KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT OFFICER (TEMPORARY JOB OPENING) [Temporary]

This position is located in the Debt Management and Financial Analysis System (DMFAS) Programme of the Debt and Development Finance Branch of UNCTAD's Division on Globalization and Development Strategies. The DMFAS Programme is a technical cooperation programme that provides technical assistance to developing countries to assist them in strengthening their capacity to manage public debt. Its core product is the DMFAS, a specialized debt management software, which is designed to help countries manage their external and domestic public debt. The Programme is currently developing the next version of its software, DMFAS 7.

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of the DMFAS Programme and the direct supervision of the Team Leader of the Quality Assurance and User Support Team, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

1) Produce DMFAS user documentation and online help:
• Plan documentation projects in conjunction with software development projects
• Implement single sourcing to reuse and manage content
• Write, edit and update the contents of user documentation and online help
• Create, test, compile and deliver online help systems
• Design and create promotional or marketing material relating to the DMFAS software
• Define standards for the layout, graphics and presentation of DMFAS user documentation
• Elaborate documentation strategies and standards
• Organize the validation process for the review of the user documentation and online help
• Report on the progress of the user documentation and online help, as requested
• Research new technology and methodologies in the field of technical communication

2) Contribute to the production of DMFAS technical documentation:
• Review, edit, test, format and deliver technical documentation drafted by other units, as required
• Collaborate in the drafting of technical or functional specifications for new features or enhancements in the DMFAS software
• Review specifications and provide feedback
• Participate in meetings to discuss specifications

3) Create training material relating to the DMFAS software:
• Plan the development and maintenance of training material
• Create, update and deliver training material
• Organize the validation process for the review of the training modules
• Report on the progress of the training modules, as requested

4) Support the development of DMFAS software:
• Write microcopy, including labels, validation messages and error messages or propose enhancements
• Review and validate text elements of the interface according to established rules and procedures

5) Other
• Support the localization of DMFAS software, user documentation and online help
• Participate in project teams, as required
• Support the DMFAS biennial debt management conference
• Contribute to the development of new or revised training/capacity-building modules, as required.

PROFESSIONALISM: In-depth expertise in technical communication specifically in the design, planning and production of user documentation, technical documentation and training
material. Very good knowledge of best practices in technical communication including usability, interface design, single-sourcing, localization and other production issues. Excellent knowledge of MadCap Flare to design and implement single-sourcing with multiple outputs, including Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), snippets, variables and conditions. Good knowledge of SnagIt or similar tool and Microsoft Office programs including MS Word. Strong organizational and interpersonal skills. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Advanced university degree (Master's Degree or equivalent) in technical communication, computer science, business administration, economics or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A certificate in technical writing or communication from a recognized professional association would be an advantage.

A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in technical communication is required.
Experience in producing software-related user documentation, online help and training material, working with IT staff and subject matter experts is required
Experience in interpreting and explaining highly technical information is required.
Experience of autonomously managing multiple projects simultaneously is required.
Experience of producing documentation to be used by a diverse and multicultural audience is desirable.
Experience in writing documentation in the financial domain would be an advantage.
Experience in writing microcopy would also be an advantage.

Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Fluency in either French or Spanish and knowledge of the other is required.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.

This post is financed by project funds. The duration of the appointment is subject to the availability of funds and the duration is three months starting as soon as possible. Extension of the appointment is subject to the extension of the mandate, job performance, and/or the availability of the funds.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Candidates should have no expectation of any fixed-term appointment possibility after the end of this temporary assignment. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the UN Secretariat, the selection will be recorded as a temporary assignment.

Subsequent to the initial temporary appointment, new and successive temporary appointments may be granted for service in the same office or in a different office any number of times, for any duration, provided that the length of service does not exceed the period of 364 calendar days. Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat.

A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position.

A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further "stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one year, effective 1 January 2013" Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified.

While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.

The expression "Internal candidates", shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English.

Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.