Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Information Systems Officer may be responsible for the following duties: • Conceptualizes, develops strategy for and oversees the design and implementation of major systems initiatives for SGITT external customers; manages/oversees multiple, concurrent and disparate tasks for projects that often involve innovative applications and highly complex system integration and linkages. • Identifies services for external customers and how to optimize these services; agrees on service level and quality. Negotiate and establish Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with the external non-Department of Operational Support (DOS)) supported customers. • Provides authoritative technical and policy advice to senior managers on systems development in a changing business environment and on Communications and Information Technology (CIT) systems hosting and other related issues for the customers; identifies and plans for future needs; develops and disseminates best practices.

• Manages procurements, including conducting needs assessments and benchmarks, preparing service agreements and arranging contracts; supervises, coordinates and negotiates the services required to enable the management and operation of interdependent administrative, financial, human resources and other information systems. • Assists external customers in defining their needs and communicate that to SGITT in order to achieve desired outcomes. • Negotiates agreements with the external customers, resolve disputes, making changes or amends to the agreements. • Develops and monitors performance measures; ensures that projects of initial CIT systems implementation meet established time and cost parameters and standards of technical quality expected by customers. • Prepares and monitors the budget, work program, and spending plan for CIT support services for customers. • Ensures that all mechanisms are in place for cost recovery, oversight process and monitor performance. • Develops innovative solutions to resolve intricate problems that impact a critical area of the service provision to SGITT customers. • Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of systems design, and development, management, implementation and maintenance of complex information systems. Ability to develop and oversee large centralized or decentralized institutional systems; conceptual and strategic analytical capacity to understand information system and business operational issues so as to thoroughly analyze and evaluate critical systems matters. Knowledge of a range of computer languages and development paradigms, knowledge of organization’s information infrastructure and IT strategy as it relates to user area(s). Ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives. Ability to advise senior management on complex systems development and related matters of significant importance to the institution; conceptual and strategic analytical capacity to understand information system and business operational issues so as to thoroughly analyze and evaluate critical systems matters. Ability to improve processes and approaches; demonstrates adaptability to changing priorities. Knowledge of organization’s information infrastructure and IT strategy as it relates to user area(s); strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement on difficult issues. 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.

• Planning& 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. • 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. • Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. • Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in computer science, information systems, mathematics, business or public administration, finance, statistics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the 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. Certification in ITIL v4 (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) Foundation or equivalent is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic planning, design, and implementation of major projects in business systems, information technology or related fields, is required. Experience in managing diverse teams and fostering diverse partner relationships in a multifaceted organizational environment is required. Experience in designing cost plan and service rate cards for provision of services in complex service provider environment is desirable. Experience in budget preparation, establishment of cost recovery framework, contract management, SLA development and negotiation is desirable. Experience working in a United Nations common system (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds, and programmes) – or similar international organisation or non-governmental organisation is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.