SENIOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

Contract

This is a G-7 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-7 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Executive Office serving the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Peace Operations (DPO). The Executive Office is part of the Office of the Director for Coordination and Shared Services which enables, directs and coordinates departmental efforts to ensure the effective integration and management of both Departments. The position reports to the Senior Administrative Officer. The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) serves as a center of excellence for peace operations, responsible for preventing, responding to and managing conflict and sustaining peace in countries where peace operations under its purview are deployed, and provides support to other entities on peace and security issues. The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department's mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Information Technology Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: • Supervises a team of Information Technology and Data Analysis Assistants, including plans, schedules, and co-ordinates the work of the team. • Distributes work assignments to members of the team and monitors progress. • Provides guidance and training to new/junior staff. • Coordinates with other organizational units on IT matters. • Provides technical advice to clients when necessary. • Designs and establishes internal databases and files. • Writes and maintains the documentation of server systems, pertinent to operations and system administration. • Acts as problem escalation point for staff at lower levels. • Escalates problems/tasks to the appropriate parties in accordance with established procedure. • Designs and implements solutions for simple problems. • Assists in research and resolution of more complex problems. • Keeps abreast of developments in technology both in the UN and in the industry in general. • Liaises with other areas of OICT, focal points, and staff of the Permanent Missions. • Assists in research and evaluation of new standard equipment. • Assists in establishing procurement specifications for client requests. Data Analysis: • Independently provides full range of data analysis assistance at all phases of a data analysis initiative. • Serves as a focal point for coordination, monitoring, and expedition of data analysis activity, involving extensive liaison with diverse parts of the organization to request data and to communicate data needs to other parts of the organization. Follows up on requests made by other team members and coordinates activities. • Maintains specific information products in their area and assists more senior staff in providing information products to others. • Drafts correspondence and communications related to all aspects of data analysis. • Drafts inputs for a wide range of documents/reports, briefings/debriefings, correspondence, etc. Service Coordination: • Oversees the operations of the Service Coordination Unit. • Ensures that quality assurance procedures are implemented. • Liaises with other areas of OICT to facilitate completion of service requests. • Acts as the client contact point for OICT services. • Assists in the design and documentation of more complex workflow procedures. • Keeps abreast of latest OICT standards and technology. • Generates workload and performance reports on a regular basis. • Performs other 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 and user support. • 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. 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.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent.

Job - Specific Qualification

Certification/diploma of other supplemental academic qualifications or training in information Technology is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of experience in information technology or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to eight for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Supervisory experience is required. Experience in Information Technology Service Management and Service Desk is required. Experience with data analysis (including collection, compilation, analysis and dissemination of statistical data) is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowlege of French is desirable. 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 position is temporarily available until 30 December 2024. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.