Systems Architect, Client Projects

Home Based - May require travel

Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
Location: Home Based - May require travel
Grade: Mid level - IICA-2, International Individual Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Architecture, Building and Property Management
- Information Technology and Computer Science
- Project and Programme Management
Closing Date: Closed

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background information - ITG

The UNOPS Information Technology Group (ITG) unit is focused on innovation and harnessing cutting-edge technology to deliver solutions to UNOPS that truly address business needs.

Working with UNOPS IT Group is a unique opportunity to deliver systems to users around the world - making an impact on development and solving practical problems for the UNOPS workforce and thereby help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

ITG’s goal is to provide greater effectiveness, efficiency, and differentiation to UNOPS products and services. UNOPS IT Group is responsible for architecting, designing, delivering, and managing all UNOPS IT infrastructure and business applications. The unit includes Enterprise Architects, Business Analysts, Solutions Designers, Developers and QA Testers from all around the world who are based primarily in Denmark and Thailand.

Background Information - Job-specific

The Client IT Projects function within ITG exists to provide direct support for UNOPS projects, leveraging technology to help achieve their outputs while retaining an overall perspective on how solutions can provide benefits for UNOPS and its projects’ beneficiaries globally.

UNOPS is seeking a Systems Architect who is comfortable understanding client business requirements and can design IT systems that effectively respond to these needs, while remaining aligned with corporate standards and being sustainable in terms of performance, scalability and adaptability.

The position will be responsible for the architecture and, with the assistance of a development team, subsequent development of a new, custom web-based software application that will support the operations of a complex health procurement project and have real-world impacts on access to quality healthcare for beneficiaries.

The position is for one year only.

Functional Responsibilities

Reporting to the Client IT Projects Lead, the Systems Architect is responsible for the overall technical design of the product and mapping of the business requirements to the technical requirements. The Systems Architect will provide technical supervision to a number of developers to deliver the complete solution. More specifically, the Systems Architect will:

1. Deliver architectural and technical designs for UNOPS IT products whilst adhering to UNOPS ITG best practices and standards.

Formulate and communicate a clear technological direction for the product.
Research appropriate architecture by referring to UNOPS and external standards, best practices and existing noteworthy examples.
Select technologies (in-house, commercial or open source) on the basis of fitness for purpose and alignment with UNOPS ITG Strategy particularly with reference to current and desired technology stacks.
Design the technical solution for mobile and web applications etc, that may comprise the product, based on business requirements.
Ensure documentation of the product.
Participate in the selection of technologies that have a wider strategic impact as appropriate for the product.

2. Deliver appropriate cloud based infrastructure hosting for UNOPS Client IT products whilst adhering to UNOPS ITG best practices and standards.

Design the architecture of any required cloud based infrastructure.
Implement this design using “Infrastructure as code” principles, automation and deployment orchestration.
Document this design.

3. Deliver product build and deployment automation of UNOPS Client IT products

Design, implement and manage the development and deployment workflows, pipelines and associated automation required by the product.
Document the design for these automations.
Document the working practices for these automations.
Maintain these automations.
Train and mentor others in the use of these automations.

4. Deliver test plans and automated testing of UNOPS Client IT products

Assess the possibility for automated testing of the product.
Design tests (automated and manual) that ensure that the product meets the business requirements and established best practices.
Design a process for the execution of the tests and the documentation of test executions.
Document the tests, associated process and results of any testing undertaken.

5. Implement UNOPS Client IT products

Technically lead the development efforts of the product team when implementing UNOPS Client IT product components - mobile application, web application etc and associated supporting code.
Provide advice and guidance to other developers working on, or integrating with, the product.
Hands-on implementation of product components - mobile application, web application etc and associated supporting code.

6. Provide technical supervision to the team for the implementation of the project

Assist in the implementation of technologies:
- Sparring with subject matter experts within UNOPS to ensure a coherent and structured approach to implementation.
- Advising on 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.
- Developing and propagating technological stack guidelines.
Provide expert guidance to the team with an emphasis on the following:
- Reviews and advises on detailed technical design specifications.
- Participates in the development of code standards and guidelines to ensure high-quality and maintainability of code artefacts.
- Use of appropriate data structures and code design / algorithms to address specific solutions design.
- Review of key modules for quality assurance.
In coordination with the ITG Project Management and Support office and ITG Delivery team leads, serves as a technical liaison on an as-needed basis between ITG and suppliers / outsourced / external partners to provide technical solutions that address business requirements.
Advise relevant ITG functions on compliance with relevant standards, policies and procedures.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

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

Experience

Minimum of 5 years of software development including:
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience of application technical design.
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience with Javascript
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience with database design and development
- Minimum of 1 year experience with React Javascript framework
Experience of designing Single Page Applications (SPAs) from scratch highly desired.
Experience working with Google Cloud Platform highly desired.
Experience of Firebase would be an advantage
Good knowledge and understanding of Web Service APIs especially in regard to integration is required.
Ability to get hands on and be comfortable with bespoke interfaces is required.
Experience with developing business applications within large and complex enterprise IT environments would be a distinct advantage.

Language Requirements

Full working knowledge of English is essential.
Knowledge of Spanish would be an advantage

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) Contract level: I-ICA 2
Contract duration: 1 year

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Considerations

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.
UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
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.

This vacancy is now closed.
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