ASSOCIATE GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION OFFICER [Temporary]

Notes:

This position is available through to 30 June 2017 with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds.

• A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further “stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one year, effective 1 January 2013…” Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified.

• Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.

• The expression “Internal candidates”, shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15.

• Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

• For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.

• The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.

• Staff members are not eligible to apply for the current temporary job opening if they are unable to serve the specified duration of temporary need before reaching the mandatory age of separation. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

The Associate Geospatial Information Officer will carry out his/her tasks within the Service for Geospatial, Information and Telecommunications Technology (SGITT) Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Section which aims at providing global services to support UNGSC, UN field missions, UN Headquarters (UNHQ), UN Global Service Centre (UNGSC), UN agencies and partners.

This position is located in the United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) in Brindisi, Italy.

Under the direct supervision of Chief Mapping and Analytics, the Associate Geographic Information Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Engages in the timely preparation, maintenance and provision of geospatial information in support of UN field mission's operations; Collects, processes and evaluates geospatial data including vector, raster and thematic data; Conduct image analysis and image processing of satellite imagery and aerial photograph, etc.; Conducts geospatial/terrain analysis studies and prediction of the effects of terrain, weather and situation on the mission's operations. Perform environmental monitoring and assessment tasks; Develop technical guidelines and workflows to standardize processing models and methodologies; Assist in developing and maintaining web services and dissemination of geospatial information; Coordinate with other offices of UN Headquarters, the mission as well as field offices of UN agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the Host Nation; Assists in the timely exchange of geospatial information between the mission and the DFS Geospatial Information Section; Assists in performing quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) on all products generated and disseminated by the GIS Section; Assists in providing geospatial information training and education programmes for UN mission staff; Assists in managing the technical work of junior staff.

Professionalism: Technical qualification of remote sensing, geospatial information systems (GIS), geography, cartography and its related matters; demonstrated skill in spatial database engine; knowledge and skill in Remote Sensing for processing various satellite imagery; ability to understand cartographic and GIS production and mapping; good presentation skills; 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.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

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 and setbacks in projects; meets time line for delivery of products or services to clients.

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Remote Sensing, Cartography, Geography, Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), or related fields. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in geospatial information (e.g. geospatial information applications, geospatial database management, geospatial/terrain analysis, cartography and mapping, image analysis/processing, GPS and surveying), information systems, or related fields is required. Some experience in leading teams in technical environment and field experience are desirable. Work experience with UN field operations is desirable. Knowledge of base mapping, geospatial information system design and implementation, geospatial database design and development, web technologies and project management tools is desirable. Direct experience with geospatial information applications such as IPB (Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield) and experience in the military, especially in a terrain analysis team, is desirable. Knowledge and practical experience of the following GIS software is required: ArcGIS (ArcInfo, ArcEditor, ArcView and all extensions), ERDAS Imagine and Leica Photogrammetry Suite (LPS). Knowledge and practical experience of open source geospatial technology is desirable.

French and English are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this job opening, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

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

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, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

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.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The screening and 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, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: 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 a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (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.