INTERN - INFORMATION SYSTEMS & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [Temporary]

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) provides critical Logistics, Geospatial Information and Telecommunications Technologies services and Training to all Peacekeeping and Special Political Missions around the world.
The internship is located in Unite Maps team within the Client Solutions Delivery Section (CSDS) under the Service for Geospatial, Information and Telecommunications technologies (SGITT) in the United Nations Information and Communications Technologies Facility of Valencia (UNICTF-V), Spain.
The Client Solutions Delivery Section (CSDS) provides geospatial support to peacekeeping/peace building missions across the Globe, as well as to UN Headquarters (UNHQ) in New York and technical/support sections at UNGSC.
The Unite Maps Programme provides topographic maps, operational geo-information, search and navigation tools, and imagery and street-level base maps to peacekeeping and humanitarian actors in UN mission areas. Unite Maps has established a community of OpenStreetMap (OSM) data contributors, called UN Mappers, open to internal and external mappers wanting to collaborate supporting the geospatial data collection through crowdsourcing activities.
The SGITT/CSDS/DVU/Unite Maps Team Internship is for a maximum period of six (6) months in Valencia, Spain. Five (05) posts are available.
The Internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five (5) days per week (37.5 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Chief CSDS or his/her designated officer, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties:

• Support in adding the 3D visualization functionality to the Unite Maps suite of applications;
• Assist in the production of Unite Maps style guide and maintainance of the logo and symbology library;
• Assist in the designing and creation of topographic and thematic maps in accordance with mapping standards and cartographic workflows;
• Assist in the production of briefing and operational maps in different scales (Small, medium and large) from standard geospatial databases in paper, pdf and web mapping formats;
• Assist in the designing and production of image, thematic, urban base maps, analytics, infographics, and posters;
• Participate in the development of standard mapping templates including symbology, labels, annotation and marginal information for paper, PDF and web mapping formats;
• Assit in the enhancement of mapping layouts and templates.

Competencies

• 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.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

• Technological Awareness: In-depth knowledge of the latest technological developments in geographic information systems, geo-data modelling, and designing of geo databases. Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

Please note that to qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

•Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or,
•Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent)

The field of study must be closely related to the type of internship you are applying for: Geospatial studies in Geography, Digital Cartography, Environmental Engineering or other related studies that involve substantial usage of geographic information systems and cartography components.

The Intern is expected to:
- Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.
- Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.
- Be computer literate in standard software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint or similar.
- Be proficient in standard office automation (equipment, scanner, printer, etc.).

Work Experience

No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required; knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

Potential candidates will be contacted by the hiring manager directly for further consideration.

Special Notice

The internship is UNPAID and full-time (i.e. an intern is expected to work five days per week (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) and there should be no expectation of employment within the UN after an internship.

REMOTE INTERNSHIPS (COVID-19):
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to UN premises. Applicants must be willing and prepared to undertake the internship remotely for a part or the entirety of the internship.

A completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note must include:
-Title of degree you are currently pursuing;
-Graduation date (when will you graduate or when did you graduated from the programme);
-Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) skills, particularly skills in developing Geospatial and .NET applications;
-List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in.
-List your top three areas of interest and please explain how your interests, skills and knowledge match either the strategic support or the analytics track.
-Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship.
-Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme.

In your cover note, please indicate when you would like to start your internship. Please note that start and end dates are flexible.

In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references.

Due to the high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

Interns shall not be eligible to apply for or be appointed to any position in the Professional or higher categories or at the FS-6 and FS-7 levels in the Field Service category during the period of the internship and the six months immediately following the expiration date thereof.

Applicants who are children or siblings of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations. Applicants who are otherwise related to a staff member may be engaged as interns, provided that they are neither assigned to the same work unit as such staff member nor placed under the direct or indirect supervision of such staff member. For purposes of this instruction, "child" means: (a) the child of a staff member; (b) the child of the spouse of a staff member (stepchild); or (c) the son- or daughter-in-law of a staff member. "Sibling" includes a half-sibling or step sibling.

United Nations Considerations

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.

No Fee

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.