ICT Associate

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

The New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.

The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their Peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP). It provides Services to partners’ programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

The Department of Operational Support (DOS) is responsible for the delivery and maintenance of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure, systems, and software applications in support of the operational requirements of Peacekeeping Missions, Special Political Missions, as well as Department of Peace Operations (DPO) and DOS at Headquarters.

ICT is one of the fundamental components that enable substantive work of field missions. Timely and secure communications and information exchange within and between UN Peacekeeping Missions and Headquarters is critical to meet the core strategic, operational, and tactical mandate of the United Nations.

The Service for Geospatial, Information and Telecommunications Technologies at the UNGSC provides a critical role as the as the resilient operational hub for the support and delivery of technology services and solutions to field operations and a broad range of Secretariat and United Nations system clients. As a unified, singular service provider, SGITT provides reliable, resilient, 

and innovative geospatial, communications and information technology services, including centralized connectivity, hosting and monitoring support, ensuring that staff members in field missions and at Headquarters have access to critical enterprise systems.

The Technology Development, Design and Planning Section (TDDPS) identifies, harnesses and operationalizes innovative and emerging technology solutions that can serve as effort/force multipliers, and provide measurable advantages and benefits over traditional approaches. The Section takes a holistic approach: from exploration, solution identification, proof of concept, introduction to field missions, streamlining and enhancing existing practices, and mainstreaming successful technologies.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with UNGSC and the UNGSC ICT Programme Support Team has the scope to manage and coordinate for the implementation of all Financial Agreements between UNGSC and UNOPS, also to provide related administrative support to UNGSC.

The ICT Associate will carry out his/her tasks at UNGSC, SGITT/Technology Development Design and Planning Section (TDDPS)/Technology Development Unit (Unit) in Valencia (Spain).

Functional Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the UNOPS Senior Programme Manager or a designated person, the incumbent works under the direct guidance and supervision of the ICT Technology Team Lead within the Technology Development Unit, at the UN ICT Facility in Valencia, Spain and is responsible for following duties:

Summary of Key Functions:

• Frontend and Backend development
• Data Analytics, Machine Learning, AI, development
• Technical Lead for multiple innovative ICT technology solutions.

Expected Results:

Frontend and Backend Software Development

• Develops and implements web services and APIs.
• Merges code into shared repositories, validate code, and perform quality assurance.
• Is the general technical lead for a range of programs and projects to ensure their smooth running and implementation.
• Works with development teams to fix bugs, deliver new versions of code, and troubleshoot problems.
• Creates Technical Designs based on Functional Design documents.
• Prioritizes tasks and organizes work based on general direction from the supervisor.
• Plans, develops, conducts documentation management, and compiles and submits reports.
• Provides technical advice and guidance as required.
• Actively provides development updates to supervisor and project management team in project meetings and tracks accomplishments as required.

Data Analytics, Machine Learning, and AI Development

• Provides expertise on techniques including regression, classification, clustering, machine vision, natural language processing, deep learning, and/or statistical modelling.
• Produces technical reference documentation to be used as guides.
• Strong ability and knowledge of database principles, data profiling, statistics and data modelling and can apply this knowledge in new or complex situations.
• Tracks and monitors development progress against plans, requirements, quality measures, and standard processes.

Coordination for multiple innovative ICT technology solutions

• Coordinates multiple research and implementation projects simultaneously.
• Capacity to provide hands-on as well as guidance and mentorship to members of a team.
• Coordinates and integrates the work of front-end developers, back-end developers, and others within each project.
• Provides expert advice on complex systems analysis, design, integration, and implementation.

Performs other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.

Impact of results

• The effective and successful achievement of key results by the ICT Associate directly affects the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the relevant business unit/project, in ICT management, impacting the timely and effective implementation of the respective services and deliverables.  This ensures client satisfaction and promotes the image and credibility of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management. This enhances UNOPS’ competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services in the country/region served.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

• FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
• CANDIDATES WITH NO UNITED NATIONS OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• A first level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) preferably in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Communications, or relevant field is desirable.
• Candidates with higher education (post graduate degree) may be considered with a reduced experience requirement.

Experience:

Required experience:

• A minimum of 6 years of practical experience in software development, machine learning, or related areas.
• Experience using Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools such as Keras, Tensorflow, Pytorch, Numpy. Scikit, Tesseract, NVIDIA’s Deepstream, Open AI’s GPT and generative AIs Dall-e or Midjourney.
• Experience using programming languages such as Python, Java, Ruby, C#, C/C++, HTML, Javascript, SQL, PHP, Haskell, Jason, or Prolog.
• Experience using frameworks such as Android Studio, Django, Flask, Ruby on Rails, or .Net.

Desirable experience:

• Experience with using Azure Cloud services such as Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Functions, Azure Service Fabric, and Azure Sprin Apps.
• Experience using software tools such as Unity, Photoshop, Android studio, Git, Dreamweaver, Eclipse, Visual Studio, or Wolfram.

Language:

• Fluency in English (read, write, speak) is required.
• Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an asset.

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=28006#2