IT Solution Architect

IT & Telecom

Overview

Join WFP as an IT Solution Architect to deliver high-quality IT solutions.

You have:

• University degree or a post-secondary education combined with a minimum of 8 years of working experience in software development or related fields.
• At least five years of professional working experience in software architecture and development.
• Fluency in oral and written English with intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, or Portuguese) is desirable.
• In-depth knowledge and proficiency with solution architecture, developing high-quality IT solutions, web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), Django/Python/PHP/.NET development stacks, Git versioning system, and GitFlow, Continuous Integration (CI), Continuous Deployment (CD), Agile Scrum, and mainstream software design & development methodologies.
• Understanding of accessibility, security compliance, and design principles behind a scalable IT solution, and differences between delivery platforms (mobile vs desktop).

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance

Are you a highly skilled IT Solution Architect with extensive hands-on experience architecting PHP or Python solutions? Are you fluent in the digital language (HTML/CSS/JavaScript, Git, CI/CD, AWS, Agile/Scrum) and know how to innovate, iterate and scale to deliver outstanding products? Do you have a proven record of accomplishment leading and motivating developers, and delivering digital solutions in an Agile context? Join our team and work in an exciting, collaborative, and fast-paced environment, surrounded by talented people of different cultures and nationalities. Help us build and maintain the corporate platforms required by the World Food Programme.

This is a remote role with a team working in the Central European Standard Time (CEST) time zone; for this role at least 6 out of 7.5 working hours per day must overlap with 08:30am- 5pm CEST working day.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.

The Technology Division of WFP partners with business areas across the organization to digitally transform our business. We design, develop, enhance and maintain a variety of digital products. The Digital Solution Delivery Branch is part of the Technology Division and oversees software development activities.

JOB PURPOSE:

Reporting to the Head of Corporate Solutions Development, the IT Solution Architect is part of a team that leads the technical aspects of the design and implementation of IT solutions, providing direction, instructions and guidance to the (off-site) development teams for the purpose of developing IT solutions which are fully compliant with WFP standards and achieve the highest quality in terms of technical usability, user acceptability, and domain suitability.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design the software architecture and the data model of IT solutions;
• Ensure the high technical quality of IT solutions, covering all aspects such as: functionality, user experience, and compliance with applicable guidelines (architecture, security, technology stack, user interface, etc.);
• Provide direction, instructions and guidance to the (off-site) Development Teams;
• Prepare high-level effort estimations for the development of IT solutions;
• Support the Product Manager with Backlog grooming;
• Review and approve prioritised Backlog tickets for their inclusion in Sprints looking at completeness, clarity, conciseness, visual representation, dependencies, test data availability, behaviour-driven development (BDD) test scenarios, and such;
• Create technical tickets required to ensure the high quality of the IT solution, and negotiate their prioritization with the Product Manager;
• Set-up and maintain IT solution environments;
• Collaborate on designing and maintaining the software libraries stack;
• Collaborate on maintaining the continuous improvement (CI) and continuous deployment (CD) infrastructure;
• Create an inspiring team environment with an open communication culture; and
• When required, act as Scrum Master:
  • Champion for Scrum within the team;
  • Coach the Development Team, the Product Manager, and the business on the Scrum process and look for ways to fine-tune their practice of it;
  • Deeply understand the work being done by the team;
  • Help the team optimize the delivery flow;
  • As the facilitator-in-chief, plan and schedule the Scrum ceremonies: Sprint planning, Daily stand-up, Sprint demo, and the Sprint retrospective; and
  • Resolve impediments and distractions for the Development Team, insulating them from external disruptions whenever possible.
• Other duties related to software development, as required.

DELIVERABLES:

• Well-developed IT solutions fully compliant with applicable guidelines (architecture, security, technology stack, user interface, etc.)
• Clean source code of IT solutions, in WFP source code repositories.
• IT solution documentation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

University degree or a post-secondary education combined with a minimum of 8 years of working experience in software development or other related fields.

Experience:

At least five years of professional working experience in software architecture and development.

Knowledge & Skills:

• In-depth knowledge and proficiency with solution architecture, developing high-quality IT solutions, web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), Django/Python/PHP/.NET development stacks, Git versioning system, and GitFlow, Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD), Agile Scrum, and mainstream software design & development methodologies; and

  • Understanding of accessibility, security compliance, design principles behind a scalable IT solution, and the differences between delivery platforms, such as mobile vs desktop, and optimizing output to match the specific platform.

  Competencies

• Able to think creatively and strategically;

  • Able to plan and organize work effectively;
  • Able to articulate complex concepts in non-technical language;
  • Able to coordinate multiple responsibilities simultaneously;
  • Able identify and resolve problems;

  • Well organized and detail oriented;

  • Values diversity in the workplace, particularly valuing respectfulness and inclusively leveraging everyone's talents.

  Languages:

  Fluency in oral and written English with an intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages) is desirable.

  TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP.

http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

Deadline for applications: 10 January 2022 at 11:59pm Rome time

REF: 133501

Qualified female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply.

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

Saving lives, changing lives

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 5 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wfp.org