Advisor, Digital Technologies (GIS)

Since opening in 2019, the UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) in Vienna has served as a hub for operations across 12 countries in South-East Europe, Türkiye, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. AUMCO delivers technical expertise, operational support, and sustainable infrastructure solutions for governments, donors, and international financial institutions. Flagship initiatives include Blueing the Black Sea—a GEF and World Bank partnership to reduce pollution and promote sustainable development—and Türkiye’s post-earthquake recovery programme, enhancing protective services for women and children. In Albania, projects revitalise cultural heritage and advance digital justice, while in Kosovo, new university infrastructure supports higher education. In Georgia, AUMCO facilitates the Eastern Partnership European School and strengthens rule of law and digital health access. Across Central Asia, activities range from health system strengthening in Uzbekistan to hazardous waste management in Tajikistan. AUMCO also supports UNOPS’ global Water, Environment, and Climate portfolio, reinforcing its role as a regional and thematic centre of excellence.

Established in 2020, the UNOPS Office in Albania supports national efforts to improve economic and social conditions in the wake of the November 2019 earthquake. Through its flagship initiatives, UNOPS is contributing to the rehabilitation of cultural heritage sites and the digital transformation of the justice sector. By combining project management, infrastructure development, and technical expertise, UNOPS aims to strengthen Albania’s resilience, enhance public services, and promote sustainable development. The Albania office also plays a role in fostering connectivity and advancing healthcare standards across the country.

Albania's land administration system is undergoing a critical transformation to enhance land governance, transparency, and economic development. The modernization of cadastral records and first-time property registration are essential for improving property rights and ensuring legal certainty, both of which are key requirements for EU accession. In addition, the implementation of an EU-compliant Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) is critical for aligning with EU standards.Despite progress in digitalizing ownership records and making land services accessible online, Albania continues to face challenges in data accuracy, incomplete property registration, and legal inconsistencies.

The project will be implemented by UNOPS over a duration of three and a half years, ensuring a structured and efficient approach to capacity building, system development, and service enhancement. UNOPS will collaborate closely with national authorities and stakeholders to facilitate sustainable improvements in land administration.

Key activities under this project include:

1. Capacity building for the State Cadastre Agency (SCA) and relevant institutions to ensure effective system integration and service delivery.

2. Digitization of cadastral maps to improve data accessibility and reduce discrepancies.

3. First-time property registration in priority cadastral zones to strengthen land tenure security.

4. Enhancing cadastral data quality through systematic data correction and verification.

5. Developing an LPIS framework aligned with EU standards to improve land use monitoring and subsidy allocation.

The principal beneficiaries of the project are the State Cadastre Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. By improving land governance, legal certainty, and service efficiency, this project will foster a transparent and accountable land administration system, increase investment opportunities, and enhance Albania’s readiness for EU accession. Ultimately, it will contribute to economic growth, sustainable land management, and improved public trust in property rights.

For the "EU for Property Rights" project, and reporting to the UNOPS Senior Project Manager, the Advisor, Digital Technologies (GIS) will be providing technical advisory and support to the Project Manager on the key activities of the project for the successful implementation of the project's technical components.

• Documentation of data sources, workflows, and exchange protocols relevant to cadastral and land management systems.
• Analysis of spatial data to identify gaps or discrepancies in cadastral datasets and land records.
• Provide advice for the integration and compatibility of GIS data between SCA systems, e-Albania, and other national platforms, ensuring smooth technical operations.
• Identify and address issues related to system integration, data interoperability, and service delivery, and recommend improvements.
• Coordination with stakeholders on geospatial data sharing and system interoperability.
• Quality assurance on digitization, data enhancement, and geospatial processing methodologies.
• Review and improve existing guidelines and operational manuals.
• Provide technical inputs to project reports on GIS, system integration, quality control, and stakeholder engagement.
• Advise on technical specifications for tenders and support evaluation processes  to ensure compliance with national and EU geospatial standards.
• Provide guidance and advice to the Senior Project Manager with the Validation of contractor’s deliverables
• Provide advice to the LPIS framework, ensuring alignment with EU spatial data standards and national systems.
• Participate in technical working groups and provide GIS-related inputs.
• Deliver capacity building and targeted training for SCA and institutional stakeholders.

The Advisor, Digital Technologies (GIS) is expected to work closely with the State Cadastre Agency and relevant stakeholders and user groups and will collaborate closely with the local GIS/IT Expert. 

The number of days will depend on the tasks in line with the project implementation as identified by the Senior Project Manager and agreed with the Advisor, Digital Technologies (GIS). 

Required

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) preferably in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering ( in a related discipline), or a related field with 7 years of experience OR
• A first-level university degree with 9 years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.

Desired

• Certifications in specialized GIS software (such as ESRI ArcGIS or QGIS). Certifications or experience related to database management, cadastral systems, or IT project management.

Required

• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in GIS software, cadastral data management, digital workflows, and IT systems. 

Desired

• Experience in working with national authorities, government agencies, and international donors in EU accession countries is an advantage.
• Experience with EU regulations and standards in the context of geospatial data is preferred.
• Previous work on EU accession is an asset.
• Experience in the area of digitalisation processes in regards to property rights and land administration is a strong asset.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• 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. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
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• 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. 
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