Posting Title:
SENIOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS ASSISTANT, G7
Job Code Title:
SENIOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS ASSISTANT
Department/ Office
United Nations Environment Programme
Duty Station
NAIROBI
Posting Period
19 March 2015-18 April 2015
Job Opening number
15-IST-UNEP-40697-R-NAIROBI (X)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Special Notice
This position is open for recruitment 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 well before 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. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Need Help?” link.
Organizational Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA), at UNEP’s Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. UNEP is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
UNEP’s Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA) is responsible for 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 Programme Officer and the overall guidance of the Senior Programme Officer – UNEP LIVE Team, the incumbent will carry out the following duties:
Responsibilities
Programmatic Development of UNEP Live: Contribute to investigating UNEP Live Potential, challenges and opportunities in supporting environmental assessment activities as input for its further development; Investigate functionality of data and indicator component to provide on-line data exploration and analytical capabilities; Improve notification capabilities to extend beyond current Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) feeds to allow for setting up email alerts for future reports on specific topics; Create inter-faces to upload real-time alerts, data/observations from citizens including discovery; Propose and implement improvements to UNEP Live by tracking its utility and establishing feedback mechanism; Develop data repository for UNEP base maps; Facilitate regular maintenance of system platform and institute back-up mechanism; Link specified data/information services of UN partners and national data published by official sources to establish gateways to credible environmental data/information sources; Respond to official correspondence, requests relating to processing, analyzing or dissemination of UNEP Live data and information. UNEP Live data and information customization: Assist in identification, collection and integration of data and indicators, maps, satellite images and reports for comprehensive database of priority environmental indicators and other knowledge products supporting assessment activities; Maintain GIS databases by processing metadata entries and upload into repository; Identify and evaluate capabilities of metadata holdings by National Partners, providing relevant access; Test and validate UNEP Live technical solutions including query results, user interfaces, navigation paths, among others, against user needs, providing relevant recommendations; Development of Spatial Data: Perform geo-referencing of data and assign appropriate geographic projections for interoperability; Undertake digitizing of geo referenced imagery using appropriate GIS and remote sensing software; Rectify data, build topology, and assign attribute codes to themes; Undertake integration of geospatial and non-spatial data; Perform preliminary analysis and interpretation of data and satellite imagery; compile map layouts using appropriate software; perform field verification of remotely sensed data. UNEP Live Awareness and outreach: Prepare technical system documentation and user guidelines, up-to-date technical improvements and functionalities; Participate in UNEP Live discussions, seminars, workshops and conferences and assist in identification and elaboration of user needs; attend inter-agency meetings where new technology solutions to dynamic environmental assessments and reporting are addressed; Promote UNEP Live partnerships with national and international organizations and private
sector for environmental assessment, monitoring and reporting; Performs other related duties as assigned.
Competencies
Professionalism: Knowledge of organizational information infrastructure, including
hardware, software and application systems. Knowledge of relevant programming language(s) and ability to use programming skills to develop information systems. Knowledge of system development workflow and document flow processes, ability to conduct research and gather information from a wide variety of standard and non-standard sources. Ability to respond to changing requirements and assignments, ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. Ability to perform a wide range of application software development and maintenance tasks under minimum supervision. 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. Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary;
uses time efficiently. Technological Awareness: 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
Completion of secondary education or equivalent is required. Supplementary courses/training in computer operations and database management, knowledge of ESRI GIS software package and Erdas macro languages and Global Position System (GPS) or other relevant field is an advantage.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in information systems
analysis and programming, systems administration and maintenance, software evelopment,
technical writing or related area. Familiarity with GIS techniques, web mapping solutions and
familiarity with ESRI software for Geographic Information Systems is desirable.
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 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.
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