Short Description

OVERVIEW

Post Number : [[positionNumber]]

Grade :

Parent Sector : UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

Duty Station: Canada

Job Family: Computer Sciences / Information Technologies

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 05-NOV-2023

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Only candidates who are entitled to work in Canada may apply to this position( Canadian Citizen/Permanent Resident/Work Permit Holder).

Duration of contract: 6 months possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and performance.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Established in 1999, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) serves as UNESCO’s statistical agency for its 193 member states (MS) and 12 associated members. The UIS agenda is focused on the delivery of cross- national comparable data for Global, regional and development agendas, covering the fields of education, science, culture, and communication and information. The UIS delivers the technical support for MS to produce transformative data based on the 3 pillars (Standards and methodologies; Data production; Brokering and outreach). The UIS’ vision, described in its 2022-2029 Medium Term strategy, is to ensure that countries’ policies and decision-making are informed by sound statistical information; that they can benchmark progress towards national and international goals and learn from the experience of others. The UIS is seeking to build a management team that will lead the successful implementation of that vision.

The UIS is instrumental in shaping global education by providing essential data, technical expertise, and leadership in learning outcomes. It actively addresses challenges related to AI and machine learning and establishes a strong foundation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through collaborations with UNICEF, the World Bank, OECD, and the GEMR, the UIS fulfills emerging data requirements. Its joint efforts in conducting the Joint Survey on national education responses to COVID-19 demonstrate its commitment to addressing immediate priorities. The data generated through these initiatives informs global, regional, and funding mechanisms for education, including important platforms like the UN Transforming Education Summit, the Global Education Cooperation Mechanism (GCM), G7, G20, and the GPE results framework. Furthermore, in partnership with the GEMR, the UIS has successfully adopted an SDG 4 benchmarking process, becoming a leading authority in data and monitoring within the Global Education Cooperation Mechanism (GCM). This process serves as a vital tool for countries to set and monitor targets, positioning the UIS and the GEMR at the forefront of supporting countries in achieving improved education outcomes. Recognizing the significant influence of AI and machine learning, the UIS actively engages in this domain by providing critical data and technical inputs. This proactive involvement ensures that education systems are well-equipped to leverage the potential of AI and address associated challenges through informed decision-making and policy development.

Main responsibilities and tasks

Under the direct supervision of the Senior IT Assistant, the incumbent will assist in providing all levels of desktop support and systems administration, which will include performing the following functions:

• Deliver day-to-day IT support of approximately 40 Windows laptops/desktops (both local and in remote offices), 10+ production Windows servers, 8+ terabytes of storage, photocopiers, printers, faxes and the overall computing environment. Resolve technical hardware, software, or service problems with the IT environment of the Institute and ensure all issues and resolutions are documented while maintaining absolute discretion in dealing with confidential data and documents.
• Coordinate with and between IT colleagues in headquarters and with external service providers and suppliers as appropriate.
• Assist in the management and maintenance of the server environment to ensure peak operating efficiency and that all systems are properly backed up.
• Assist in the planning and implementation of IT projects.
• Ensure the effective application of IT policies in the Institute and recommend improvements to the technical environment, service delivery models and IT policies.
• Day-to-day monitoring of data backup and restoration to ensure that Institute data is effectively secured.
• Assist in maintaining accurate inventory of computers, software, and licenses. Periodically review inventory to identify and report items that are approaching end of life and recommend replacements as necessary. Assist in purchasing and receiving of any new items, ensuring that all items are entered into the inventory. Complete annual audit of all inventory items to validate information and provide reports to management as necessary.
• Lead and/or participate in other IT related projects as necessary.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Completion of Secondary, technical or vocational school;
• Additional post-secondary education in the field of IT, whether through full time studies or technical certifications (MCP, A+, VMWare, etc.) are an asset.

Experience

Our environment consists of HP and Lenovo laptops running Windows 10 and Office 365. The backend is a Windows Active Directory with a very small VMWare vSphere cluster of HP Servers with shared HP SAN. All on-premises servers run Windows and we make extensive use of Microsoft software including MS-SQL Server. Backups are done using an on-premises Synology backup solution. In addition to the on-premises equipment, the UIS also uses Azure to host a mix of web apps and Linux VMs to host a variety of microsites and the primary UIS website.

• A minimum of 5 years of desktop technical support experience in a comparable environment, including at least 1 year of Windows server administration within an Active Directory environment.
• Proficiency in configuring desktops, laptops, and both hardware and software is required.
• A background in user support is required.
• Familiarity with researching new technologies is an asset.
• Experience in maintaining and troubleshooting Local Area Networks (LANs) is desirable.
• Extensive expertise in supporting Microsoft software, with a particular emphasis on Windows and Office, is essential for the role.
• In-depth knowledge and experience with other technologies used in our environment, notably VMWare and Azure, are an asset.

Skills & competencies

• Detailed knowledge of Microsoft Windows 10, Office 365, Windows Server and Active Directory.
• Thorough and efficient problem solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Good understanding of the risks and considerations involved when supporting servers in a workplace environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; must be able to effectively communicate complex technical information to all levels of staff in a manner they can understand.
• Proven ability to write effective and clear procedural documentation.
• Ability to efficiently learn new software and technologies; with a drive to keep up to date with new developments.
• Organization, time management, attention to detail, and professionalism are key competencies for this position.
• Must be able to work collaboratively in a multicultural and dynamic team environment, but with the self-motivation and drive to be able to work independently, with minimal supervision.

Language

Excellent knowledge of English and good knowledge of French.

Physical Requirements

• May be required to lift, move, mount, or store equipment weighing up to 50 lbs, and move up to 80 pieces of equipment on occasion.
• May be required to work on shift assignments on weekdays to maintain the service coverage from 08:00 to 18:00. Occasionally, on average once a month, the incumbent may be required to work ad-hoc assignments during evenings or early mornings of working days as well as holidays and weekends.
• May be required to visit user’s premises to resolve problems on their laptops.
• May require the ability to cope with the working conditions of the server room where the level of noise and electro-magnetic fields may be slightly higher than the normal office environment while the temperature may be lower.

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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