Platforms Architect

The UNOPS ICT Unit is part of the Finance Group within UNOPS and is responsible for architecting, designing, delivering, and managing all UNOPS ICT infrastructure and business applications.  The ICT function within UNOPS is currently undergoing a transformation from being a service provider to becoming a strategic business partner.  This transformation requires addressing several foundational aspects of enterprise IT as well as embedding innovation and harnessing of cutting-edge technology to deliver solutions to UNOPS that truly address business needs as well as provide greater effectiveness, efficiency and differentiation to UNOPS products and services.  ICT’s place within the UNOPS Finance Group also enables the transformation by ensuring that IT decisions are made with a strategic focus on costs, benefits, and risks. 

We are looking for highly skilled and motivated individuals who will help us position UNOPS ICT as a truly transformative part of UNOPS.

Under the supervision of the CIO, the Platforms Architect will be responsible for designing, developing and maintaining UNOPS core / foundation application platforms, services, components, and interfaces.  The position is part of the Enterprise Architecture and Platforms team with members representing domain experts in specific areas of Enterprise Architecture and Platforms.

The Enterprise Architecture and Platforms team will act as the primary technical experts within the UNOPS ICT team.  The team will provide a holistic approach to managing the complexity of IT from a business perspective.  The team will document the structural and behavioural building blocks that make up the overall information system of the enterprises together with their relationships.  In addition to this, the team will go beyond traditional EA to design and architect the future infrastructure, software, and platforms for use within UNOPS as well as provide standards for design and UX.  The team will also be engaged in core development activities to build enterprise-wide platforms and components as well as digital visibility solutions.

The Platforms Architect is required to be intimately familiar with the organisation’s core platform(s) to create and optimize all the various functions needed to establish a strong set of foundation platforms and components that can be utilised throughout the enterprise either directly by end users or used by application developers to build specific business functionality using the foundation-level components.  The Platforms Architect needs to be a big picture thinker and always keep the purpose / business objectives in mind as well as all standard architectural concerns such as scalability, reliance, reuse, etc. in mind.  The Platforms Architect must be able to think out of the box and develop creative solutions.

1. ICT Strategy and roadmap

2. Designing, developing and maintaining UNOPS platforms

3. Technical expertise

4. Knowledge management and innovation

• Formulates a clear technological direction and roadmap for the adoption, design, and development of appropriate foundation / core platforms that provide exponential value to the UNOPS business

• Evaluates product / platform technology solutions and produces a technical strategy and roadmap for platforms that is the best fit within the UNOPS context

• Contributes to strategic planning and provides guidance and expertise on technical matters

• Performs detailed analysis and evaluation of platforms and products with an emphasis on:

  • New technology trends for viability for use in UNOPS in order to progress the UNOPS technology stack

  • Create Proof of Concept (POC) applications to determine fit and usability

• Defines and designs a comprehensive enterprise architecture for:

  • Strategic platforms and services that provide unique differentiation to UNOPS products and services

  • Cross-cutting platforms such as document storage, collaboration, enterprise workflow, electronic signatures, etc.

  • Systems management tools including monitoring and logging

  • Data warehousing, reporting, visualisation, and business intelligence platforms, including elements of machine learning / AI, prediction algorithms, etc.

• Implements foundation / core platforms through the development of code artefacts by utilising:

  • ASP.NET (C#) or other organisationally approved application development platforms

  • SQL Server or other organisationally approved data / database platforms

  • Organisationally approved JavaScript frameworks (ExtJS, Angular, React, etc.)

• Leads and guides the design and development of reusable components

• Develops custom integration solutions including major enhancements, interfaces, functions and features

• Codes and documents custom test automation frameworks

• Reviews architectural decisions, architecture solutions and performs re-engineering as required

• Evaluates and reviews design frameworks and methodologies

• Ensures optimal performance, scalability, and usability of platforms by defining and leading adoption of solid architectural standards

• Participates in specification of web applications in conjunction with other team members

• Maintains detailed technical documentation of platform architecture

• Assists in the implementation of technologies

  • Sparring with subject matter experts within UNOPS to ensure a coherent and structured approach to implementation

  • Defining boundaries for the use of specific technologies as well as areas within which degrees of freedom / options may exist

  • Implementation of modern computing tools and techniques such as artificial intelligence /  machine learning, prediction algorithms, etc.

  • Develop and propagate technological stack guidelines

• Assists in the delivery of systems capabilities through coordination and collaboration with team leads within the ICT Delivery function

• In coordination with the ICT Project Management and Support office and ICT Delivery team leads, serves as a technical liaison on an as-needed basis between ICT and suppliers / outsourced / external partners to provide technical solutions that address business requirements

• Contributes to the development of internal capacity across the organization in the area of ICT

• Constantly monitors and evaluates UNOPS policies, procedures, methods, tools and associated systems to ensure its utility, applicability and efficacy

• Recommends new policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices in business operations to enhance services

• Leads / organises training and awareness / showcasing events and design / set training agendas to build capacity of stakeholders across the business

• Gathers knowledge and mentors ICT personnel

  • Research current and future technologies not currently in use by UNOPS in order to broaden the knowledge base and facilitate better technology selection decision making

  • Educate, mentor and communicate principles at large in the ICT Teams and in the organization

  • Facilitate workshops/communications to disseminate new knowledge about technologies and potential impact for UNOPS

Master’s Degree, preferably in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Technology Management, Mathematics or other relevant discipline is required.

A Bachelor’s degree in combination with additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of master’s degree.

Secondary education in combination with additional six years of experience may be accepted in lieu of a master's degree

• Minimum 8 years of experience required in the area of ICT platforms and frameworks architecture, design, and development

• Hands-on experience with designing, developing, managing and maintaining enterprise-level platforms / frameworks in large, complex environments is required

• Expert level, hand-on proficiency in the .Net framework, C# , ASP.Net, JavaScript, Visual Studio 2010/2013, Responsive web development, MS SQL and understanding of web services is required

• Expert level SQL skills (MS SQL Server) are required

• Expert knowledge of popular document DBs and graph DBs (MongoDB, Neo4J, etc.) would be a distinct advantage

• Expert knowledge and understanding of Web Service API’s especially with regards to integration

• Expert knowledge of the ExtJS framework would be a distinct advantage

• Expert knowledge of other popular Javascript frameworks like Angular, React, etc. would be an advantage

• Ability to get hands on and be comfortable with bespoke interfaces

• Knowledge of foundation aspects on machine learning and prediction algorithms highly desired

• Recognised industry certifications relating to ICT software / applications / platforms (relevant certifications from Microsoft, Google or from other recognised industry leading companies) highly desired

• Excellent communication skills and exceptional understanding of IT

Full working knowledge of English is essential.

Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset

• 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 supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.