Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Baghdad. The Chief Information & Telecommunications Technology Officer reports directly to the Chief, Operations and Resource Management. There is a functional reporting relationship to the Division for Geospatial, Information and Telecommunications Technologies (DGITT) at UN Headquarters.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief Information Systems & Telecommunications Technology Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Manages the Communications and Information Technology Section. • Plans and directs all major Communications and IT systems projects within the mission, monitoring the progress of the design, installation and commissioning of the various networks and systems. • Plans and prepares the inputs for the work program of the service; provides leadership, guidance, and mentoring for the senior staff, and fosters teamwork and improved communications among all staff of the service; leads the development of training modules and other training activities in all aspects of ICT; coordinates and oversees delivery of ICT training to staff and other users in the mission. • Takes the lead in the preparation of the mission’s ICT budget; coordinates the generation of reports to the relevant UNHQ finance and budget review bodies as required. • Manages the acquisition of goods and services; coordinates need assessments and the establishing of benchmarks, and the preparation of SOWs and RFPs in coordination with the Procurement office to establish and manage contracts. • Determines the need for testing/evaluating new products and technologies; provides leadership on introducing technological changes and ensures proper change management procedures and guidelines are in place and adhered to. • Ensures proper inventory control and asset management of ICT systems and services in coordination with the mission’s Property and Inventory Control Unit; oversees all the ICT resources and manages them in accordance with the approved ratios. • Serves as the main liaison, and represents the service, with its clients; negotiates and coordinates with relevant national authorities with respect to ICT policy and related matters; ensures effective coordination with various UN agencies in order to maximise possibilities of inter-agency collaboration in the field of IT and Telecommunications. • Serves on various committees and review bodies within the mission as required. • Perform other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of Information Systems and Telecommunications Technologies for large and complex organisational environments; sound knowledge of international ICT practices and regulations; ability to organise and manage diverse and cross-functional groups, across geographically dispersed locations, for institutional systems in conflict and post conflict areas; conceptual and strategic analytical capacity to understand information system and business operational issues so as to thoroughly analyze and evaluate critical systems matters; knowledge of administrative, budgetary, financial, procurement and human resources policies and procedures; ability to provide specialized advice on a broad range of ICT issues to the Senior Management of the Mission; ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others; ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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. 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. 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. 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 improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in computer science, information systems, mathematics, statistics or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Certificate in ITIL Foundation for Service Management is required. Certificate in PRINCE2 Practitioner is required. Certificate in COBIT 5 Foundation is required. Certificate in Enterprise Risk Management is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of telecommunications and computer information systems or related area is required. Of which four (4) years should have been in the public/private sector, functioning at the management level. Four (4) years field experience in United Nations common system field operations, inclusive of Peacekeeping and Special Political Missions, UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes, is desirable. Experience in carrying out administrative functions of a Unit/Section, which would include preparation of budget/cost estimates, reporting on budget/programme performance, procurement of goods and services along with contract management, and the recruitment of staff, is desirable. Experience in overseeing the transition, downsizing, and liquidation of mission-critical ICT services and operations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; Knowledge of Arabic 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 until 31 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. • 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. • Qualified women that meet the requirements of this job opening are particularly encouraged to apply and will be given full consideration in accordance with the United Nations efforts to increase women participation in its workforce.

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.