Job Code Title: INFORMATION SYSTEMS OFFICER

Department/ Office: United Nations Environment Programme

Duty Station: NAIROBI

Posting Period: 12 March 2015 – 11 May 2015

Posting Title: INFORMATION SYSTEMS OFFICER, P3

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Appointment against this post is for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and by the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided.

If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Need Help?” link.

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP’s Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA) is responsible for working with countries, regional bodies and global organizations to develop shared knowledge management systems, analyzing the state of the global environment, providing early warning information and assessing global and regional environmental trends to catalyze and promote international cooperation and action on the environment. This post is located in UNEP/DEWA at the Nairobi duty station.

Under the direct supervision of the UNEP Live Project Manager, within the Country Outreach, Technology and Innovation Branch, the incumbent will carry out the following duties:
• Organize the preparation of data flows and indicators from countries, UN agencies, scientific institutions and initiatives and stakeholder groups, to be published in UNEP Live and global, regional and thematic assessments.
• Serve as the primary UNEP focal point in the Branch for data flows and indicators on environmental science and assessment; keep abreast of new environmental data and indicators, analyses and reports on latest developments related to environmental science-policy and assessment-related issues, identifying where best data and statistics can represent an environmental dimension; liaise with key scientific organizations.
• Prepare data strategies for UNEP’s regional scientific and assessment work; help plan and organise the data and indicator activities in the regions and countries.
• In liaison with regional co-ordinators, engage with scientific organizations and stakeholder groups to identify and guide the development of data flows and publication in UNEP Live to support assessments of regional priorities.
• Ensure that divisional and project outputs maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensures that all outputs produced meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to environment and development work, with an emphasis on the science-policy interface. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis on environment and development issues. Strong project management experience in a results-based environment also necessary. .  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.
• 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.

Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in computer science, information systems, mathematics, statistics or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management in the context of information management and complex socio-economic settings. Experience in working on projects operating at the science-policy interface an advantage.

Languages

Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French, (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Assessment Method

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

United Nations Considerations

Job openings posted on the Careers Portal are taken off at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.

Applications are automatically pre-screened according to the published evaluation criteria of the job opening on the basis of the information provided by applicants. Applications cannot be amended following submission and incomplete applications shall not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to a reference checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on “The Application Process” and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” on the upper right side of the browser on Inspira.

The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

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.

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.