Senior Information Systems Assistant

UNEP's Science Division is responsible for analyzing the state of the global environment, providing early warning information and assessing global and regional environmental trends to catalyze and promote international cooperation and action on the environment. This position is located within the World Environment Situation Room Unit of the Big Data Branch of the Science Division at the Nairobi duty station.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head, World Environment Situation Room Unit and within delegated authority, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

• Establishes and strengthens the World Environment Situation Room (WESR) back-end implementation and content management system.
• Provide first level support to the users for the WESR platform and related applications that are within the responsibility of the Unit.
• Provides support to WESR security and disaster recovery, liaises with the Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) in regard to WESR on-line security vulnerabilities.
• Provides support for computer information systems, databases and applications in assigned area; performs complex troubleshooting for various applications.
• Participates in the development, programming, testing, debugging and implementation of the WESR platform as well as new computer application systems releases, modules and functionalities; conducts version management.
• Designs and develops computer application systems and programs, typically using more than one programming language as well as UN established standards for IT technologies and tools in the WESR Unit.
• Installs computer application systems software and hardware according to specifications; monitors applications systems using appropriate monitoring tools and produces monitoring reports.
• Manages, designs, creates, produces and maintains technical documentation for relevant computer application systems and products; manages and administers changes to technical documentation in accordance with prevailing change management and operation procedures.
• Creates UI/UX designs in line with UNEP design guidelines and leading the implementation of the look, layout, and feel of web products in an intuitive, user-friendly style and designs collaterals, including front-end and back-end development and site theming, content and design elements ‘creation.
• Assists in developing/refining support and operations procedures for relevant computer applications systems, including programming requirements and recommendations to users for the programming interfaces.
• Serves as team leader in projects dealing with the planning, specification, design, development, implementation and maintenance of simple computer application systems; liaises with users to define and specify requirements; builds, tests and modifies prototype computer application systems; performs installation and maintenance of computer applications systems in user offices.
• Contributes to feasibility studies, systems analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation and testing of computer application systems improvements and new computer application systems.
• Assists in the identification of user computer application systems needs, including business process and document workflow analysis, organization and maintenance of document repositories; identifies classification schema, retention and archival procedures; designs and develops workflow systems; conducts research on document/information/knowledge management computer applications’ tools, procedures and standards.
• Provides support on computer application systems development matters, including security and data backup and recovery.
• Drafts correspondence and communications; including work plan revisions and other related issues, as well as prepares unit contributions for a variety of periodic reports.
• Keeps abreast of developments in the field; conducts research on new technologies; performs benchmarking and proposes new acquisitions; assists in the implementation of new technologies.
• Provides guidance and training to new/junior staff; plans day-to-day work and supervises other staff as required.
• Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
• Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.
• Performs other related duties as may be required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of organizational information infrastructure, including hardware, software and application systems. Knowledge of relevant programming language(s) and ability to use programming skills to develop information systems. Knowledge of system development workflow and document flow processes, ability to conduct research and gather information from a wide variety of standard and non-standard sources. Ability to respond to changing requirements and assignments, ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. Ability to perform a wide range of application software development and maintenance tasks under minimum supervision. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. The ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making.
• 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 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.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent is required. Supplementary training in Computer Science and/or Information Technology is desirable.
• Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Successful passing of the Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT) in English at the United Nations Headquarters (UNHQ), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.
• The GGST is administered to applicants when required before the administration of a written assessment and/or interview.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years’ of professional experience in ICT systems analysis and design, installation, configuration, testing, piloting, rollout, administration and maintenance or related field is required.
• Work experience with software application and database analysis, design, and development skills, in particular proficiency in MVC Frameworks, PHP, JavaScript, JQuery, CSS, HTML, SQL and MySQL, Drupal is desirable.
• Work experience participating in the implementation at the national level of an ICT system or similar is desirable.
• One (1) year 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 fluency in English is required.