INFORMATION SYSTEMS OFFICER

The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) is the UN headquarters in Africa and the Director-General of UNON is the representative of the Secretary-General in Kenya. UNON supports programme implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Resident Coordination System (RCS) globally, as well as other UN offices in Kenya, by providing administrative, security, conference and information services (www.unon.org). The post is located within the Infrastructure Management Section (IMS) of the Information and Communications Technology Service (ICTS) of the Division of Administrative Services at the Nairobi duty station. Under the general guidance of the Chief, UNON/ICTS, and the direct supervision of the Chief, UNON/ICTS/IMS, the incumbent will be responsible for advanced operational oversight, coordination, and technical leadership of service-provider-style infrastructure operations.

The Information Systems Officer will support the delivery, stability, and continuous improvement of enterprise ICT infrastructure services at UNON. The position will play a key operational and coordination role within the IMS, with primary responsibility for Network Operations Centre (NOC) functions, infrastructure observability, automation, and cloud operations. Within delegated authority, the incumbent will provide advanced technical support for the operation, monitoring, and optimization of enterprise, multi-tenant, and hybrid ICT infrastructure environments supporting UNON and its client entities. Specifically, the Information Systems Officer will be responsible for the following duties: A. Network Operations and Incident Management: • Plan, coordinate, and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Network Operations Centre (NOC) to ensure availability of ICT infrastructure services. • Ensures effective monitoring, incident detection, escalation and resolution of network, datacentre and unified communications services in a multi-tenant environment. • Develops and implements operational procedures for incident identification, prioritization, tracking and coordination of service disruptions. • Leads the implementation and continuous improvement of event and incident management processes in alignment with ITIL practices and ICTS service management frameworks. • Act as Major Incident Manager during critical outages, coordinating technical teams, communications, and service restoration actions. • Support business continuity and disaster recovery planning, including testing, and operational readiness of infrastructure services. • Ensure effective coordination with Service Desk (L1), technical teams (L2/L3), and other operational stakeholders for timely incident resolution and service restoration. B. Infrastructure Observability, Cloud Operations, and Automation: • Manage and maintain enterprise observability platforms and monitoring tools across on-premises and cloud environments. • Ensure availability, accuracy, and relevance of monitoring data, including dashboards, KPIs, and reporting to support operational decision-making and client needs. • Define monitoring standards, alert thresholds, and operational runbooks. • Leads the deployment, configuration and operation of open-source platforms supporting monitoring, automation and asset management. • Manages and supports hybrid and public cloud infrastructure services, ensuring performance, reliability and cost efficiency. • Design and implement infrastructure automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices. • Integrate automation with monitoring, change management, and operational workflows. C. Team Management and Operational Governance: • Participate in recruitment, onboarding, and supervision of NOC personnel. • Develop training programmes and skills development plans for operational staff. • Coordinate shift coverage, workload distribution, and performance monitoring. • Ensure operational procedures, standards, and documentation are maintained and aligned with UN OICT guidelines. D. Service Improvement, Projects, and Stakeholder Engagement: • Participate in infrastructure modernization, observability enhancement, cloud migration, and automation initiatives. • Contributes to requirements analysis, technical design, implementation, testing and operational handover of infrastructure projects. • Develop and maintain operational documentation, dashboards, and knowledge base materials. • Oversees operational support for digital signage systems, ensuring availability and alignment with business requirements. • Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure service delivery meets business needs. • Support post-incident reviews and continuous service improvement initiatives. • Performs other related duties as required.

PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrates strong technical expertise across enterprise networking, wireless systems, cloud platforms, and infrastructure operations. Exercises sound judgement and initiative in resolving complex, multi-tenant ICT issues. Remains calm, effective, and decisive during major incidents and high-visibility events. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: P 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. TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology. Understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office. Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks. Shows willingness to learn new technology. 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.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Information Technology, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

An ITIL 4 Foundation certificate is required. A Microsoft Azure or AWS professional certificate is required. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) or CompTIA Network+ or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is required.

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in ICT and network operations is required. A minimum of three (3) years of experience in a supervisory, team lead, or operational management role is required. Proven experience in NOC operations, monitoring platforms, cloud operations, and incident management is required. Experience supporting large-scale conferences and mission-critical events is desirable. Experience with Configuration Management Databases (CMDB) and Business Continuity Planning is desirable. Exposure to infrastructure automation or scripting tools (Ansible, PowerShell, Bash, Python) is desirable. Experience implementing or operating open-source technologies and platforms, such as monitoring, virtualization, infrastructure management, cybersecurity, or data analytics solutions, is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult

https://languages.un.org

for details).

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Required Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

English

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one year and any extension will be subject to availability of funds. Staff Members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations. When completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 April 2026 are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Liberia. Libya, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" link.

According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.