ICT Specialist [Expert on Business Intelligence, Data Analytics, and Machine]

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the DPPA-DPO-Shared Services Information Management Unit (“IMU”) to implement project activities supporting the area of peacekeeping operations. 

UN Peacekeeping has outlined a goal  to improve “innovative, data-driven, and tech-enabled peacekeeping” in the Action for Peacekeeping + (A4P+) agenda, and more specifically  improve strategic data-driven monitoring to enhance the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations. The IMU will develop one interoperable system to monitor and evaluate the impact of UN peacekeeping along the A4P+ framework, enabling a common picture of quantitative and qualitative indicators of impact of efforts to strengthen peacekeeping effectiveness. This will facilitate communication to all peacekeeping partners on the concrete impact of overall efforts to strengthen UN Peacekeeping and where we are facing obstacles making progress. To achieve this, the Information Management Unit (IMU) must quickly deliver on a range of tasks that require highly specialized talent.

This position in UNOPS requires close coordination with IMU. The incumbent of this position will be a personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment 

The ICT Specialist will provide advice and perform a specialized technical function in developing databases, cloud-based data pipelines, data management infrastructure, advanced Artificial Intelligence research, and cloud and machine learning implementation to support strategic decision making in DPO on Action for Peacekeeping (A4P). The expert will put in place an integrated cloud-based database and set of Application Program Interfaces (APIs) to improve comprehensive performance assessment of peacekeeping via the A4P framework.

The ICT Specialist Specialist will be responsible for the following duties: 

• Develop Microsoft Azure Cloud databases and implement the surrounding cloud infrastructure for A4P reporting; 
• Develop and maintain a set of application program interfaces (APIs) to ensure secure data transfers 
• Ensure easy integration of the cloud environment with data sources and for data users
• Provide advice on the development of the data management approach of the IMU;
• Analyze client’s data analytics requirements;
• Perform ad-hoc analysis and present results in a clear manner;
• Develop documentation and training materials;
• Train staff with data and analytics related problems;
• Performs other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.

The work shall be submitted in digital formats as follows:

• Provide Microsoft Azure Cloud databases and necessary supporting infrastructure securely integrated within the UN tenant 
• Develop and maintain a set of application program interfaces (APIs) to ensure secure data exchange
• Develop and maintain a set of secure cloud-based data pipelines
• Provide training to the staff/team on how to solve analytical data engineering, and machine learning/AI problems in business intelligence, knowledge management, and predictive analytics to build capacity.

Education 

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) preferably in Computer Science, Economics, Data Science, Information Systems Management, Machine Learning, or related field. 
• A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience 
Required experience:

• A minimum of two (5) years of experience in data science, data analytics, and data management is required; 
• Experience in using programming languages such as Python, Java, or other similar languages is required;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools is required.

Desired experience: (The following experience is optional. Candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply):

• Experience applying machine learning or algorithmic techniques to solve public sector problems is desired;
• Experience in relational databases such as Microsoft SQL Server and other databases is desired; 
• Experience with creating automated reports and dashboard using MS Power BI, Tableau, Access, SSRS or any other similar analytics toolsets is desired;
• Experience in development, implementation and maintenance of cloud based systems desired;
• Experience with Microsoft Azure desired; 
• Experience in supporting qualitative and quantitative analysis of peacekeeping operations in conflict or post-conflict country settings is desired;
• A passion for empirical investigation and for answering hard questions with data in a clear and precise way is desired; 
• Previous experience in the UN system and/or in other intergovernmental organizations is desirable.

Languages

• Fluency in oral and written English is required. 
• Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an asset.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) 
Contract level: International Individual Contractor Agreement (I-ICA 2) 
Contract duration: Open-ended (renewable subject to funds availability and satisfactory performance)

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.