Senior ICT Officer (Infrastructure)

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Senior ICT Officer (Infrastructure)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Supervision provided:
The Senior ICT Officer (Infrastructure) has an overall responsibility for the infrastructure in the Area of Responsibility (AOR), developing and implementing the Operational Infrastructure Plan in consultation with DIST, UNHCR Headquarters.  S/he will also be responsible for providing leadership and guidance to other ICT staff in the AOR.

Size and scope of role:
Understanding the current and potential future need for infrastructure within the AOR; the incumbent ensures that the infrastructure requirements for all UNHCR offices are understood and that offices have adequate functioning infrastructure to maintain communications within the field and to headquarters, and the ICT tools necessary to effectively support their work.
Assists to prepare ICT project budgets, and monitors their implementation till to the completion, and reporting to HQs.

Main relationships:
With ICT staff in field locations to provide advice and guidance in the operation of infrastructure.
With DIST, UNHCR Headquarters to plan and agree the approach to managing infrastructure in the field.
With implementing and operational partners to understand the ICT needs and provide assistance.
With Head of offices in the AOR to understand their ICT needs.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- UNHCR country office is provided with all required ICT infrastructure support.
- An ICT operations plan has been developed for and implemented in the AOR.

Responsibility

- Plan, supervise and manage ICT and power system in the AOR ensuring that it is in good working condition, identify suitably qualified local personnel to man the ICT networks, including Switchboards.
- Ensure adherence to and compliance with Service Management processes, policies, SLAs and standards in the AOR.
- Ensure that all staff in the AOR comply with ICT security policies.
- Promote a competent and motivated workforce trained to understand and use ICT infrastructure facilities and who are aware of the correct procedures and practices.
- Assist in identification and recommendation of relevant training activities and the acquisition of further skills needed for field staff and users of the facilities to be aware of current and new technology, including training and training materials.
- Ensure compliance with technical architecture as defined by the Deputy Director, Technical Authority, DIST.
- Ensure that the operational infrastructure requirements of each UNHCR office under area of responsibility are understood, assessed and prioritised so that the offices are able to communicate effectively in the Field and with Headquarters at all times.
- Discuss, review, evaluate and coordinate with the Heads of Office through regular missions and other methods of communication.
- Monitor developments, which might lead to situations of concern, and identify potential options for the support of such situations.
- Gather information from all offices concerned and prepare an infrastructure budget.
- Maintain an up-to-date inventory of all ICT infrastructure equipment in the AOR and keep Headquarters informed accordingly.
- Support an efficient and effective infrastructure that meets regulatory and UNHCR procedures and standards by monitoring and coordinating the work of all ICT technicians and operator posts in consultation with the respective Heads of Office.
- When necessary, liaise and negotiate with national and international regulatory bodies to ensure all required permissions to operate UNHCR networks are granted.
- Disseminate the provided guidelines for communication procedures which meet staff security needs, in conjunction with the Field Safety Advisors, and promote their implementation.
- Advise on the recruitment of ICT staff within the area of responsibility, when required.
- Ensure that UNHCR safety planning and measures are supported by communications that meet UN and UNHCR security standards and procedures, by undertaking security assessment missions, with the Field Safety Advisors, to analyse security factors and make recommendations and implement as required.
- Undertake regular missions to the offices covered in the AOR to evaluate current infrastructure, write reports and make recommendations related thereto. Plan, supervise and manage the infrastructure in the AOR ensuring that it is in good working order.
- Support new infrastructure deployment and testing new models of infrastructure.
- Coordinate with different agencies and implementing partners as per ICT operations plan on infrastructure related activities. Promote partnership wherever possible with sister Agencies, NGOs and other operational partners in consultation with Head of Regional Hub/Country Representative/DIST, Headquarters.
- Liaise and coordinate with different UNHCR offices for logistic support to clear ICT equipment and accessories for speedy deployment.
- Identify ways to continually improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the infrastructure and its support with the AOR.
- Monitor developments in the AOR which could lead to new situations of concern, propose and take action as necessary.
- Assist security assessment missions to offices in the AOR in liaison with Administrative Officer/ Field Security Officers to analyse security factors, making recommendations for security communications. Provide guidelines for, and ensure the implementation of communications procedures to meet staff security needs.
- Undertake other tasks or assignments within his / her area of competence as required.

Authority

- In consultation with DIST, develop medium term plans (1-2 years) for the deployment, maintenance and support of ICT infrastructure within the AOR.
- Approve installation of new or upgraded equipment within area of responsibility.
- Set priorities for ICT staff within the AOR.
- Represent UNHCR in ICT-related meetings and activities.
- Decide on appropriate resolution of incidents / problems.
- Escalate issues to supervisor if incident / problem cannot be resolved within scope of responsibility.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- Undergraduate (equivalent of a BA/BS) degree in ICT / Engineering or relevant subject.
- Minimum 9 years of experience of supporting infrastructure (8 years with graduate (equivalent of Master's) degree) including six years in supporting field infrastructure.
- Experience of installing and commissioning VSAT, Secure Radio (HF and VHF), Wireless, Field LAN, messaging and cabling technology.
- Knowledge of different satellite and terrestrial communications and network systems.
- Experience in delivering training as well as preparation of training materials.
- Fluency in English with working knowledge of another relevant UN language.

(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of UN working language of duty station and working knowledge of English.)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Experience in the selection of microwave links interfacing with satellite and PABX systems.
- Hands-on experience with testing of terrestrial and satellite network hardware, including UPS.
- Design and development of VSAT, Radio, Field LAN and / or Messaging systems.
- General regulatory requirements for radio licenses.
- EMC Training.
- Experience of operating in humanitarian or United Nations organisations, with field experience.
- GVF (Global VSAT Forum) Training and certification. C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
X002L3 - Innovation and Creativity Level 3
X003L3 - Technological Awareness Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3

Before applying to this position, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific FAQs information leaflets which can be found  on the Intranet under Staff Resources > Duty of Care. The information leaflets are specifically designed to answer some of the key questions potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. 

The operating environment in Syria is very restrictive in regards to the importation of ICT equipment.  Therefore the incumbent must be creative in order to ensure that the infrastructure/applications requirements for the significantly expanding UNHCR offices are met and that offices have adequate functioning infrastructure/applications to maintain refugees, IDPs and returnees databases and that the applications and reporting tools necessary to effectively support their work are functional. The incumbent will work closely with all sections to provide the required information and support. S/he has to keep the database servers operational by maintaining data backup and server¿s fine tune and optimization. The incumbent has to lead ICT staff and work in harmony with regional information managers. With the initiative of joint UN Hubs, the incumbent should be able to work collaboratively with inter-agency ICT teams, while ensuring that UNHCR needs are met. He/she should be able to promote/develop a competent and motivated workforce, trained to understand and use ICT infrastructure/ applications facilities and who are aware of the correct procedures and practices. UNHCR, Syria is currently operating in 3 office locations in Damascus, Sub-Offices in Aleppo and Homs and Field Offices in Dara¿a/Sweida, Tartus and Hassakeh/Qamishli. The Senior ICT Officer will reportto the Assistant Representative (Administration) and will have the overall responsibility for the ICT infrastructure in the country. He/she will be providing leadership and guidance to ICT national staff in the country. The security situation in Syria is volatile and the incumbent should be able to undertake regular missions to UNHCR field offices to evaluate existing infrastructure, write reports and make recommendations as necessary to management. Because of the emergency nature of the operation, the incumbent should be able to liaise and coordinate with different UNHCR offices for logistic support to clear/loan ICT equipment and accessories for speedy deployment. The fluid security and operational situation in Syria creates on-going pressures at work and in daily life as priorities are frequently upended for other urgent ad hoc tasks. The incumbent should be prepared to work under such conditions and be able to manage stressful situations.As of 12 February 2012 Syria is officially a non-family duty station with a four-week R&R cycle.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2017 Compendium is Monday 6 November 2017 (midnight Geneva time).