Strategic Partnerships and Technology Innovation Officer

The United Nations Department of Field Support is responsible for the delivery of services that satisfy the requirements of the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support (DPKO/DFS) missions as well as Special Political Missions (SPMs).


The Information and Communications Technology Division of DFS has implemented a range of civilian and military field technologies to address the requirements of peacekeeping operations that have been identified as strategic enablers to make peacekeeping more effective and efficient. Partnerships and bi-lateral sponsorships with member states and other entities are being developed  to facilitate the introduction of innovation and modern technologies to support mandate implementation in UN Field Missions.  

The incumbent for this post will be placed in the UN Department of Field Support and will report to the Director of the Information and Communications Technology Division (ICTD).

The Strategic Partnerships and Technology Innovation Officer develops strategic partnerships with UN Member States and other key stakeholders, further expanding the strategic “Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping” initiative; initiates and promotes technology innovations, integrating military and civilian technologies and expertise, in support of making UN peace operations more effective and efficient; and creates synergies that emphasise on enhanced operational performance, impact and capacities through the introduction of modern technology to UN peacekeeping and field missions.

The Strategic Partnerships and Technology Innovation Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Initiate, develop and negotiate new ways of mutually beneficial cooperation and strategic partnerships with Member States in the area of modern field technologies, bridging military and civilian technology.
• Define vital areas of cooperation and identifies and negotiates feasible technology projects.
• Develop innovation frameworks, best practices and technology roadmaps.
• Liaise with colleagues of the UN Department of Field Support, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Department of Political Affairs, UN Field Missions as well as with UN Agencies, Programmes and Funds.
• Effective engagement with partners and stakeholders of Member States, military and police experts, the academic community, the technology sector and other partners with a view to strategically promote the application of modern technologies in UN field missions.
• Improve and deliver business results from innovation and lead the measurement and analysis of innovation results.
• Formulate and communicate field technology innovation strategy and define and monitor innovation metrics and measures.
• Identify disruptive threats and opportunities based on trends and shape and manage ICTD’s innovation portfolio.
• Formulate strategy and cultivate and sponsor breakthrough innovation initiatives.
• Link the strategic innovation agenda with the operational and tactical innovation delivery components at the UN Regional/Global Service Centre
• Create and nurture a culture conducive to innovation and develop innovation roles, talents, and career paths.
• Perform other duties as required.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or in a field related to the post description is required. Graduation from a military staff/war college is required. 

Experience

Required:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of civilian and military technology with at least three (3) years at managerial level.
• Experience in advanced defence technologies, intelligence, surveillance and cyber defence.
• Experience as a military officer, having served in the field of communications and information technology.
• Experience in establishing and implementing technology based programs / projects.
• Experience in negotiating complex contracts and other agreements.

Desirable:

• Experience in drafting diplomatic and similar formal correspondence 

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency in one or more official UN languages is desirable.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS provides its partners with advisory, implementation and transactional services, with projects ranging from building schools and hospitals, to procuring goods and services and training local personnel. UNOPS works closely with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social and environmental sustainability for the projects we support, with a focus on developing national capacity.

UNOPS vision is a world where people can live full lives supported by appropriate, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and by the efficient and transparent use of public resources in procurement and project management.

With over 8,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it.  By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

 ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.

Based in the New York, the UNOPS Development Group Cluster supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. For example, within the United Nations Development Programme, the Cluster works with the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support and the Office of South-South Cooperation.

The cluster also supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations in the delivery of project management and implementation services