Re-advertisement: ICT Manager (Humanitarian cash Operations and Programme Ecosystem – HOPE) , P4, One Year Fixed-term, #126870, ICTD Digital Core – Valencia, Spain

Please note that this is a re-advertisement. Those who applied to the previous advertisement do not need to apply again. Their applications will be considered together with the new ones.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a connected world

The overarching strategic goal of UNICEF’s Information and Communication Technology Division (ICTD) is to transform and build partnerships with our stakeholders to successfully implement UNICEF programmes globally through innovative technology-enabled solutions. 

The Humanitarian cash Operations and Programme Ecosystem (HOPE) is UNICEF’s Management Information System (MIS) for managing all humanitarian cash transfers (HCTs). The system has enabled access to humanitarian cash transfers in 13 countries for over 300 million USD directly delivered to crisis-affected families. Since its launch in 2021, the tool has been used to safely store and manage the personal data of over 1 million people.  

The HOPE team is part of the Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) Unit within the Social Policy and Social Protection – Programme Group.  The HOPE system is jointly owned by the HCT Unit and the Information Technology and Communications Division.

The  ICT Manager (HOPE) will play a pivotal role in operationalizing UNICEF’s HOPE system by leading the technical design, development, testing, deployment (CI/CD), security, maintenance and support effort across the ecosystem.  The position will work closely with the HOPE business team, third party consulting teams, and the various teams in the Information Communication Technology Division (ICTD).

This post will be in ICTD Digital Core, Solution Centre and Support section, based in Valencia, Spain.  The post will be reporting to the Chief Digital Tools and Platforms and will have a matrix reporting line to the Programme Group HOPE Beneficiary Data Manager.  

How can you make a difference?

The goal of the position is to provide efficient, innovative, user-friendly, cost effective, and fit-for-purpose business solutions to the country offices as identified by UNICEF’s HCT unit. This includes proving guidance and oversight of deliverables developed by consultants and third party vendors.   

Organizational collaboration 

• Engage with stakeholders, including Business Units in HQ and Country Offices, ICTD Platform Services,  Solution Center Services and Field colleagues to effectively advise and implement best in class solutions to meet stakeholder needs 
• Create collaborative technical communities with involved parties to find and implement solutions  

Solution delivery and continuous improvement

• Define and implement solution delivery standards and guidelines, monitor and measure the effectiveness of standards and guidelines and implement a continuous improvement feedback loop 
• Control and monitor multiple development streams on the HOPE platform.  Oversee the work performed by software development vendors and partners involved in HOPE. 
• Oversee, approve and support the HOPE Solution Architect.  
• Recommend, implement and manage a well-organized, measurable and consistent DevSecOps lifecycle 
• Manage and provide hands-on contributions to the application delivery process 
• Select and implement the best delivery method and ensure continuous user engagement and effective governance throughout the delivery process.  Ensure quality standard and architectural consistency across the various solutions as per relevant ICTD policies and procedures 
• Deliver in adherence to UNICEF policies, such as the Security and Data Privacy standards and testing standards. 

Solution delivery and continuous improvement 

• Select and implement the best implementation and support modalities and ensure continuous effectiveness of the support to end users and other Stakeholders, taking into account the time sensitivity of many requirements. 
• Lead ICTD contribution in technical vetting HOPE Vendors and mitigate the risk of vendor lock in 
• Maintain and enhance existing application components to reflect changing guidelines and policies as well as evolving user needs. 
• Maintain an evergreen platform (e.g. platform and software versioning, programming features, patches and security protocols) 
• Maintain reliable, available, performant and secure applications at all times 
• Establish metrics on all key functional areas and demonstrate continuous improvement  
• Enforce strong housekeeping disciplines during implementation as well as during ongoing maintenance of applications 
• Advise Programme Group on HOPE Workplan feasibility, timeline and alternative solution of digital solutions required for HCT, as well as on the impact of technical choices 
• Build UNICEF Strategic Internal Software Development capacity for personal beneficiary data management solutions. Such capacity is expected to lead time sensitive development for humanitarian response by balancing risks and results for children 
• Lead HOPE medium term technical enhancements (e.g.: Solution deployment by regions, decoupling front end and back end code, Datamart, and forthcoming priorities as defined by the interdivisional HOPE team) 

Coordination and Knowledge Management 

• Coordinate ICTD teams contribution to HOPE in accordance with Operational Level Agreements between PG and ICTD 
• Collaborate with HOPE Solution Architect to ensure knowledge transfer and capacity building  
• Support HOPE Service Delivery Manager by providing technical inputs to HOPE Knowledge Management 
• Support HOPE Service Delivery Manager with relevant GSSC Service Gateway support model hand over tasks.   
• Lead the technical path to open source HOPE code 
• Represent ICTD in HOPE Technical Discussions 
• Update PG HOPE Beneficiary Data Manager on ICTD strategic lines and advocate for PG inclusion and consensus building on digital solutions for HCT programme delivery. 

Management of staff and consultants 

• Supervise the HOPE Developers and Solution Architect hosted in ICTD  
• Supervise staff augmentation capacity from vendors, provide technical guidance and prioritization of their work as per workplan 
• Provide Technical Guidance to PG HOPE Developer contractor 
• Provide exemplary management and leadership, motivating and developing colleagues to perform at their best, while building diverse and inclusive teams 
• Foster positive work relationships, build alliances with key stakeholders and find compromise between competing views 
• Performs timely and effectively any other ad hoc duties requested by supervisor and Chief of Section. 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Academic Degrees:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Business Administration, Technology Management or other related fields
  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• Training in relevant disciplines, major or substantial course work in information management, database administration, application security or application system development lifecycles is an asset. 

Required Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in enterprise level application development, software security, application monitoring, maintenance, and support in support of organizational requirements.  

• The incumbent should have experience with some or all of the below areas: 

• On premise applications, IaaS, PaaS, SaaS 
• O365, Sharepoint, SQL, PowerAutomate 
• Elastic Framework, Docker, Kubernetes  
• Azure, DevOps, Analytics, Content Delivery Networks, Management and Governance, Storage, Identity Management, Integration Services, API Management 
• .Net, .Net Core, Data Management, Data Warehousing, Data Analytics 
• Machine Learning, Predictive Analytics, AI enablement 
• Application Security, HP Fortify, Qualys 

• Analytical and interpersonal communication skills, attention to detail. Ability to translate business needs into technical requirements. 
• Excellent Ability to foster positive work relationships, build alliances with key stakeholders and find compromise between competing views.  
• Strong ability to work with multiple stakeholders inside and outside the organization. 

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

 As an advocate for every child you will receive….  

UNICEF offers a competitive salary that is tax-exempted for most nationalities.  You can access here a salary calculator for simulation. (Medical insurance and pension premiums will be deducted from net salary).  

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.  UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 

Additional benefits for eligible international professional staff members include: 

• Paid holidays and leave, including 2.5 days of annual leave accrual per month and 10 official holidays per year 
• Paid parental leave (maternity, paternity and adoption) 
• Dependency allowance  
• Rental subsidy  
• Relocation support and lump sum 
• Home leave travel (air tickets or lump sum) 
• Education grant for children in school 
• United Nations-sponsored medical and dental insurance plan, pension plan, and optional life insurance plan  
• Access to professional development and learning programs, online learning, and learning path  
• Access to staff well-being and career development support  

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable women are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.