Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Cartographic Unit, Geospatial Information Section, Technology Operations Service, Operations Support Division, within the Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT). The incumbent will report to the Chief of Unit. The Geospatial Information Section provides geospatial information and services in support of the decision making and operational needs of the Security Council, the Secretariat and United Nations Peace Operations, and manages the programme for United Nations (UN) field mission geospatial information operations. The Geospatial Information Section provides clearance of maps for the United Nations as per UN Guidelines for the publication of maps (ST/AI/189/Add.25/Rev.1); programme management of the United Nations GeoData and Second Administrative Level Boundaries (SALB); technical assistance on international boundary issues, and serves, together with the Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Secretariat functions to the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM). The Section also provides geospatial services including map production, geospatial and terrain analysis and other support services to United Nations field missions in coordination with the United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) in Brindisi, Italy. The Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) is leading the digital transformation of the Organization to enable a better, safer, more sustainable future through secure, reliable, and innovative technology solutions. OICT is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. OICT supports the principles of work-life balance and flexible work arrangements.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the Associate Geospatial Information Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Provides Geospatial information services to the UN Secretariat. • Provides cartographic and Geospatial information support to the Security Council, United Nations Operations Crisis Centre (UNOCC). • Provides Geospatial information services to Member States. • Provides Geospatial information services to the UN Secretariat. • Assists in clearance of all maps published under the UN Secretariat as per UN Guidelines for the publication of maps (ST/AI/189/Add.25/Rev.1). • Assists in maintaining the United Nations Map (UN map) geodatabase and Second Administrative Level Boundary (SALB). • Assists in research, collection, validation and compilation of Geospatial data, including place names for map and Geospatial analysis products. • Provides the preparation, production and quality control of country profile maps and thematic maps for the UN Secretariat. • Participates in the activities related to the United Nations Geospatial Network to ensure timely exchange of Geospatial information within the UN Secretariat and UN System community. • Participates in the activities related to leveraging Geospatial information and technological solutions to the activities of the UN Secretariat. • Provides cartographic and Geospatial information support to the Security Council, United Nations Operations Crisis Centre, UN Peace Operations and UN Sustainable Development Goals. • Prepares small-scale briefing maps and presentation materials and conducts cartographic/Geospatial presentation at the Security Council closed consultations. • Assists in the preparation of Geospatial analysis products for the Security Council’s Panel of Experts. • Provides the production of peacekeeping deployment maps. • Provides planning and operational maps in support of the peacekeeping operations especially during the mission planning and start-up phases. • Assists in the development and maintenance of geographic databases including satellite imagery, as well as software applications to support the UN Peace Operations. • Assists in development of Geospatial products and services to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. • Assists in the timely exchange of geographic information between UN headquarters, UN field missions (including UNGSC) and UN Funds, Programmes and Agencies (AFPs). • Provides Geospatial information services to Member States. • Assists in support of the Secretariat of UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM). • Participates in the activities related to the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names. • Assists in research on international boundary issues, particularly disputed territories. • Performs other functions as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Substantive knowledge of cartography and geospatial information technology as it pertains to small and medium scale map production and related matters; demonstrated knowledge and skill in Remote Sensing for processing various satellite imagery; ability to understand cartographic/GIS production and mapping. Good presentation skills. 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 and 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. • 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

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in cartography, geography, geospatial information systems (GIS), computer sciences or related fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. A first-level university degree and no experience will be accepted for candidates who have passed the Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP)/United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P).

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

• A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in geospatial information, cartography or related area is required. No experience is needed for candidates who have passed the United Nations Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP), the United Nations National Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P). • Experience with enterprise based geospatial database management (e.g., ArcGIS SDE, PostGIS) is desirable. • Experience in graphics (AdobeSuites such as Illustrator and Photoshop), GIS (e.g., ArcGIS suites, QGIS) and remote sensing (e.g., ERDAS) software is desirable. • Experience in drafting communications to wide range of clients on both technical and non-technical issues is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is funded by the regular budget and is temporarily available for three months. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary job opening may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for his position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • The expression “Internal candidates”, shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15. • For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. • A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. In accordance with ST/AI/1999/17 section 2.3, an SPA may only be granted to one level higher than the personal level of the staff member assigned to higher-level functions in his or her own category, whether the higher-level functions are one or several levels higher than the personal level of the staff member. Staff in the General Service and related categories temporarily placed against a post at the Professional level may receive an SPA to the P-1 or P-2 level. For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions. • The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AE2012/2/Rev. 1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. • Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re -employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat. • Staff members are not eligible to apply for the current temporary job opening if they are unable to serve the specified duration of temporary need before reaching the mandatory age of separation. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. • At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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

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.