Information Technology Officer (Geospatial Analysis)

1A051A05

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

The Digitalization and Informatics Division (CSI) is responsible for information technology (IT) activities within the Organization. CSI performs on behalf of the Organization the following critical roles: defining FAO IT policies and providing strategic advice on IT architecture and standards, governance, policy and operational matters while monitoring organizational compliance; defining the mechanisms for managing FAO's information and data; protecting FAO's information assets and ensuring confidentiality, integrity and availability; ensuring provision of IT services that are core for the Organization's global operations and supporting the information and business processes; coordinating organization-wide IT activities in order to reduce duplication and fragmentation and to increase integration of information data, systems and platforms, mobilizing IT resources from across the Organization.

The Information Technology Officer (Geospatial Analysis) is part of the Team responsible for leading the development of information and communication technology (ICT) solutions and services for food and agriculture that promote digitalization and modernization through digital innovation for 4 betters (better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life) and to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Information Technology Officer (Geospatial Analysis) supports the agro-informatics geospatial analysis area that undertakes geospatial analysis, sets standards and builds and operates the core systems and infrastructure that collect, harmonize, collate, assure quality and make available agro-informatics geospatial data and analysis models to support various FAO projects and programmes.

The post of Information Technology Officer (Geospatial Analysis) is located in the Digitalization and Informatics Division (CSI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Information Technology Officer (Geospatial Analysis) reports to the Senior Information Technology Officer.

Technical Focus
Support, contribute to and undertake geospatial analysis including modeling and typologies.

Key Results
Accountable supply of reliable, timely, cost effective and scalable agro-informatics geospatial data, analysis model solutions and services that meet the Organization's requirements for informatics and digital transformation.

Key Functions
• Supports the key agro-informatics geospatial datasets and services including keeping GAUL (Global Administrative Unit Layers) up to date and aligned with UN boundaries;
• Contributes to FAO geospatial infrastructure and architecture to support CSI's accountable and sustainable provision of corporate geospatial services and solutions;
• Assists in the training of the geospatial platforms and applications including Hand-in-Hand geospatial platform;
• Ensures coherency and compliance with appropriate organizational standards;
• Identifies, sources, prepares and documents geospatial data;
• Commits geospatial modeling and analysis with commercial and open-source GIS (Geographical Information System) software and programming;
• Develops and maintains:
o reliable key agro-informatics geospatial datasets and data models,
o mechanisms to monitor, manage, orchestrate and report on geospatial data activities and usage,
o data models including MCDA (Multiple-Criteria Decision Analysis), GEO-AI (Geospatial Artificial Intelligence) and machine learning models,
o accountable and fit-for-purpose corporate geospatial software and service support,
o technical training in geospatial projects;
• Assists CSI's geospatial software/service procurement, deployment, governance and administration;
• Contributes to the acquisition of geospatial datasets and data sharing protocols and agreements;
• Contributes to geospatial data registration/documentation/cataloging, data visualization and data analysis activities;
• Contributes to the formulation and implementation of geospatial data governance, policy and protection;
• Contributes to the Organizational IT Application Development Strategy;
• Ensures audit and security compliance, contributes to audits, assessment and evaluations;
• Performs any other duties, as required.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in GIS, geomatics, geography, information technology or related field or equivalent professional experience.
• Three years of relevant experience geospatial analysis delivering data engineering solutions and services.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of one of the other official FAO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in:
o Geospatial data management, engineering and processing;
o Mainstream GIS software applications, programming and administration;
o Data programming/software engineering and data services;
o Design, implementation, operation and maintenance of geospatial platforms;
o Metadata, data discovery and interoperability standards;
o Artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques.