Applications Development Specialist

BACKGROUND

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP’s presence in the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RBAP) delivers a full range of policy, programme, and operations support to 24 Country Offices (COs) in the Asia-Pacific region. As part of the Country Office Support and Quality Assurance (COSQA) Unit, the Management Advisory Services Team (MAST) provides strategic management oversight and advisory support. As part of the team, the incumbent will work with evidence and data to analyze performance indicators and contribute to the Regional Bureau’s quality assurance and oversight actions to enhance the Regional Bureau and CO management performance. S/he will also work closely with different teams in the Regional Bureau and Country Offices, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), Bureau for Management Services (BMS), Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC), and Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI) to ensure coherent, timely, and appropriately prioritized measures and solutions.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Applications Development Specialist will catalyze new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in their professional expertise. S/he is responsible for business automation by developing integrated software platforms leveraging corporate data sources.

S/he ensures consistent service delivery to the Bureau and Country Offices to maximize office performance and adaptability, demonstrating capacity for innovation, creativity, and translating business processes into automated workflows.

To succeed in this role, the incumbent must have a robust data analytics background and excellent knowledge of technology solutions (based on Microsoft applications and Oracle). They should have excellent knowledge of data and the ability to transform data into analytics to ensure the Bureau’s systematic measures towards enhanced management performance. S/he should have strong teambuilding, interpersonal, and communication skills, be client-oriented, and look at issues from different angles to find creative solutions.

The incumbent will be directly supervised by the Programme Management Specialist in the Regional Bureau with guidance from the Management Advisor to perform the functions required.

Summary of key functions:

• Ensures business automation through the development of integrated software platforms.
• Catalyze new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement through web management services.
• Consistent service delivery to the Bureau and Country Offices to maximize office performance.
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Ensure business automation through the development of integrated software platforms focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Review and analyse the Regional Hub and Country Offices business processes to explore automation touch points.
• Coordinate the development of in-house business automation applications to enhance operational efficiency and reduce transactional costs/time in the COs, including introducing and testing new technologies.
• Develop applications in corporate platforms like Microsoft Cloud (Azure) using standardized software like Java, Visual Studio, and/or open-source platforms.
• Consult and coordinate with ITM/BMS to leverage the UNDP ERP platform (Oracle Cloud) to develop data points and support data analytics by the Bureau staff on performance measurements.
• Develop new or revise existing web-based tools/systems as the CO/Hub teams requested.

Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement through web management services focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Manage and enhance software development projects for new tools/systems and updates of old tools/systems, including needs assessment, project management, assuring compatibility with the existing platform, and redesigning standards.
• Identification of opportunities and ways of converting business processes into web-based systems to address the efficiency issues (office management system, knowledge management systems, case trackers for hub-based units providing CO support.
• Develop the scope of the work and oversee the work of software developers, webdesigners, or other short-term experts to guide the requirements and ensure quality control of the produced outputs.
• Support the implementation of the new ERP, including contribution to coordination and technical implementation in country offices as required.
• Provision of technical advice on web-based solutions to Country offices as required.

Consistent service delivery to the Bureau and Country Offices to maximize office performance focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Monitor and analyze the pattern of visits to the relevant websites hosting RBAP tools, keep statistics on the number of hits to each of them, and present periodical reports on findings and analysis of trends.
• Ensure data security and consistency of online applications, in close cooperation with the IMT/BMS and other units as required.
• Develop and regularly update training materials, SoPs, and user manuals for applications, and web-based tools.
• Build and maintain technical documentation for all applications.
• Liaise with HQ Units as required for deployment of RBAP applications and tools, assist COs in local development efforts, and ensure proper implementation of corporate standards in all applications.
• Perform other functions as assigned by the supervisor.

Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification and promotion of different systems and applications for optimal content management, knowledge management and sharing, and information provision.
• Conduct webinars and training on application interfaces and use of developed platforms to audiences in Country Offices, Regional Hubs, and corporate teams.
• Contribute to regional capacity-building efforts and the planning and delivery of regional workshops and learning events on assurance activities, including identifying best practices and knowledge exchange opportunities across the region.
• Synthesis of lessons learned, and best practices linked to ICT management.
• 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.

COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results:  LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination:  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPs objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight to model what future developments and ways forward look like for UNDP

Business Management: Digital Awareness and Literacy 

• Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skilfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed

Business Management: 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. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns

Business Management: 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.

Business Development: Knowledge Facilitation

• Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Business Management: Risk Management

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Information Management and Technology: Programming

• Knowledge in programming concept, developing software program and management of application lifecycle. Knowledge of Oracle VCBS, Microsoft tools and equivalent an asset.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Software Application Development, Computer Technology, or a related field is required. Or
• Bachelor’s degree in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the Master’s degree.
• Certificates or Diplomas in Software programming, computer sciences, etc. will be a distinct advantage.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• A minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in areas related to the job functions.
• Individuals with experience in a UNDP Country Office or regional or HQ location will have a distinct advantage.
• Familiarity with UNDP web-based tools and platforms and experience working with Microsoft Cloud (Azure), skills with SharePoint Provider Hosted Apps for business automation, using SharePoint, Power BI, and other utilized tools using standardized software like Java, Visual Studio, and/or open-source platforms is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate new business automation and deploy newly developed applications onto UNDP corporate platforms is desirable.
• Experience in communicating with different stakeholders and delivering induction /learning sessions with a wide range of user groups is an asset.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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