Information Systems and Training Assistant

Contract

This is a G-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-6 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity in the Asian and Pacific region. ESCAP's role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership with policy-oriented research and analysis, normative support and technical assistance and capacity building, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region.

The Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP), located in Chiba, Japan, was established in May 1970 as a centre for statistical training in Asia and the Pacific. SIAP is a subsidiary body of ESCAP with a Governing Council which reviews the administration and financial status of the Institute and the implementation of its programme of work. SIAP's mission is to strengthen, through practically oriented training of official statisticians, the capability of the developing members and associate members and economics in transition of the region to collect, analyze and disseminate statistics as well as to produce timely and high quality statistics that can be utilized for economic and social development planning, and to assist those developing members and associate members and economies in transition in establishing or strengthening their statistical training capability and other related activities.

The Institute supports the overall work programme of the ESCAP Statistics subprogramme. This position is located in SIAP, Chiba, Japan. The incumbent reports to the Lecturer/Statistician.

Responsibilities Under the direct supervision of the Lecturer/Statistician and the overall supervision of the Deputy Director and Director of SIAP, the incumbent is required to perform the following duties:

1. General - Participates in the development, programming, testing, debugging and implementation of new application systems releases, modules and functionalities. - Develops, tests and implements simple computer application systems and programs using UN established standards for IT technologies, programming languages and tools. - Serves as team member in the planning, specification, design, development, implementation and support of computer application systems; independently liaises with users to define and specify requirements. - Installs computer application systems software and hardware according to specifications; monitors computer applications systems using appropriate monitoring tools and produces monitoring reports. - Prepares technical and user documentation for deployed computer application systems, as well as training materials and conducts technical presentations. - Maintains functional specifications for computer application systems, programs and procedures developed and/or modified. - Provides support for deployed computer application systems including version management, data recovery and deployment to users’ offices; performs ongoing reviews with users and developers and responds to users requests. - Drafts correspondence and communications, including work plan revisions and other related issues, as well as prepares unit contributions for a variety of periodic reports. - Serves as focal point for coordination, monitoring and expedition of computer application systems development projects, involving extensive liaison with diverse organizational units to initiate requests; prepares standard terms of reference; processes and follows-up on administrative actions and resolves issues related to project implementation, e.g. organization of and participation in training, procurement of equipment and services, etc. - Keeps abreast of developments in the field; performs benchmarking and proposes new acquisitions. - Provides guidance to new/junior staff. - Performs other duties as assigned.

2. Regarding to the online training programmes of the Institute The post will support online training via developing and managing Learning Management System (LMS) of the Institute and help include new methodologies for advancing online statistical training. Also, the post is expected to support staff, resource persons, and trainees for access to online training and meetings.

(a) Prepares and manages online training of the Institute: (i) converts draft training materials created by lecturers to accessible materials in LMS (ii) uploads final training materials on LMS (iii) enables and manages access from trainees and lecturers to LMS including recording the number of their access (iv) develops and manages system to tabulate numbers of trainees with disaggregation by training, gender and organization, and shares the tables of numbers as requested (v) proposes purchase or lease for management of LMS for a procurement (vi) purchases or leases software necessary for advancing and managing online training, and apply and manages the software (vii) selects, employs, manages and evaluates consultants who upgrade interactivity and visuality of online training materials

(b) Contributes to development of online training of the Institute: (i) advances accessibility, usability and visuality of LMS (ii) proposes methodologies how to develop relevance and effectiveness of online training including webinars and effective blending with face-to-face training (iii) heightens visibility of and extend reach to LMS and online training

(c) Undertakes research and report on methodologies how to develop online training by accumulating and benchmarking experiences in other training institutes and updating information on information and telecommunication technologies

(d) Creates a repository of links to statistical online training which are compiled by international, regional and national government agencies, universities and research institutes, and are useful for statistical capacity building of government officials in Asia and the Pacific, on the website of the Institute

(e) Advances and manages Local Area Network (LAN) of the Institute including the server of LMS and instruments with remote functions, and coordinates their progress with the host government (Government of Japan)

(f) Supports staff, resource persons and trainees for access to online training and meetings

(g) Communicates with ESCAP staff on information technology for inclusive management and development in ESCAP

Competencies - PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of organizational information infrastructure, including hardware, software and application systems. Knowledge of relevant programming language(s) and ability to use programming skills to develop information systems. Knowledge of system development workflow and document flow processes, ability to conduct research and gather information from a wide variety of standard and non-standard sources. Ability to respond to changing requirements and assignments, ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.

• COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

  Education High school diploma or equivalent is required. A first-level university degree in computer science, information systems, mathematics, statistics or related field is desirable.

  Job - Specific Qualification Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Staff members who were granted a fixed-term, continuing or permanent as a result of having passed a predecessor test recognized by the Office of Human Resources Management, and who have continuously held such appointments, are not required to take the new test.

  Work Experience A minimum of seven years or progressively responsible experience in the field of information systems/technology or other related areas is required

  Working experience related to supporting online training via developing and managing learning management systems or online platforms is highly desirable.

  Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. The incumbent may have to occasionally communicate with the host government (Government of Japan). Thus, working knowledge of Japanese is desirable.

  Assessment Qualified applicants may be evaluated through a competency-based interview and/or other assessment methods.

  Special Notice This post is funded from extra budgetary resources. The initial appointment is for a period of one year. Extension of appointment is subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

Applicants may apply and be considered for locally recruited positions no matter where they are currently located (including the current serving staff members at other duty stations), provided they are locally available upon appointment. Selected candidates/staff members will have to relocate at their own expense to report for duty. In accordance with SR 4.4(c), they shall not be eligible for the international allowances or benefits indicated under staff rule 4.5 (a). If they do not already have the right to work in the duty station, appointment is contingent on issuance of a visa from the local authorities.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.