GIS Team Leader (Mapping & Analysis) P3 - Rome, Italy

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WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

This position is created within the GIS Unit of the Emergency Division and reports to the Coordinator of the GIS unit.

The Emergency Division (EME) is responsible for enhancing the World Food Programme (WFP) preparedness and response capacity in emergencies, including early warning, preparedness planning, crisis support and information management. As per directive OM 2008/005, EME is also the corporate focal point for GIS related projects and it considered data owner and data steward for relevant geo-referenced data as pertaining to locations.

JOB PURPOSE

Under this framework, the Geographical Information System (GIS) Unit within EME gathers data from different sources and updates geo-referenced information to ensure that WFP is able to create detailed cartography as well as spatial analyses for areas of WFP’s interest and to support humanitarian emergencies. Additionally, the team provides mapping support and GIS guidance on data management to WFP offices without proper GIS capacity and to other divisions in WFP.

A dedicated team has been created within the GIS unit to work on geospatial data management, maps production and GIS analysis and to ensure that related standards are recognized and used by all GIS practitioners in the organization.The incumbent will supervise the work of this team and he will act as deputy coordinator of the GIS unit for activities related to Communication and Advocacy, reporting directly to the Coordinator of the GIS Unit. 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Lead, develop and motivate the small team in the GIS unit that is responsible for GIS data management, mapping and GIS analysis. 
• Contribute and support the GIS coordinator with:
  • Project proposals
  • Internal/External presentations
  • Inter-Agency communications (OCHA, UN GIS, non-UN Agencies, etc)
• Provide support and guidance to GIS colleagues working in Regional Bureaux (RBs) and Country Offices (COs) for the adoption of corporate GIS standards for data sharing and cartography;
• Work in close collaboration with RBs and COs to align activities on corporate spatial data preparedness initiatives;
• Coordinate development and maintenance of tools to automate the collection and dissemination of GIS data (such as OSM data management tools);
• Develop and implement solutions for automated mapping tools (Humanitarian Topographic Atlas)
• During emergencies or when requested by field colleagues, coordinate between WFP COs and satellite data providers, and manage acquisition of satellite images and spatial analyses of areas of interest (i.e. inaccessible areas, areas affected by natural disasters);
• Transpose data from the field and other sources into mapping products;
• Maintain a working library of spatial data and metadata in the WFP Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI);
• Supply updates to the WFP SDI with focus on WFP thematic data and logistics information;
• When needed, deploy to the field to provide GIS support to emergencies or to specific projects as requested;
• Analyse available web GIS tools and assess the capacity to respond to the users’ demand;
• Post content in the GIS page that will be created in the WFP Communities platform;
• When required, support Cartographic map production;
• When requested, represent WFP in conferences and workshops to improve the knowledge about new technologies concerning geographical systems;
• Other as required

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Advanced Degree, preferably in Geographic Information Systems, environmental sciences or related fields

Experience:

• Minimum of 05 years of progressively responsible professional experience in GIS data management and mapping
• Experience in working on GIS issues in the humanitarian environment is a plus
• Proven experience in working with Server/Tools such as Geoserver, OGC Services, ArcGIS Server, Enterprise, Desktop Geodatabases, PostgreSQL and PostGIS
• Experience with GIS software ArcGIS 10.x, QuantumGIS or other OpenSource software is a plus

Language:

Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (A WFP’s working language)

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Working knowledge in the use of the WFP Geonode platform is a plus
• Proven extensive knowledge of OpenStreetMap data structure, processes and related tools (imposm, osm ctools suite)
• Familiarity with python GIS libraries;
• Courtesy, tact and ability to work with people of different national and cultural backgrounds
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed term as well as a non-rotational contract with a probationary period of one year.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. For more details please visit icsc.un.org

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

23 May, 2021

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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.