Background
UNDP’s Regional Centre for Europe and the CIS is UNDP`s advisory hub for the Europe and CIS region tasked with the responsibility to provide policy and programmatic support to UNDP´s development activities in the region. Throughout UNDP´s focus areas, it works towards increasing the impact of UNDP´s activities in the region by assisting Country Offices in development of country-level initiatives through advisory services and technical support and by implementing regional-level projects in partnership with a wide range of partners supported to a global network of expertise. Under the leadership of the Director, the RBEC Regional Centre employs a multi-disciplinary team of specialists and advisors, project managers, operations and programme support staff.
The ICT team plays a crucial role in the IRH as reliance on digital technology continues to increase in all office operations, projects, and programme deliveries. The team drives UNDP’s digital transformation efforts in the IRH to better enable, leverage and deploy technology solutions that help the IRH implement new ways of doing business to work smarter and more efficiently, and ultimately to improve the way it provides value to UNDP partners, stakeholders, and beneficiaries.
Position Purpose
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the ICT Specialist, the ICT Associate provides leadership in execution of ICT services in the IRH, implements ICT management systems and strategies, and provides daily technical support to users of information management tools and technology infrastructure. The incumbent is responsible for reviewing and advising on the use of new technologies that will enhance IRH productivity. The ICT Associate promotes a client-oriented approach.
The ICT Associate may supervise ICT support staff and works in close collaboration with Programme, Operations, and project teams in the IRH, UNDP HQ staff, Regional Information Officer (RIO), and the Regional Bureau Information Manager (RBIM) to resolve complex ICT- related issues.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
Ensure implementation of ICT strategies and introduction/ implementation of new technologies.
- Ensure compliance with corporate information management and technology standards, guidelines, and procedures for the IRH technology environment.
- Provide input to elaboration of internal policies and procedures on ICT use. Elaborate the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in ICT in consultation with office management.
- Conduct market research and analysis and introduce new technology for IRH system updating and improvement.
- Provide advice on and assistance in procurement of new ICT equipment for the CO and projects; and provide technical specifications and information on best options in both local and international markets. Review quotations and bids.
- Support to develop and update the ICT annual plan. Ensure maintenance of measures in place for business continuity and disaster recovery processes and procedures.
- Provide support to the use of ERP functionality for improved business results and improved client services.
Ensure effective functioning of the IRH hardware and software packages.
- Provide advice on maintenance of equipment and acquisition of hardware supplies.
- Supervise the implementation of corporate UNDP systems.
- Perform specific technical functions, including changing of hardware electronic components (disks, memories, network wiring, power sources, etc.) and making routine repairs.
Provide automation and digitalization support for both IRH Operations and Programmes.
- Provide support in the development of the new software packages for high impact results (e.g., office management system, electronic registry, etc.) as required.
- Support development of new automation tools using UNDP corporately developed platforms.
- Participate in developing Terms of Reference (TOR) for software products and provide monitoring and evaluation support to Programme teams during the development life cycle.
- Support provision of in-house development of tools for programme and operations as needed.
- Improve business processes with Artificial Intelligence tools and software.
- Identify opportunities and ways of converting business processes into web- based systems to address the issues of efficiency (e.g., office management system, donor profile software, knowledge management systems).
Ensure efficient network administration.
- Monitor the network connection on a daily basis to ensure a stable and responsive network environment.
- Operate network utility procedures; define network users and security attributes; establish directories, menus, and drive-mappings; configure network printers; and provide user access. Ensure UNDP desktop and network resources are protected from malicious virus attacks and deploy countermeasures in the event of attacks.
- Implement cloud-based backup and restoration procedures for local drives.
- Ensure timely upgrade of LAN Infrastructure and Internet connectivity to meet UNDP requirements.
- Respond to user needs and questions regarding network access.
- Maintain up-to-date parameters of information for the network clients and electronic mail.
- Trouble-shoot and monitor network problems.
- Maintain an up-to-date inventory of software and hardware and stock of supplies and spare parts in cooperation with the Procurement Unit.
Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO.
- Identify and promote different systems and applications for optimal content management, knowledge management and sharing, and information provision.
- Organize training for the operations and project staff on ICT issues.
- Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in ICT.
- Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: May supervise ICT support staff.
Competencies
Core Competencies:
- Achieve Results LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
- Think Innovatively LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
- Learn Continuously LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
- Adapt with Agility LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
- Act with Determination LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
- Engage and Partner LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making
Cross Functional Competencies:
- Results-Based Management:
- Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results.
- Customer Satisfaction/Client Management:
- Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs, provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy, and look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests.
- Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
- Working with Evidence and Data:
- Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.
- Digital Awareness and Literacy:
- Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed.
- IT Customer Support:
- Ability to support customers on IT related issues and generate and contribute to continuous improvement processes to deliver a great user experience.
- Knowledge of ISO 9001 desirable.
- ITIL certification or similar is desirable.
- Network, Communication, and Infrastructure Management :
- Ability to develop/integrate/operate/manage IT network, communications, Cloud or on-premises infrastructure, and new technologies like IoT. Cisco CCIE CCNP or similar is desirable.
- User Experience and Business Analyst:
- Capacity to translate efficiently user needs into IT requirements around human-centered design.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary education is required with formal training in IT systems, business software and/or web-based applications. Certifications in CCNA, MSCA, MCSE or MCP are an asset.
- A university degree in Information Technology, Information Management, Telecommunications, Computer Science, or an equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
Experience:
- Minimum of 7 years (with high school diploma) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant working experience in network administration and operations, web design, providing technical support for hardware/software or cloud ERP environments, working with telecommunications facilities; and applying knowledge of database applications, web-based management systems, and cloud infrastructure solutions.
- Experience working with user-centered designs and conducting user research and testing is required.
- ICT Certifications such as Cisco, and Microsoft are assets.
- Previous experience with the UN or its agencies is an asset.
- Previous experiences with the following are highly desirable:
- Microsoft Azure & Windows Servers
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Windows based operating systems.
- Apple OS and mobile phone platforms
- Microsoft Office applications
- Cisco routers and firewalls
- Open-source applications
- Other commercial software
- Artificial Intelligence tools & sotware
- VoIP applications
Languages:
- Fluency in English and Turkish is required.
- Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
