Job Opening
Job Opening ID: 226239
Job Network : Political, Peace and Humanitarian
Job Family : Electoral Affairs
Category and Level : Professional and Higher Categories, P-4
Duty Station : JUBA
Department/Office : United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan
Date Posted : Jan 19, 2024
Deadline : Feb 2, 2024

Org. Setting and Reporting
The position is in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

The position is based in Juba and is located in the Electoral Affairs Division (EAD). The Electoral Officer (Information Systems) will report to the Senior Electoral Officer (Operations) but work under the direct supervision and guidance of the Electoral Officer (Voter Registration/ICT).

The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2567 (2021) deciding that UNMISS’s mandate is designed to advance a three-year strategic vision to prevent a return to civil war in South Sudan, to build durable peace at the local and national levels, and to support inclusive and accountable governance and free, fair, and peaceful elections in accordance with the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R- ARCSS). Furthermore, Security Council Resolution 2677 (2023) called on the UNMISS to provide technical assistance, to include capacity-building, and logistical support for the electoral process, as appropriate, in coordination with the United Nations Country Team and regional and international partners as well as security support to facilitate the electoral cycle, consistent with the R-ARCSS.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Electoral Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Supports the UN Integrated Election Assistance Team in implementing its mandate and activities.
• Assist in assessing information and communication technology requirements of the national counterparts. Assist the national counterparts in the design development of technical specifications of the information systems environment that will address the operational and administrative needs of the institution.
• Support the national counterpart’s ICT department in the development an Information Technology strategy that will determine how the department will be able to ensure that the national institution mandate is met.
• Assist the national institutions in the development of ICT Policy documents that will help the institutions manage their ICT resources, enable optimal performance of the investments made in the computational, storage, network infrastructure, manage their IT risks effectively, enable optimal management of vendors and determine acceptable service level agreements in line with the strategic goals of the national institutions.
• Support and advise the national counterparts in the planning and organizing, development, of cybersecurity activities in accordance with best practice methodologies, including assessment of strengths, monitoring of weaknesses, streamlining cybersecurity management, and mitigating risks. This will include guidance on conducting of IT security risk assessments, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, threat mapping, information security audits, and compliance assessments.
• Assist the national counterparts in improving the cyber security posture of the institutions through mitigate against threats to the computational environment through the implementation of best practices on securing the deployed computational infrastructure.
• Advise the national counterparts in development of Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) planning that will increase the resilience of the computational environment. The Electoral Officer will also assist national counterparts in monitoring compliance to the documented business continuity and disaster recovery procedures.
• Provide advice and contribute to capacity building of the national counterparts in the best practices in the area of Information Systems. This capacity building will be through on the job training and hand holding as well as through specially designed and developed training modules.
• Participates in data analysis, writing reports and papers on systems-related topics, system requirements, information strategy. Provide technical input related to information system and cybersecurity during the development and finalization of various documents.
• Establish and maintain professional and productive partnerships with national counterparts and other key stakeholders in the electoral process.
• Proactively keep all channels of communication and maintain close working relationships with, and advise, the South Sudanese electoral authorities throughout the planning and implementation of electoral activities in the area of information technology
• Provide regular briefings and reports in the assigned area of responsibility.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
The Electoral Officer will interact frequently with the United Nations Integrated Electoral Assistance Team (IEAT) members, especially with his/her supervisor, Officers in UNMISS, and other UN agencies (e.g. UNDP), staff of specialized agencies, representatives of the Government, TNLA and other relevant national interlocutors, National Election Commission, Political Parties Council.
Results Expected:
• The support of the United Nations in the area of responsibility contributes to credible and inclusive elections.
• The United Nations mandated support in the area of responsibility is implemented effectively, using resources efficiently and minimizing risks to the organization.
• The supervisor has access to accurate and timely information as well as advice on the electoral process and its implications.
Competencies
• Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter, notably in-depth understanding of and ability to evaluate electoral processes, knowledge of electoral processes and their technical and political implications; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing; shows pride in work and in achievements; 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.

• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• 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.
Education
Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field. A first-level university degree in the same areas in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Job – Specific Qualification
Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience
A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in elections and related areas in at least three (3) countries; of which at least three (3) years in supervising, implementing, supporting or advising on electoral processes is required.

At least three (3) years of experience in supervising, implementing, supporting and advising Election Management Bodies in the area of Information Technology and data management is required.

United Nations electoral experience in a peacekeeping operation, political mission and/or a UN agency or other relevant international electoral experience is required.

Experience in developing countries is required.

Experience in post-conflict situations is desirable

Experience in managing projects is desirable.

Previous experience of managing teams of different backgrounds is desirable.

Experience in bilateral or multilateral negotiations is desirable.

Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.