TELECOMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is in the Liquidation Entity of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), duty station GAO. The incumbent will report to the Chief Field Technology Section.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Telecommunications Officer, FS-6 will be responsible for the following duties: • Lead the design and construction of various types of towers for telecommunications and security equipment and supervises the Mission works at height. • Oversee the design and deployment of LAN structured cabling and ICT backbone systems. • Lead the installation and commissioning of solar systems for energy production. • Support the development of technical specifications for procurement of equipment; evaluates vendor proposals, performs tests, and recommends selection of telecommunications equipment. • Support the establishment of equipment and service contracts and serve as the contract administrator. • Identify appropriate standards to procure communications equipment at the least cost and in the most expeditious manner. • Establish performance standards for telecommunications equipment and services and recommend corrective measures to improve service quality and operational performance. • Provide planning support for rapid set-up and operation of communications infrastructure from "scratch" at local and wide area levels, including visiting regional sites for technical reconnaissance Missions. • Provide engineering services related to planning, implementation, and maintenance of local and wide area telecommunications networks. • Provide emergency communications capabilities in support of staff security, including providing a focal point for inter-agency emergency field security communications liaison. • Collaborate with the Human Resources Section in the preparation of training modules and other training activities in all aspects of communications technology usage. • Prepare and make presentations on telecommunications networks and equipment to staff and other UN agencies. • Ensure effective coordination with other UN agencies to maximize possibilities of inter-agency collaboration in the field of telecommunications. • Provide guidance to, and supervise, new/junior staff, consultants etc. as required. • Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of a wide range of telecommunication systems with adequate skills for leading a team through the installation, maintenance, and operation of these systems. Knowledge of operations of commercial telecommunications services, voice and data communications networks, telephony switching, radio, satellite, microwave, and trunked radio communication systems. Ability to analyze, review, and make recommendations to improve the delivery of telecommunications services. 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.

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.

Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

• Technical or vocational certificate in telecommunications engineering or in a related field is required.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years or (five (5) years with a first level university degree) of progressively responsible experience in the field of telecommunications including experience in developing and overseeing large centralized and globally distributed institutional systems including large capacity Alternative Energy Power Solutions is required.

• Experience managing and delivering highly complex projects, and experience in integrating large-scale telecommunications systems is required.

• Experience of LAN structured cabling and ICT backbone systems and regional coordination is required.

• Experience in managing large teams of diverse technical skills is required.

• Experience and knowledge of Communication Tower Construction, working at Height and Rescue Policies and Procedures is desired.

• At least two (2) years experience providing telecommunications services in a field operation of the United Nations common system, or a 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. • Knowledge of French is desirable.

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 within the MINUSMA Liquidation Team until 30 September 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.

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.

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.