable information (PII), telecommunications licenses, use of specialized equipment, such as HF/VHF radios, high-gain antennae, satellite phones, VSATs, VOIP, drones, etc...

2. Enhance collaboration, build internal and external relationships and capacity:

• Participate in office management –CMT, operations, and programme meetings to exercise the functional accountabilities of the ICT function;
• Represent UNICEF ICT in inter-agency functions;
• Support counterparts and implementing partners to build capacity and nurture independence;
• Engage with programme sections, counterparts, and implementing partners to form : technical and business reference groups” to identify, analyze, research and promote innovative and viable solutions;
• Assist in oversight, assessment, and audit of vendors, counterparts and implementing partners
• Assist in the promotion of creativity and innovative thinking to re-engineer work processes and make the best use of technology within and outside UNICEF;
• Support Supply and programme staff to establish local LTAs for ICT-related programme contracts for services and products;
• Conduct oversight of providers and third parties of ICT-related services and products to programme;
• Study and understand the business requirements, i.e., PPP, RBM, HACT, etc… to improve the delivery of results;
• Stay abreast of ICT trends, developments, and best practices through professional development –journals, training, certification, etc…

3. Improve the delivery of results:

• Build and strengthen relationships with counterparts, i.e., government, sister United Nations agencies, international nonprofit organizations (INGOs), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs);
• Promote the use of collaboration tools for knowledge management, capacity building, and preserving institutional memory;
• Lead the implementation of eTools and facilitate training workshops or clinics;
• Work closely to facilitate HACT implementation with partnership managers, programme and operations staff;
• Collaborate with the Risk Focal Point on the risks and opportunities inclusion in the risk register and support stakeholders to address them;
• Liaise with HQs, RO, and other CO to share knowledge and experience; discuss opportunities and risks for the improved delivery of results;
• Represent UNICEF ICT in One UN, Delivering as One and other UN reform initiatives.
• Collaborate with C4D and use their advocacy, outreach, and dissemination tools for better utilization of technology to advance the delivery of results;
• Facilitate project management methodologies training and support the application by staff, counterparts, and implementing partners;
• Participate in person or remotely in UNICEF global, regional or country offices events and discussions to contribute results-based management/programming.

4. Foster innovation:

• Promote creativity and innovative thinking to re-engineer work processes and make the best use of technology within and outside UNICEF;
• Evaluate innovation initiatives potential opportunities and possible risks to improve productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness and share with senior management, regional office, ITSS, and Innovation Division;
• Establish a local governance board for the formal review and assessment of local innovation initiatives;
• Ensure exist strategies are incorporated in all innovation initiatives prior to approval;
• Implement approved innovative projects such as eTools, RapidPro, Ureport, etc…
• Support counterparts and implementing partners to implement approved innovation initiatives;
• Facilitate TED-like events inviting local and international scholars, CEOs, and technology gurus;
• Connect academia to innovation opportunities, i.e., vocational schools, colleges, and universities;
• Work closely with Communication to promote to local philanthropists the benefits and rewards of innovation for their active participation, support, and funding;
• Engage the private sector to maximize the use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) resources for no-cost innovation initiatives, e.g., bulk telecommunications services at low cost or free during periods of under-utilized resources.

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

• An advanced university degree in computer science, software engineering, information technology management, business administration, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in information technology management and business operations in a large international organization and/or corporation is required. Experience in a UN organization is an asset.
• Certification and/or proven experience in one of these several ICT technical competencies: ICT Project Management, Business Analytics, Information Security, ICT Audit and Risk Management, Telecommunications, Networks Information Security, and Software Engineering and Programming.
• Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Nurtures, Leads, and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). 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.