ICT Specialist (Mobile Emergency Operation) (Retainer)

South East Asia Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO)

The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCO) supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. EAPMCO was established in January 2023 following the merger of the Thailand Multi-Country Office, which covered 20 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific, and the Cambodia Multi-Country Office, which covered 4 countries South East Asia - 3 countries in the Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) and the Philippines. EAPMCO currently covers 24 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises nine business units: EAPMCO Thailand, EAPMCO Indonesia, EAPMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, EAPMCO Papua New Guinea, EAPMCO China, EAPMCO Vietnam, EAPMCO Mekong, and EAPMCO Philippines.

In 2024, the UNOPS EAPMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 80 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services.

The Multi Country Office head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight and assurance of the excellence of business processes and quality standards across all of the entire Multi Country Office locations. It is also responsible for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself.

Background Information – Philippines

Established in 2016, UNOPS Philippines provides expert support to ensure sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure activities in projects. With funds from the European Union (EU), UNOPS supports the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government under the Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Programme (GOJUST2) through procurement, logistics, and grants and project management to advance the justice reform agenda of the government of the Philippines through innovations and interventions; as well as providing grants to civil society organizations to improve access to justice of marginalized groups. With funding from the European Union, UNOPS also supports the Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) Programme, working with the Government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to strengthen capacities of the executive, legislative and judicial branches to ensure a smooth transition. Supporting the Department of Health under a World Bank in the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Program, UNOPS has provided nutritional commodities and services for expecting mothers and young children from 2023 to 2025.

UNOPS Philippines is in the process of expanding its area of engagement in cooperation with its development partners, focusing mainly on a portfolio of projects and programs in the infrastructure, logistics management, procurement in health, rule of law,  and governance sectors.

Project Information

The Philippines is recognized as one of the most dynamic economies in Asia, characterized by rapid urbanization, a growing middle-income class, and a large, young population. However, this growth is accompanied by significant challenges, particularly the country's high vulnerability to natural disasters. The Philippines ranks among the highest globally in terms of exposure to natural hazards, which poses substantial risks to economic growth and inclusivity. Metro Manila, the nation's capital and a densely populated hub with approximately 21 million residents in its greater area, is particularly vulnerable to seismic events due to its location along the West Valley Fault (WVF). A major earthquake, such as the anticipated 'Big One,' could result in catastrophic impacts including significant fatalities and economic losses, along with severe disruptions to government services and infrastructure.

In response to these risks, the President of the Philippines issued Executive Order No. 52 (EO 52) in 2018, establishing the Program Management Office for the Earthquake Resilience of the Greater Metro Manila Area (PMO-ERG). This initiative aims to strengthen the country's resilience to earthquakes and ensure public safety and government continuity. Complementing this, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has been tasked with executing vulnerability assessments and fast-tracking interventions to enhance the resilience of public buildings and infrastructure.

The UNOPS project to support the Philippines Seismic Risk Reduction and Resilience Project (PSRRRP) aims to establish a new program that will design, procure, and assemble tailored Mobile Emergency Operations Centers (MOECs) and Mobile Command Posts (MCPs). These mobile units will be essential in supporting emergency communication and coordination across the Philippines, particularly in areas like Metro Manila where the risk of a major earthquake is significant. The program includes the configuration and installation of specialized IT and telecommunication equipment and the rollout of tailored training for operation, all aimed at enhancing the safety and resilience of populations affected by natural disasters.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme, the ICT Specialist will be responsible for the following duties: 

• Undertake technology assessments to support the identification of mobile units solution fit for purpose;

• Provide concept design explaining how the proposed solution will fulfill the Government requirements;

• Prepare technical specifications in preparation/definition of technical and functional specifications of the mobile emergency units;

• Evaluate stakeholder organizations for skill and knowledge gaps and provide recommendations on topics and methods for capacity building activities; 

• Prepare the related formal specification documents including and not limited to layout, technical specifications and procurement solicitation documentation, including detailed equipment requirements;

• Procurement solicitation documentation will also include stakeholder organizational requirements (i.e. number of laptops required by its users, wireless requirements etc.);

• Support and guide the assembly of equipment into the mobile units following the approved layout;

• Prepare assessments and designs together with associated reports and specifications of the ICT installations; 

• Calculate approximate quantities for purposes of solicitation of bids for the project;

• Coordinate the timely issuance of drawings, specifications, quantities; respond to queries as required by counterparts and design review - if needed;

• Undertake full documentation of components, configuration and procedures for the installation of the equipment into the mobile units to ensure it conforms to UNOPS Design Standards and other associated International Codes and standards Contribute to technical plans and advice on feasibility and soundness of proposed approach;

• Assist in technical aspects of the procurement activities of the ICT equipment and installation of the same as required; 

• Create and implement a training program on the use and maintenance of Mobile Units, their equipment and components and support the installation of the IT material as may be required.

• A Master's degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Information Systems, Mathematics, Engineering, Statistics, or relevant field is required. 
• A Bachelor’s degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree. 

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of information technology and/or telecommunications and systems or related fields is required. 
• Five (5) years of experience in a large enterprise environment at the international level is preferred. 
• Five (5) years of experience in network infrastructure is preferred.
• ITIL certification is desirable.

• Full working knowledge of English is essential.

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA)
Contract level: IICA Specialist-2
Contract duration: Two-year with a maximum of 150 working days, with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability.

• 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.

• This is not a full-time position. Retainers may be requested to carry out tasks on an intermittent and need basis. There are no minimum hours or days guaranteed.

• In duty stations where the NPO category has been established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), a Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) must be issued for a home-based contract.

• For this home-based position, it will be the responsibility of the selected candidate to make arrangements, to a standard deemed acceptable by UNOPS, for a secure internet connections, laptop and/or equipment necessary for work (as defined by UNOPS). 

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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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.