Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) provides critical Supply Chain, Geospatial, Information, and Telecommunications Technologies services and Training to all Secretariat Entities, Peacekeeping and Special Political missions, Agencies, Funds, and Programmes of the UN system worldwide.

This position is located in the Network Support Unit (NSU) of the Infrastructure Operations Section (IOS) within the Service for Geospatial, Information, and Telecommunication Technology (SGITT) at UNGSC, Valencia, Spain.

The incumbent will report to the Chief NSU or other designated officer.

Responsibilities

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

• Designs, installs tests and commissions various telecommunications systems such as local area networks, metro-area network, or country-wide or regional networks.
• Drafts specifications and standards for telecommunications equipment such as hubs, routers, switching systems, satellite earth stations equipment, digital radio switching, etc.
• Provides support for the development of technical specifications for procurement of equipment; evaluates vendors’ proposals, performs tests and recommends selection of telecommunications equipment.
• Establishes performance standards for telecommunications equipment and services and recommends corrective measures to improve service quality and operational performance.
• Provides 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.
• Provides engineering services related to planning, implementation and maintenance of local and wide area telecommunications networks.
• Provides emergency communications capabilities in support of staff security, including providing a focal point for interagency emergency field security communications liaison.
• Manages leased satellite bandwidth by allocating resources based on Mission requirements/budgets and power/bandwidth constraints resulting from link budget analysis, ensuring compliance with international standards and optimizing transponder usage to allow expansion of existing services
• Maintains equipment inventory by updating asset managers on equipment movements, updating system configuration documentation and calculating equipment requirements, ensuring that operational needs of the earth stations are met and contingency backups are available.
• Coordinates and promotes activities to identify and correct information security threats by compiling and maintaining information aligned with ISO standards, all relevant Satellite Engineering Services documentation, such as Teleport monthly availability and traffic reports, system engineering diagrams, maintenance plans and reports, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Work Instructions (WIN), Disaster Recovery Plan, Operating and Service Level Agreements (OLAs and SLAs), etc.
• Collaborates with HR in the preparation of training modules and other training activities in all aspects of communications technology usage.
• Prepares and makes presentations on telecommunications networks and equipment to staff and other UN agencies.
• Identifies appropriate standards to procure communications equipment at the least cost and in the most expeditious manner.
• Ensures effective coordination with other UN agencies in order to maximize possibilities of inter-agency collaboration in the field of telecommunications.
• Supervises staff/technicians in the satellite and digital radio switching teams as required.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provides insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Ensures that requirements and background information used for data analysis are documented.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the management, design, implementation and maintenance of complex telecommunications systems; ability to organise and manage diverse and cross functional groups; ability to develop and oversee large centralized or decentralized institutional systems; conceptual and analytical capacity to understand telecommunications systems and business operational issues; ability to improve processes and approaches; knowledge of the organization’s ICT and telecommunications strategy as it relates to user area(s). 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects 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 the 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; being 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.

MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority. Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member. Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed 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 creativity and initiative. Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff. Appraises performance fairly.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

Technical training certifications in Telecommunications are desirable.

Certified ITIL v4 Foundation is desirable.

Certified Prince2 is desirable.

Certification as a Network Professional is desirable.

Relevant certificate/diploma in data analytics, business analytics or date science programs is desirable

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in telecommunications, electronic data transmission, network design or related areas is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to five (5) years for candidates who possess a first level University degree.

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

At least 2 years’ experience providing services in the field of telecommunications, electronic data transmission, network design or related areas to or in a field operation of the United Nations common system or comparable international organization is desirable.

Experience in budget, staffing and performance management and reporting is desirable.

Experience in project management of projects composed of several clients distributed in various remote locations is desirable.

Experience in asset management in a SAP environment is desirable.

Experience in supporting Digital Radio Switching (TETRA) is desirable.

Experience dealing with external providers and vendors to coordinate provision of satellite services (such as Intelsat, SES, Ultisat) is desirable.

Experience in data analytics or related area 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.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is open for recruitment for an initial period of one year with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds.

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.

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.

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.