INFORMATION SYSTEMS OFFICER

Contract

This is a FS-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as Field Service. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education. More about FS-6 contracts and their salaries.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in Bogota within the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC). The Information System Officers (Chief Service Manager) will report to the Chief Field Technology Service and the Chief Operations and Resources Management (CORM).

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Information Systems Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Plans and directs all major information systems within the Mission, Monitoring the progress of the systems analysis, design, development, testing, and implementation of new, moderately complex systems, and/or participating as a member of a team with responsibility for major components of the more complex systems.

• Manages the budget of the Information systems unit, formulating and managing budget allocations and expenditures, verifying funding, and ensuring no overrun occurs.

• Develops technical specifications for the procurement of equipment and contractual services and coordinates the technical evaluation of offers and proposals received.

• Develops and recommends strategies to implement global Information systems originating out of OICT/OSD and the Mission.

• Develops, implements, and monitors information systems standards, guidelines, and procedures.

• Develops detailed systems and other functional specifications and user documentation for systems as required.

• Provides specialized advice to users, analyzing users' requirements and translating those into new applications; determines application system integration and linkage issues.

• Maintains, upgrades, or enhances existing user systems; troubleshoots and provides continuing support, including resolving difficult problems, advising on the use of new techniques, monitoring transactions to measure performance and continued effectiveness of assigned systems, etc.

• Develops training materials, operating and user manuals; trains staff in assigned systems.

• Develops disaster recovery plans relating to information systems and ensures appropriate planning and training of those responsible.

• Research, analyses, and evaluates new technologies and makes recommendations for their deployment.

• Participates in writing reports and papers on systems-related topics, system requirements, information strategy, etc.

• Provides professional leadership and work direction for the Unit, develop the yearly work plan, mentors and supervises personnel of the Unit.

Internet-working and infrastructure:

• Leads the team in the operation and maintenance of internet-working systems that include operating systems platforms, database management systems, workstations, and related equipment.

• Responsible for the proper implementation of backup and recovery procedures.

• Handles all aspects of contract administration, including establishment of service level agreements with vendors and charge-back policy for users.

• Performs other duties as required.

  Competencies Professionalism: Substantive knowledge in Information Systems including possession of good supervisory skills and extensive knowledge of IT policies, structure and strategies. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations and prepare reports or justification in respect to key administrative decisions. Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity to understand information systems and business operational issues. Ability to develop and oversee large centralized or decentralized institutional systems. 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.

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 the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands.

Education High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification ITIL V4 ( Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is required

PRINCE 2 Foundation & Practitioner Certification is desirable

Supervisory Skills for Future ICT Managers is desirable.

Technical training certifications in Information Systems is desirable.

Work Experience A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of computer information systems or related areas is required. The minimum number of years of relevant experience is reduced to five (5) for candidates who possess at least a first level university degree

Experience managing and overseeing large centralized and globally distributed institutional systems is required.

Two years’ experience providing services in planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of computer Information systems or related areas in a field operation (conflict or post-conflict setting) of the United Nations Common System or comparable international organization is desirable.

Experience in budget, staffing and performance management and reporting is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required and working knowledge of Spanish is required.

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

Special Notice This post is funded for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. Rostered candidates are welcome to apply.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving a 50/50 gender balance in its staff, as per the Secretary General´s Gender Parity Strategy. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

#United_for_Gender_Parity

Candidates interested to work for the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia may wish to check out our Realistic Job Preview videos to get an idea of the living and working conditions in different duty stations in Colombia:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-8SCkVjg-e3073SwTDG1VQf1oLTWfUQ4

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 background, 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.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 28 February 2021, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

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.