Org. Setting and Reporting
These positions are normally located in the Geospatial, Information and Telecommunications Technologies Sections/Units throughout the United Nations Secretariat. The Information Systems Officer at this level normally reports directly to the Chief, Geospatial, Information and Telecommunications Technologies or to a Senior Information Systems Officer, and is responsible for presenting well-reasoned, innovative suggestions and approaches to deal with highly complex systems issues. The incumbent effectively plans, leads and delivers, in a timely manner, major systems projects in accordance with overall objectives and policies. The incumbent provides expert advice on complex systems analysis and design; identifies the need for new systems (or modifications to existing systems) or responds to requests from users; develops plans for feasibility assessment, requirements specification, design, development and implementation.
Responsibilities
Within limits of delegated authority and depending on location, the Information Systems Officer may be responsible for the following duties: • Plans and directs major systems projects of significant importance to the institution, or major components of these complex systems which typically impact critical operations and large or multiple user groups. • Provides expert advice on complex systems analysis and design and integration, leveraging modern frameworks, cloud-based solutions, and automation tools to enhance performance and scalability. Identifies the need for new systems (or modifications to existing systems) or respond to requests from users; develops plans for feasibility assessment, requirements specification, design, development and implementation, including project plans, schedules, time and cost estimates, metrics and performance measures. • Develops cost proposals for contractual services, oversees the technical evaluation of proposals received and manages the contract service. • Tracks and monitors project progress against plan, requirements, quality measures, standard processes; liaises with users on all aspects and during all phases of development and implementation. • Provides professional leadership, technical guidance and work direction to assigned project team, and/or mentor and supervises the work of new/junior officers, contract staff, etc. • Is actively involved in the execution of the most complex aspects of the project (e.g. cross-platform consistency, data integration, data management, cybersecurity, hybrid and multi-cloud environments, scalability, disaster recovery etc.), ensuring that the solution architecture addresses business needs and control, and security mechanisms are established. • Develops, implements and monitors information standards and guidelines, ensure that IT systems, technical infrastructure and processes are secure, efficient and in line with best business practices. • Prepares technical and user documentation for entire systems and interdependent applications; prepares test strategy including test scenarios; prepares training materials and detailed technical presentations. • Keeps abreast of developments in information technology and determines the need for new technical solutions, tests and evaluate new products, services and technologies; provides leadership on introducing technological changes; prepares various technical reports. • Participates in planning and preparation of the budget, work programme and spending plan; estimate costs. • 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. • Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of systems design, and development, management, implementation and maintenance of complex information systems. Strong understanding of information systems architecture, software development life cycle (SDLC), and IT infrastructure. Knowledge of mainstream programming languages and frameworks. Familiarity with data integration, ETL processes, and API-based data exchange. Understanding of cloud-based services and experience with major cloud platforms. Knowledge of cybersecurity principles and data protection. Ability to develop and oversee large centralized or decentralized institutional systems; conceptual and strategic analytical capacity to understand information system and business operational issues to thoroughly analyze and evaluate critical systems matters. Knowledge of organization’s information infrastructure and IT strategy as it relates to user area(s). 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. • PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. • 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. • TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in computer science, information systems, mathematics, statistics, geospatial technology, computer/electrical engineering or related field. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies, with two (2) additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Job - Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of computer information systems or related area is required.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in English is required.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
The United Nations Secretariat maintains rosters of qualified and available candidates to fill anticipated job openings in the United Nations Secretariat. The purpose of this job opening is to generate a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the Information Systems Officer, P4 roster. The entire assessment process takes an average of four months; all applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) within 14 days of the conclusion of the process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently will be invited to apply for United Nations Secretariat vacancies open only to roster members. Roster membership does not guarantee selection. 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 roster. For this roster exercise, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 January 2025, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. Eligibility Notice: - As per revision of ST/AI on Staff Selection System (ST/AI/2010/3/Rev.3), a six-month break in service from the end of their current or former service with United Nations Secretariat still applies to interns, consultants, individual contractors, and gratis personnel before being eligible to apply to a position in the professional and higher categories and at the FS-6 and FS-7 levels. - As per revision of ST/AI on Staff Selection System (ST/AI/2010/3/Rev.3), a staff member in the General Service category and Field Service category at the FS-5 level and below employed by United Nations Secretariat are required to pass the G to P examination in order to be eligible to be considered for positions in the professional and higher categories.
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. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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

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