Project Management Support - Senior Officer (Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems)

UNOPS Somalia Country Office (SOCO) is recruiting this position: Project Management Support - Senior officer - Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS). 

This is an exciting and rewarding career opportunity and UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce. 

Interested and qualified women candidates are encouraged to apply.

Overview of UNOPS

UNOPS mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Within these three core areas of expertise, UNOPS provides its partners with advisory, implementation and transactional services, with projects ranging from building schools and hospitals, to procuring goods and services and training local personnel. UNOPS works closely with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social and environmental sustainability for the projects we support, with a focus on developing national capacity.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices in development, humanitarian and peace building contexts, always satisfying or surpassing partner expectations.

We employ more than 6,000 personnel and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.

Somalia Country Office:

Somalia is amid major new political and security developments that will offer a greater possibility for peace and security than the country has seen in over 20 years. The Federal Government of Somalia established in 2012, and international community have driven a process of rebuilding government institutions and processes through Somalia’s peacebuilding and state-building priorities under the Somali Compact (2013-2016), based on the Busan “New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States” agreement. The Somalia National Development Plan (2017-2019), builds on this foundation laid by the Compact and sets the priorities for national recovery and development in full collaboration with national and regional governments.  A landmark electoral process in late 2016 and early 2017 resulted in a peaceful transfer of power to a new President and government, in place since February and March 2017 respectively. The government has set out an ambitious agenda for its term (the period to 2021).  At the London Somalia Conference in May 2017, a Security Pact was agreed by Somalia and the international community, which will allow for sustainable, long-term security based on mutual accountability. UNOPS has had a solid in-country presence in Somalia since 1994 implementing a wide range of projects and has contributed to development priorities of the country.

Specific Context to the Project.

The Stipends programme is a part of Security Sector Reform (SSR) and falls within the second of the Peace and State building Goals (PSGs): “Establish unified, capable, accountable and rights-based Somali federal security institutions, providing basic security for its citizens.” Complementary to the stipends programmes is the biometric registration of the Police & Military personnel. Registration of the Police/Military personnel promotes accountability and transparency and is crucial for strengthening the Somali government’s capacity in terms of improved financial and personnel management. The Project Management Support - Senior Officer Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) will lead the conceptualization, planning, preparation, and monitoring of registration and verification activities and will report to the Police/Military Stipends Senior Project Managers

Background Information - Job Specific:
The Project Management Support - Senior officer (AFIS) will be responsible for lead the conceptualization, planning, preparation, and monitoring of registration and verification activities and will work with and report to the Senior Project Manager of the stipends projects. 

• Lead the conceptualization, planning, preparation & monitoring of registration/verification activities for Police & Military Stipends.
• The Project Management Support  Senior Officer (AFIS) coordinates with the Pay Team Observers (PTOs) to ensure that beneficiary data are aligned with stipend payments. S/he also conducts formal and on-the-job training to ensure that field teams are prepared and knowledgeable to operate the UNHRS system efficiently.
• Liaise with the PTOs & Project Managers for the Registration/Verification plan and perform thorough checks on the biometric equipment, ensuring that kits were ready for deployment. 
•  Liaise with ICT for the maintenance of UNHRS Servers, Biometric kits, Fingerprint scanners, cameras, software upgrades, and advise the Project Managers  on procurement and/or replacement of equipment and software if and when required.
• In coordination with the relevant project focal points, She/he will ensure the timely and accurate flow of Biometric registration and verification data, provide comprehensive data quality reports identifying gaps, define and assess business impact, address data quality at the source, and promote a data-driven culture.
• Synchronise field data captured on field kits with UNHRS  servers/databases, ensuring that beneficiary data is secured and aligned and compiling comprehensive beneficiary registration/verification reports as per set standard.
• Ensure that data backups are taken after each registration/verification/stipend run activity and are properly secured.
• Coordinate with the PTOs and Project Team for creation of monthly Payment Lists, reconciliation of verification list with the payment list, and reconciliation of payment lists with the bank proof of payments.
• Maintains an up-to-date Biometric Asset Register with the current location of the kits. Responsible for the handover-takeover of the Biometric kits and maintains records of the same.
• Provide comprehensive data analysis and any ad-hoc reports for data assurance, audit, and quality control purposes.
• Maintain contact with field teams to ensure the smooth completion of beneficiary registration/verification activity, provide remote support to the field teams, troubleshoot, and provide quick effective resolutions to the application/system issues when encountered at field level and travel to field locations when required.
• Assist the Police & Military Stipends Project Managers in development of regional, personal & thematic plans to achieve stated goals and objectives, including developing background and contextual components of work plans.
• Provide inputs to the weekly/monthly/quarterly reports.
• Participate in relevant coordination meetings, technical evaluations, and other working groups.

Education

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree) in Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Statistics, or other relevant discipline is required. 
• A First University (Bachelor’s) Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Statistics or other relevant discipline combined with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: 

• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant work experience in project management support with a focus on Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) and OR verification of personnel systems, procedures, and web applications is required.

• Expertise in Data Management, Data Analysis and tools such as Google Sheet / Microsoft Excel.
• Knowledge of Project Management is an added advantage.
• Experience in complex humanitarian and /or development programmes, in one or more countries, at an operational level is an asset.
• Good knowledge of the role and activities of international organizations within a complex humanitarian emergency or developmental environment is desirable.
• Ability to produce reports on substantive issues, with particular attention to deadlines.
• Good interpersonal, communication skills and abilities to gain assistance from others in a team endeavor.
• Ability to effectively work in a multicultural environment. 
• Good planning, coordination, and analytical skills, as well as the ability to implement innovative solutions to complex challenges.
• Ability to travel extensively.
• Work experience in the East Africa region is desirable.
• Work experience in developing / conflict/post-conflict countries is desirable.
• Ability to work with little or no supervision in high-risk/hostile environments.
• Capable of delivering on-the-job training.
• Experience /knowledge of  Web-Based Management Systems is an asset.

Language: 

• Fluency in written, spoken and reading English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN Official language is an asset.

Contract type: Local Individual Contract Agreement (LICA)

Contract level: LICA-9 / ICS 9

Contract duration: Ongoing (Subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and/or to 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 UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• Duty Station: Mogadishu is a non-Family Duty Station

Terms and Conditions 

• 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment 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.

Africa Region Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Africa Region supports UNOPS country offices in the region, providing financial oversight of projects, procuring goods and services and managing human resources.

AFR helps ensure that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between projects across the entire region.

Somalia Country Office:

UNOPS Somalia Country Office (SOCO) has had a solid and continuous in-country expert presence successfully implementing programs since the mid-1990s, where it is currently undertaking various projects and initiatives in close collaboration with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), Federal Member States (FMS) and partners from the global donor community. UNOPS’ projects in Somalia focus on several key sectors that include infrastructure development, institutional capacity building, project management, advisory services, and procurement services. These projects cut across multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, national security, law enforcement, immigration services, justice, transport, and public works among others. UNOPS work in Somalia is geared towards driving growth and development in the country, a process that requires developing a close relationship with the FGS and the other development partners.