ICT Specialist (Application Solutions Engineer), P3, Fixed-Term, #53158, ICTD Digital Core – Valencia, Spain

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a connected world.

The overarching strategic goal of UNICEF’s Information and Communication Technology  Division (ICTD) is to transform and build partnerships with our stakeholders to successfully  implement UNICEF programmes globally through innovative technology-enabled solutions.

The goal of Digital Tools and Platforms team is to provide user friendly,  innovative and sustainable digital solutions to UNICEF and partners  whilst maintaining the integrity of UNICEF’s data & systems architecture  in alignment with ICT security policies & procedures as well as provide guidance, governance, and procedures to enable digital tools and platforms throughout the organization.

How can you make a difference?

Working under the general direction of the Applications Engineering ICT Manager, the Applications Solution Engineer will contribute to significant portions of the evaluation, design, development, testing, delivery and maintenance of full stack solutions and products to support UNICEF requirements.

This role emphasizes application development, including solution architecture, DevSecOps practices, and other relevant aspects of software development life cycle. The incumbent will also contribute to the upkeep of our enterprise content management platform with associated tools. This position offers the opportunity to apply and grow  skills in application development within a dynamic and collaborative environment.

Key responsibilities

Solution Development and Delivery 

• Design, develop, test, and deploy applications to fulfill UNICEF’s specifications. 
• Prioritize solution architecture to ensure scalability and sustainability. 
• Implement DevSecOps practices throughout the development lifecycle. 
• Ensure compliance with relevant software engineering standards and best practices. 
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand and address requirements effectively. 

Quality Assurance and Testing 

Under the guidance of Quality Assurance experts,  

• Implement rigorous testing methodologies to ensure the functionality and performance of applications. 
• Automate testing processes where possible to increase efficiency and reliability. 
• Ensure that all solutions meet high standards of quality and adhere to UNICEF Software Development Lifecycle guidelines and policies. 

Security and DevSecOps 

• Incorporate security measures throughout the application development lifecycle, adhering to best practices in DevSecOps. 
• Ensure the safety and integrity of applications by implementing robust security protocols and conducting regular security audits. 
• Continuously monitor emerging security threats and vulnerabilities using industry resources and threat intelligence platforms, collaborating with security experts to assess risks and prioritize mitigation efforts. 
• Take proactive measures to address identified vulnerabilities promptly, including implementing patches, updates, or code fixes as necessary, and ensuring compliance with UNICEF’s security standards and protocols throughout the development lifecycle. 

Support and Maintenance 

• Provide ongoing application support , including third level technical support, enhancements, customizations, and periodic updates. 
• Respond promptly to issues, automate issue tracking and monitoring, and ensure timely delivery of solutions. 

 Innovation and Technical Leadership 

• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends, and make recommendations for their application within UNICEF. 
• Lead the innovation efforts by exploring and implementing new technologies and approaches to enhance the functionality and user experience of the applications. 
• Provide technical advice and guidance to business projects, helping them understand and navigate the technical landscape. 

Collaboration and Communication 

• Work closely with business stakeholders, product managers, and senior management to build consensus and convey compelling value propositions. 
• Exhibit a keen sense of ownership, drive, and interpersonal skills, and demonstrate the ability to think strategically and analytically about business, product, and technical challenges. 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

The following minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree (equivalent to a Master’s) from an accredited institution is required in Computer Science, Information Systems Management, Technology Management or other related fields.
*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• Work Experience

• At least 5 years of relevant work experience in agile environments, at the national or international levels in enterprise level application architecture and development, software security, application monitoring, maintenance and support.
• A minimum of 5 years of practical experience with programming languages, particularly Python for web applications. Demonstrated proficiency in Python web frameworks, notably Django and FastAPI.

Skills

• Strong understanding of Test-Driven Development (TDD) and experience with Python testing frameworks.
• Experience with CI/CD tools for automating software release processes.
• Practical experience designing and implementing cloud-based solutions on main providers such as AWS or Azure (preferred).
• Experience with RESTful API design and development.
• Knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and software design principles.
• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices and tools.
• Familiarity with frontend development using React, Vue or similar frameworks.
• Understanding of microservices architecture and container technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Proficiency in using Git for version control.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

The following desirables:

• Experience with SharePoint Framework or TypeScript and PowerShell scripting.
• Experience in backend development with .NET and NodeJS.
• Experience with performance optimization of Django or FastAPI applications.
• Experience with code review and pair programming practices. Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

In your application please always include in your profile the tech stack you used in your specific roles.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

Additional benefits for eligible international professional staff members include: 

• Paid holidays and leave, including 2.5 days of annual leave accrual per month and 10 official holidays per year 
• Paid parental leave (maternity, paternity and adoption) 
• Dependency allowance  
• Rental subsidy  
• Relocation support and lump sum 
• Home leave travel (air tickets or lump sum) 
• Education grant for children in school 
• United Nations-sponsored medical and dental insurance plan, pension plan, and optional life insurance plan  
• Access to professional development and learning programs, online learning, and learning path  
• Access to staff well-being and career development support  

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable women are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.