ICT Associate

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Based in Addis Ababa, the Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office (HAMCO) delivers project management, procurement, and infrastructure services across Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan, with a primary focus on health, agriculture, and economic development. Established in 2009, HAMCO partners with governments and development stakeholders to implement impactful, results-driven initiatives that contribute to sustainable development. Since 2024, new projects have been aimed at expanding access to healthcare, education, energy, and livelihoods, particularly in underserved and conflict-affected regions. HAMCO also provides human resource management services, supporting the effective implementation of development initiatives. Key efforts include equipping research facilities, strengthening education and health systems, building vaccine research capacity, and enhancing resilience in communities affected by crisis. Through these interventions, HAMCO contributes to inclusive growth, regional stability, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the Horn of Africa.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture of Ethiopia has established a modern, purpose-built Conference Center to serve as the national hub for agricultural knowledge sharing, policy dialogue, capacity building, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Designed and constructed with support from UNOPS, the Center is expected to operate as a financially self-sustaining entity through professional facility rental, event services, and ancillary revenue streams while delivering world-class experiences to government institutions, development partners, NGOs, academic bodies, and private agri-businesses. The ICT Associate is the technical backbone of the Conference and Training Centre. The role is responsible for the design, installation, operation, maintenance, and continuous upgrading of all audiovisual, video-conferencing, live-streaming, recording, simultaneous interpretation, and IT/infrastructure systems. This position ensures that every event whether fully in-person, hybrid, or fully virtual delivers flawless, world-class technical performance, thereby directly supporting the Centre’s objectives of knowledge dissemination, nationwide outreach (Digital Ethiopia 2025), multi-stakeholder collaboration, capacity building, and revenue generation through premium technical services.

Reporting to the Conference Center Management Officer, the ICT Associate takes responsibility for a complete, specialized administrative process related to the ICT infrastructure and audiovisual systems of the Conference and Training Centre, from start to finish, ensuring its integrity and optimal performance.

1. Technical Planning and Event Support

• Meet with the Event Coordinator and clients during the planning phase to fully understand technical requirements (sound reinforcement, projection, video-conferencing, live streaming, recording, simultaneous interpretation, stage lighting, etc.).
• Prepare detailed technical riders, floor plans, signal-flow diagrams, and cost estimates for billable AV services.
• Design and propose hybrid/virtual event solutions that connect Addis Ababa with regional states, research centers, and international partners.
• Recommend and upsell advanced services (4K recording, multi-camera production, interactive polling, VR/AR elements, branded digital backdrops, etc.).

2. System Management and Operations

• Oversee the day-to-day operation, configuration, and troubleshooting of the entire AV ecosystem, including: Control rooms and central data center, Large-scale LED walls, projectors, and display systems, Digital sound processors, line arrays, and microphones, Video-conferencing, Zoom Rooms and cloud platforms, Simultaneous interpretation booths and infrared/wireless systems, Live-streaming and webcasting encoders, Structured cabling, network switches, and fiber backbone, Media server and digital archive for storing event recordings, presentations, and photos.

3. On-Site Technical Direction

• Act as the lead technical director during events, supervising the AV crew and ensuring seamless execution.
• Operate or oversee operation of the main control room during high-profile events.
• Provide real-time troubleshooting and contingency solutions (backup power, redundant internet lines, spare equipment).
• Coordinate with simultaneous interpreters and ensure language distribution systems function perfectly.

4. Maintenance, Upgrades, and Asset Management

• Develop and implement preventive maintenance schedules for all AV, IT, and broadcast equipment.
• Manage inventory of spare parts, cables, adapters, and consumables.
• Conduct regular system health checks, firmware updates, and security patching.
• Lead annual technical audits and propose upgrades in line with emerging standards (8K, AI-driven cameras, cloud production, etc.).

5. Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer

• Train Ministry staff, extension agents, and regional participants on basic hybrid-meeting and streaming skills as part of the Centre’s nationwide outreach mandate.
• Mentor and supervise technicians and interns, building a sustainable pool of qualified AV professionals in Ethiopia.
• Document standard operating procedures (SOPs) and create quick-reference guides for all systems.

6. Revenue Generation and Cost Control

• Price and bill all technical services accurately (equipment rental, technician overtime, streaming bandwidth, recording packages).
• Continuously seek cost-effective procurement and licensing options without compromising quality.
• Explore partnerships with AV vendors for revenue-sharing on high-value equipment rentals.

7. Safety, Security, and Sustainability

• Enforce electrical safety, rigging safety, and cyber-security protocols.
• Implement energy-efficient practices (LED lighting, automatic shutdown schedules).
• Maintain backup power systems (UPS and generator integration) for uninterrupted operations.

Required

• Completion of Secondary education is required with 6 years of relevant experience. 

• Technical/Professional Diploma in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Broadcast Engineering, Information Technology, Audiovisual Systems, Media Production, or related field with 4 years of relevant experience.

Desired

• Undergraduate (Bachelor's) Degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Broadcast Engineering, Information Technology, Audiovisual Systems, Media Production, or related field with 2 years of relevant experience.

• Professional certifications in CTS, CTS-D, CTS-I (InfoComm), Dante Certification, Crestron, Extron, Q-SYS, VTC certifications (Zoom, Cisco, Poly)

Required

• Minimum 6 years of hands-on experience in professional audiovisual and video-conference systems in conference centers, hotels, universities, or broadcast facilities is required. 
•  At least 3 years in a technical lead role managing complex, multi-room, hybrid events for 300–1,500 participants is required.

Desired

• Proven experience in designing and commissioning control rooms and integrated AV systems is highly desirable. 
•  Expert knowledge of AV control systems (Crestron, Extron, AMX, Q-SYS) is desirable. 
•  Advanced skills in live video production, streaming, and recording workflows is desirable. 
•  Strong networking knowledge (VLANs, QoS, multicast, Dante/AES67 audio) is desirable. 
• Familiarity with simultaneous interpretation systems (Bosch, Taiden, Brahler) is an asset.
• Proficiency in CAD/Visio for technical drawings and Microsoft Office/Project is desirable.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.