Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) is the UN headquarters in Africa and the Director-General of UNON is the representative of the Secretary-General in Kenya. UNON supports programme implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the Resident Coordination System (RCS) globally, as well as other UN offices in Kenya, by providing administrative, security, conference and information services (www.unon.org).

This position is located in the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), Division of Administrative Services (DAS), Information and Communication Technology Service (ICTS), Conference and Client Support Section (CCSS). The incumbent will report to the Chief of Conference and Client Support Section. The Information Systems Officer provide strategic and operational leadership and oversees the planning, management, and delivery of technical conference and meeting services to UNON clients, including Governments, UN entities and other stakeholders.

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership to Conference Facility technology, covering but not limited to: Conference Management and Simultaneous Interpretation Systems (CMSI), Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI), Audio-Visual Distribution and Control, AV Broadcasting and Recording Systems, Web Streaming, Video Conferencing, Digital Signage, and Conference Operations.

• Develops cost proposals for contractual services, oversees the technical evaluation of proposals received and manages the contract service related to conference technology and support.

• Plan for phased and minimal upgrade of degraded AVT equipment’s, Conference data center and ICTS requirements in the existing conferencing facility to have uninterrupted conferences with customer satisfaction until the new Capital project on new Conferencing facility is ready.

• Tracks and monitors AVT and ICTs support requirements for upcoming conference support requirements against both agreed calendar for conferences maintained by the Division of Conference services (DCS) and new requirements aligned and agreed with DCS. Monitors progress against plan, requirements, quality measures, standard processes and takes corrective actions when required.

• Provides professional leadership and work direction to assigned conference support team, and/or mentor and supervises the work of new/junior officers, contract staff, etc.

• Propose policies, standards, and operating procedures to contribute towards a managed end-to-end conference technology support, and ensure that compliance is maintained under his/her area of responsibility. Manage, mentor, support and train staff including recruiting temporary and permanent staff, managing and maintaining rosters of temporary staff, conducting performance reviews, demonstrating dynamic leadership and promoting a customer-focused approach.

• Develops, implements and monitors information standards and guidelines, including testing paradigms.

• Prepares technical and user documentation for conferencing technology systems and interdependent applications; prepares training materials and detailed technical presentations.

• Keeps abreast of developments in the field of conference technology, support and determines the need for testing and evaluating new products and technologies; provides leadership on introducing technological changes; prepares various technical reports.

• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

• Any other duties that is assigned by the Chief of the section.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrated professional competence with ICT Service Level Management, Service Desk operation and support, budgetary processes, and in support issues relevant to a standard desktop and the associated applications and technologies. Ability to develop and oversee large centralized or decentralized institutional systems possessing conceptual and strategic analytical capacity to understand information systems and business operational issues to thoroughly analyze and evaluate critical systems matters. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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.

• 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.

• MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority. Ensures that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member. Accurately assesses the amount of time and resources required to accomplish a task and matches task to skills. Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines. Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff. Encourages risk-taking and supports staff when they make mistakes. Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff. Appraises performance fairly.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in computer science, information systems, mathematics, statistics or related field is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Job – Specific Qualification

Supplemental certifications in the Audio/Visual (AV) such as Dante and CTS is required.

Project Management certifications such as Prince2 or PMP is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in planning, design, development, operation and maintenance of Conference Management and Simultaneous Interpretation Systems (CMSI) for more than 1,800 delegate units including Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI), AV Distribution and Control, AV Broadcasting and Recording Systems including Web Streaming, Video Conferencing, Digital Signage, Conference Operations is required.

Experience in client relation management is desirable.

Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area 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. Working knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

NOTE: “fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and ” Knowledge of” equals a rating of ” confident” in two of the four areas.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Appointment against this post is available until 31 October 2023. A limited duration and does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations.

Internal Applicants – when completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you.

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.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an email acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Need Help?” link.

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.