Org. Setting and Reporting

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations System for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 100 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

This position is located within the Communication, Advocacy, Knowledge Management and ICT Section within UNDRR, and will be based in the UNDRR regional office in Bangkok, Thailand. The incumbent will report to the Head of Unit.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Chief, ‘Communication, Advocacy, KM and IT’ Section, and reporting to the Head, ‘Information Design & Technology Solutions’ (IDTS) unit, and within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

BUSINESS ANALYSIS AND PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
1. Oversees User Experience design (UX design) projects carried out by external ICT suppliers to achieve successful project implementation. Manages project progress and liaises with stakeholders and the IDTS unit. Represents UNDRR business owners and ICT team in technical meetings.
2. Plans, manages, and executes UX design projects to support the achievement of UNDRR’s business and program goals, involving strategic planning, business analysis, stakeholder management, feasibility studies, systems analysis, design, development and implementation of highly complex information systems.
3. Provides specialized UX design advice to business stakeholders and users, analyzes business and users’ requirements, and translates these into design briefs, and information architecture artifacts.
4. Evaluates technical proposals from vendors, analyzes solution compliance with both strategic UNDRR ICT goals as well as design standards, provides feedback and guides changes to proposals.
5. Researches, ideates, and proposes solutions for the successful rollout of the UN Data Strategy across UNDRR teams.

PROFESSIONAL AND USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN LEADERSHIP
1. Develops detailed information architecture to translate functional specifications and user requirements into design for major systems.
2. Designs for the maintenance and upgrade of existing user systems; troubleshoots and ensures continued user and stakeholder support.
3. Guides the UX architecture aspects of applications that require complex integrations between several systems and program elements. Reviews design level of effort.
4. Researches, analyzes and evaluates new and emerging technologies from a business and UX perspective; makes recommendations for their adoption by UNDRR.
5. Provides professional and UX design leadership, plays an advisory role to internal/external project teams and UNDRR senior management.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
1. Plans and manages the complete project lifecycle, estimates efforts, manages risks and assumptions, resolves issues, negotiates timelines and milestones, reports on progress, proactively engages stakeholders and expectations, and continually solicits input and involvement as needed.
2. Develops cost proposals for contractual services, oversees the technical evaluation of proposals received and manages the contract service. Contributes to (and leads where appropriate) technical consultant recruitment and vendor hiring. Manages ICT procurement processes.

GENERAL ICT
1. Co-owns (with colleagues in the IDTS unit) responsibilities related to ICT and software development standardized processes.
2. Contributes at his/her level to activities related to IDTS unit budgeting (including project preparation and submissions, progress reports, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (work programme, budget, etc.). Collaborates with UNDRR ICT team to plan and implement a strategic, coherent approach to technology project development, considering data strategy, micro services, and modular/reusable approaches to technology development.

Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Competencies

Professionalism: 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.

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.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in information design, information architecture, communication design, communication sciences, product design, interaction design or a related area is required. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of a university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Project management certification (Prince2 Practitioner, PMP, or similar) is desirable.

IT service management certification (ITIL Foundation or similar) is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in information architecture, interaction design, user experience design and project management of highly complex information systems is required.

Experience in leading UX design discussions with stakeholders, business analysis, requirements gathering in a UX Lead/business analyst/product manager role (or similar) is required.

Experience in information architecture (creating wireframes, sitemaps, business rules, functional specifications, process flows, prototyping) is required.

Experience in designing for Drupal 8, CSS/theming is desirable.

Experience in procurement of vendor services in the United Nations system or a similar large organization context is desirable.

Languages

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

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a design portfolio review and/or technical assessment exercise, which will be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

The appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal is thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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.

In line with the overall United Nations policy, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction encourages a positive workplace culture which embraces inclusivity and leverages diversity within its workforce. Measures are applied to enable all staff members to contribute equally and fully to the work and development of the organization, including flexible working arrangements, family-friendly policies and standards of conduct.

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

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.

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.