INFORMATION SYSTEMS ASSISTANT

Contract

This is a FS-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Field Service. It usually requires 8 years of experience, depending on education. More about FS-5 contracts and their salaries.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). The incumbent will be under the direct guidance and supervision of the Chief of Information Technology Unit (Chief Service Management) and under the overall guidance and supervision of the mission's Chief Field Technology Services section.

Responsibilities Within limits of delegated authority, the Information System Assistant FS-5 will carry out the following duties (These duties are not all inclusive nor are all duties carried out by all Information System Assistants):

Applications Support: - Assists with, and may lead a team in the planning, specification, design, development, implementation and support of computer application systems and programs using UN established standards for IS technologies, programming languages and tools. - 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. - Maintains functional specifications for computer application systems, programs, and procedures; performs ongoing reviews with users and developers; liaises with users to define and specify requirements; assists with version management, data recovery and deployment to users' offices. - Plans, implements, and maintains security controls for various applications; verifies the effectiveness of security controls in place; maintains accurate access control lists including rights and privileges. - Provides support for Data Recovery/Business Continuity software applications and systems. - Prepares technical and user documentation for deployed computer application systems, training materials and conducts technical presentations; drafts correspondence and communications, including work plan revisions, as well as unit contributions for a variety of periodic reports. - Keeps abreast of developments in the field; performs benchmarking and proposes new acquisitions. - Provides guidance to new/junior staff. - Performs other related duties as required.

Business Relationships Management (with internal parties, Customers and Suppliers) - Creates and maintains relationships with suppliers and serving as the single technical point of contact for suppliers - Develops good relationships with internal clients, and with the procurement and controlling office to ensure each contractual step is performed in a timely manner - Provides advice to Customers regarding Communications & Information Technology Section (ICTS) standards and workflow processes. - Suggest infrastructure changes based on customer demands - Initiates a wide variety of Applications procurements and manage the definition and maintenance of the Service Level Agreements (SLAs), Operational Level Agreement (OLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) (e.g., defining service requirements, negotiating SLAs /OLAs) - Together with Operations Management and Technology Service Unit, and Procurement Office coordinates for close-out, extension, or renewal according to what is best for the organization. - Achieves optimal results, conforming to standards for quality, safety and sustainability and complying with the defined scope, performance, costs and schedule (e.g., supervision of project resources, project progress, circulating and distributing information from the project owner/customer, ensuring specification compliance and updating the project according to changing circumstances) - Takes mitigation actions in case of non-fulfilment of agreements, managing risks and reporting to the appropriate governance board.

IT Service Support: - Supervises a team motivating and encouraging the staff to achieve the Unit objectives, in alignment with organizational goals. - Streamlines the receipt and logging of service requests in the automated request management system; assigns work orders in accordance with established procedure; distributes work assignments and monitor’s progress. - Provides training to junior technical staff and end-users either for existing or new processes, projects, systems, and applications. - Drafts end-user and/or technical documentation. - Acts as focal point, when required, to address the root causes of service disruptions and\or degradation according to the Problem Management best practices in place and monitor the problem resolutions end-to-end. - Keeps abreast of developments in information systems and technology supporting organizational changes and improving working methods by proposing innovative solutions to overcome potential issues and make recommendations to supervisors. - Ensures that planned FTS services are delivered to agreed achievable targets, defining, documenting, monitoring, and measuring the levels of the IT services provided and instigate corrective measures whenever appropriate. - Supports the creation of a Service Level plan to maintain the adequate capacity required by the organization, ensuring that specific and measurable service delivery targets are developed for all IT services and clearly understood by all stakeholders. - Assists in ensuring that all IT infrastructure, processes, tools, roles are appropriate for the agreed availability targets. - Minimizes risks while managing IT changes, ensuring that relevant infrastructure modifications are compliant with the best practices and processes in place. - Ensures the relevant section documentation (e.g., SOP, OLAs, etc.) is regularly kept updated by the respective owners and always available to the consumers in compliance with standards and processes in place. - Supports the definition and maintenance of the ITIL Service Processes, supervising their applicability, and ensuring they are properly enabled through the Service Management System and tools. - Assesses and evaluates the effectiveness/productivity of current IT infrastructure capacity, identifies possible gaps, weaknesses, and improvement areas. - Monitors the Operating Model and Service Layers ensuring their respective effectiveness and efficiency along the time.

ICT Security/DRBC: - Acts as the focal point for Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity plan implemented by the mission. - Assists with the coordination of the implementation and testing of DRBC plans, and supervises teams related to DRBC management. - Analyzes risk and impact and revising Business Continuity (BCP) and Business Impact Analysis plans (BIA) accordingly over time. - Assists with the coordination of the implementation and testing of DRBC plans, and supervises teams related to DRBC management. - Supervises the design, installation, operation and maintenance of a multi-user information security systems including firewalls, malware detection/prevention systems, intrusion detection/prevention, network access controls, proxy servers, VPN, encryption, URL and content filtering systems in accordance with organizational technology security standards. - Assists other ICTS groups with the determination of security requirements and integration of these requirements in system design and operations. - Formulates and maintains security procedures, including user identification and access control processes to specific ICTS resources and data. - Acts upon all security incidents and violations, including reporting them immediately to the ICTS Security Coordinator; participates in incidents management activities. - Performs regular security assessments of production ICTS resources to identify potential weaknesses that could be exploited; performs risk analysis and formulate risk treatment plans. - Determines the need for updating ICTS systems with fixes and patches.

Other duties and responsibilities common to the specialties above include, but are not limited to: - Providing general assistance across the various fields of ICT support services in the mission; - Being part of cross-functional teams in order to assist with ICT related projects; - Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies Professionalism:

Knowledge of information technology and applications, including computer system networks. Good technical skills, ability to conduct network maintenance, provide server services, user support, implement and maintain Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity systems, and information systems security and control. 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.

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.

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.

Education High school diploma or equivalent and certification/diploma of other supplemental academic qualifications or training in Information Systems and Technology are required. ITIL foundation or higher certification is required. PRINCE2 practitioner certification is desirable. Business relationship Management basic or higher certification is desirable.

Job - Specific Qualification Work experience in the planning and installation of complex Information Systems, equipment, and networks, including at least three (3) years of experience at the international level are required

A technical or vocational certificate in Check Point Certified Security Expert (CCSE) R80.40 Certification is desirable.

Work Experience At least eight (8) years of relevant work experience in the planning and installation of complex Information Systems, equipment and networks, including at least three (3) years of experience at the international level are required.

Field experience in United Nations Peacekeeping missions in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.

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.