Information Comm. Technology Specialist AT UNICEF

Purpose of the Position

Under the supervision of the Chief of Operations, the incumbent of this post is responsible for the formulation and implementation of office-wide ICT operations. The incumbent will provide strategic leadership and professional guidance in the area of Technology for Development (T4D) initiatives, plan and guide outsourced Support Services to ensure best utilization of available ICT resources to provide maintain an efficient and effective ICT infrastructure to improve work effectiveness and productivity consistent with the goals, objectives and strategies of the office and the organization.

Key Expected Results

1. Consolidate and manage outsourced ICT services and systems through Vendors to advance the productivity and effectiveness of the office. Implement the corporate IT policies, strategies, technology and systems within the standards and guidelines of UNICEF in a shared UN common service premises. Draft, administer and oversee ICT annual work plan to ensure high quality Data Centre Services, ICT Networking and Support Services are efficiently delivered maintaining high customer satisfaction.
2. Provide support and technical assistance to the Country Office in the area of Technology for Development and work with stakeholders to help develop and implement standards, procedures and partnerships for T4D initiatives. Assist Programme Sections to identify and assess potential of new T4D initiatives, or new phases of on-going initiatives, with immediate potential to improve UNICEF programming. Advise Country Offices on the optimal way to establish a support structure for T4D initiatives identification, design, project management, scale-up and maintenance.
3. Lead the supervisory oversight of the T4D function in the KCO. Co-Lead the ICT4D Task Force, a coordination group comprising members of the Kenya CO Programme team.
4. Identify opportunities for resource mobilization and new partnerships, and lead proposal & partnership development efforts. Strengthen partnerships with private sector such as SMS service provider or mobile network providers to enhance project delivery through mobile phone platform.
5. Strengthen the capacities of UNICEF staff at country level in the area of Technology for Development by identifying appropriate training institutions and approaches. Provision local Business and Technical Analysis services across all sections (ICT and programme) to help define requirements, guidelines and sustainability for T4D solutions; When appropriate plan, coordinate and organize cross-sectorial T4D network meetings, workshop and trainings to address specifics needs and capacity gaps identified in the region. Assist in the writing of Terms of references for external vendors and in the recruitment of T4D consultants or coordinators.
6. Facilitate coordination and broad integrated planning of information technology activities for Kenya Country Office, Regional Office, UNICEF Somalia and the UN ICT enter-agency Team in the context of office management plans Ensure adoption of delivering as one model to reduce operational costs.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• An advanced university degree (Master's) in in Computer Science, Information Science, Business Administration, Engineering, Industrial Design, Social Sciences or a directly-related technical field(s) is required
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience in Information Communication Technology (ICT), including hands-on experience and knowledge in the use of technology for development is required.
• Prior experience in the deployment, management and utilization of technology solutions to address programs and operational needs is required.
• Prior experience in negotiation, networking, strategic thinking, advocacy and fundraising, as related to technology for development, is considered highly desirable.
• Prior hands on experience in Rapid SMS technologies in deploying, maintaining and supporting office applications on virtual machines is considered an asset.
• Prior work experience in a developing country is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English (written & verbal) is required. Knowledge of French is considered highly desirable. Knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) is considered an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

• Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking
• Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time and on-budget
• Creates and encourages a climate of team-working and collaboration in a multi-cultural environment
• Analyzes and integrates potentially conflicting numerical, verbal and other data from a number of sources
• Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization
• Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives
• Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear
• Demonstrate innovation and creativity in designing and implementation

How to apply:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.

If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.

Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies. Applications must be received by 17 Oct 2014.

Vacancy position link:

https://careers.unicef.org/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/hrrcf_a_posting_apply?PA...

Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.

In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.