Electronic Library Services and Training Coordination Manager

Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries is a new body dedicated to the efforts to strengthen the science, technology and innovation capacity in the world’s 47 least developed countries.  The new Bank is expected to improve the utilization of scientific and technological solutions in the world’s poorest countries and promote the integration of least developed countries into the global knowledge-based economy.  This will be achieved through tackling one of the great new divides of our times  – access to science, technology and capacity to innovate. In 2019 the Technology Bank will focus on preparing a number of STI  reviews and technology needs assessments in  the world’s poorest countries. The Institution will also work in collaboration with other UN entities on promoting digital access to research and technical knowledge. Hosted by the Government of Turkey, the Technology Bank is located in Gebze where the premises of the were inaugurated in June of 2018.

Research4Life is a public-private partnership between the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Technology Bank, the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM), Cornell University, Yale University and several technical partners. The partnership’s goal is to contribute to the attainment of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, reducing the knowledge gap between higher and lower income countries by providing affordable access to critical scientific and professional research. Since 2002, the five programmes – Research in Health (Hinari), Research in Agriculture (AGORA), Research in the Environment (OARE), Research for Development and Innovation (ARDI) and Research for Global Justice (GOALI) – have provided researchers at more than 8,000 institutions in more than 115 lower income countries, areas and territories with free or low-cost access to over 79,000 leading journals and other resources in the fields of health, agriculture, environment, technology, and law.

The role of Electronic Library Services and Training Coordination Manager is to administer projects as part of Digital Access to Research (DAR activity) in-country capacity development programme for promoting access to research and technical knowledge in the LDCs. 

Reporting to the DAR Activity Lead at the World Health Organization, the incumbents, working in close collaboration, are responsible for managing capacity development activities in the sphere of information literacy for the DAR focus countries. This capacity development oversight includes analysis, setting priorities, providing vision, planning, managing, tracking, and reporting on the status of the work in the specified countries. The incumbents will be responsible for simultaneously managing scope, time, and resources and will be reviewed by the Activity Lead at the World Health Organization for the attainment of programme objectives.

He/she will perform background research and analysis, develop country specific frameworks and targets, design methodologies, and provide leadership for in-country and inter-country capacity development projects in at least eight of the seventeen DAR-focus countries, working through Electronic Library Services and Training Coordination Officers (ELSTC Officers).

In line with the methodology prescribed by the Activity Lead, and in consultation with Officers in charge of DAR focus countries, he/she will ensure timely completion of the work in the countries, within budget. The role will include close partnership with other Research4Life or DAR teams. The incumbent works closely with other DAR colleagues to ensure that country projects are functioning well and smoothly. 

• Plan overall capacity development strategy for Research4Life capacity development in DAR countries.
• Provide leadership for the ELSTC Officers individually and as a team.
• Aggregate and analyse data and information from existing Research4Life programmes in DAR countries to determine country-specific priorities, strategic directions and targets for DAR capacity development activities in 2018; compile the analyses and recommendations in “background reports” and propose new ways of addressing needs identified in these reports.
• Delineate multiple methodological approaches for capacity development activities including mentoring and training, for application to different settings and situations with the aim of encouraging “South-South” inter-country multi-lateral and bi-lateral collaboration between DAR-focus countries.
• On the basis of the “background reports” and “methodological approaches”, manage and guide the ELSTC Officers as they develop capacity development work plans, ensuring each are tailored to the specific countries.
• Aggregate feedback from the ELSTC Officers and Country Focal Points to identify capacity development methodologies which succeed in particular settings and situation, taking into account numerous complex factors including regional and local political environments, long and short-range development contexts, local, regional and international information management efforts, and formal and ad-hoc institutional networks.
• Represent the DAR Activity Lead on matters relating to DAR Capacity Development within the Research4Life partnership.
• Prepare proposals for the Capacity Development component of the DAR Activity including budgets, review performance of the individual ELSTC Officers, and provide coaching as needed.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Success will be based on successful outcome of the above responsibilities.
• Reporting required on deliverables outlined under “Functional Responsibilities”, above. Informal reports will be expected at regular bi-monthly meetings, with a final report at the end of the contract.

Education 

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in library science, knowledge management or related area or First-level university degree with equivalent experience in library science, knowledge management or related area.

Work Experience

• Minimum 13 (thirteen) years of relevant and progressive experience required in project delivery at international level.
• Experience in creating and developing information-access and capacity-development programmes and services in a library context.
• Proven experience in developing politically sensitive work plans and writing project-related documentation.
• Experience working with multi-stakeholder initiatives and complex/large-scale projects.
• Familiarity with portfolio planning, monitoring and evaluation, is required.
• Experience with one or more UN entities and/or other international development agencies is highly desired.
• Experience working in DAR-focus countries is an advantage.

Language

• Expert knowledge of written and spoken English is required.
• Expert knowledge of written and spoken French is an advantage.

• 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.
• 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
• 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.

Contract type: International ICA