Head of IS Business Applications (P-4)

This fixed-term appointment is for a duration of two years with a six-month probationary period, and is subject to the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules, as applicable. The OPCW is a non-career organisation with limited staff tenure. The total length of service for Professional staff shall not exceed 7 years. The Director-General retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description. Several vacancies may be filled.

Under the supervision of the Head, Information Services Branch and in accordance with the OPCW Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity/Gender Equality, the incumbent performs the following duties:• Manage business application vendors and their support of products in operation at OPCW. • Providing leadership in the conceptualization, management and coordination of the design, implementation and maintenance of application systems, software packages, systems integration and business intelligence projects; providing leadership and determine user requirements and liaise with users on all aspects and during all phases of IT projects in the areas of software development and business integration; providing technical guidance to the Head of the Branch and colleagues involved in the automation activities not directly related to application systems;• Managing and supervising all activities of the section, performing tasks such as project management, budget planning, procurement, team meetings, annual training plans, performance appraisals, section updates, participation in job interviews, reporting to IS Steering Committee and other levels of management; advising Management and Expert Groups on planned, future and existing application systems for the organisation; preparing progress and problem analysis reports for management review purposes;• Providing on-the-job technical training and guidance to all members of the section; preparing technical and commercial evaluations of software development tools and application packages; evaluating the continued effectiveness, suitability and performance of automated systems, technologies, and preparing technical reports on performance and functionality; participating in defining and resolving problems of system’s integration (intra/inter organisation); researching new developments in computer software technology; recommending the introduction of new technology appropriate to the organisation’s automation needs and assisting in preparing technical and commercial evaluations of software products and/or application packages;• Leads IT projects pertaining to areas of responsibilities with users and external consultants and contractors hired on a temporary basis to assist with technical matters.• Supervises the work of the staff in the section as well as other IS professionals involved in any of the development projects.• Provides expert advice on automation activities that are not directly related to the responsibilities of the section.• Provides technical advice and/or guidance to Member States Delegates and National Authorities on matters related to application systems developed or acquired by the Technical Secretariat.• Technical advice to Head of the Branch on new emerging technologies and their potential use in the Technical Secretariat.• Performing other duties as required.

Essential: Advanced university degree in information technology, mathematics, engineering, or related discipline.Required Certification (if applicable): Relevant training/certification on current software technologies and methodologies. Skills and Abilities (key competencies):· Professionalism: Ability to provide seasoned advice on information systems and technology in a diverse universe of information needs and functions; Demonstrated ability to bring the developments of ICT to effectively solve business issues while also managing costs and risks. Ability to think and plan strategically, set direction and manage within a results-based management framework.· Planning and organising: Ability to plan and organize work, requiring an in-depth understanding of its strategic direction and ability to integrate the work of the section into the OPCW work programme.· Communication: Excellent drafting ability, strong negotiating and presentation skills to make for a trustworthy record keeping and information systems and to bring others to reach agreement on difficult issues.· Teamwork: Ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.· Client Orientation: Ability to identify clients' needs and propose appropriate solutions as well as establish and maintain effective work relationships with outside collaborators and other contacts, including member states and the public. Ability to understand how to use technology to succeed and how to satisfy both internal and external client’s needs.· Technological awareness: Excellent conceptual knowledge of Information Architecture, Information Management and Software Development Agile Methodologies, broad knowledge of all aspects of system design, implementation and management of highly complex Application Systems. Familiarity with major Microsoft products such as SharePoint, dotNet Framework, Visual Studio, SQL Server. Familiarity with a known Business Intelligence platform.Managerial Competences· Managing performance: Proven managerial and analytical capabilities in planning and directing a team of technical staff responsible for information management and communication infrastructure. Good supervisory skills and the ability to provide leadership and motivation to staff. · Leadership: Strong managerial/leadership skills; demonstrated flexibility in leadership by performing and/or overseeing the analysis of complex human resources, financial and administrative management policy and programme issues; proven record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling environment, including the ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff and design training/skills enhancement initiatives to ensure effective transfer of knowledge/skills. Tact in negotiating skills; good judgement and decision making skills.Other Skills:Broad knowledge and/or training on relevant ISO standards such as ISO 27001.Knowledge of Agile development methodology. Experience in the implementation and maintenance of ITIL (version 2 or 3) governance processes.Experience in the implementation and maintenance of one of the commercially available ERP systems.

Essential: A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible and combined experience related to either software development and system integration technologies or functional design and support of administrative business applications. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (minimum 9 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.Professional experience supervising a business applications team.Desirable: Experience at international level.Technical support, project management, IT security, database design, business intelligence, risk management.Demonstrable experience with ‘DevOps’ in a small multi-stakeholder environment.Experienced defining migration strategies from a heterogeneous legacy technology environment to a predominantly Microsoft-based technology environment.

Fluency in English is essential. A good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and provident fund deductions) in US$ and a post adjustment. The post adjustment (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change without notice in accordance with the rates as set within the UN Common System for salaries and allowances. The figure quoted on the right, is based on the January 2017 rate of 24.7%.