International IT consultant for Stockholm Convention Implementation Plans and Reporting

UN Environment is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The overall objective of UN Environment's Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions is to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of hazardous chemicals and wastes. This ICA will support the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention and the UN Environment Chemicals and Health Branch in executing and implementing the GEF-funded project on the Integrated SC toolkit to improve the transmission of information under Articles 07 and 15 (Medium Size Project; GEF ID 9884).

This post is located in the Chemicals and Health Branch of the Economy Division in Geneva, under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Branch and the daily supervision of Unit Head of the Knowledge and Risk Unit.

Scope of support: National Implementation Plans and National Reports activities.

As part of the GEF-funded project on the integrated SC toolkit to improve the transmission of information under Articles 07 and 15 (Medium Size Project; GEF ID 9884) implemented by the UN Environment Chemicals and Health Branch, the ICA will support and assist in the implementation of paragraph 8.e of decision SC-8/8 on implementation plans[1] and paragraph 3 of decision SC-8/17 on reporting pursuant to Article 15 of the Stockholm Convention[2], as well as paragraph 7.c of decision SC-9/9 on implementation plans and decision SC-9/16 on reporting pursuant to Article 15 of the Stockholm Convention.

Under the supervision of the Head of Knowledge and Risk Unit, the duties of this assignment are to:

1. Assist the implementation of decisions SC-8/8 and SC-8/17, and decisions SC-9/9 and SC-9/16, taken by the Conferences of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention, with regards to the mandate to assist Parties in collecting qualitative and quantitative information on chemicals listed in the annexes to the Convention to be used for their implementation plans and national reports.
2. Undertake research, analyze how to collect and present the qualitative and quantitative information gathered from national implementation plans and national reports.
3. Assist with the development of an information technology tool to collect, store and package qualitative and quantitative information to be used by Parties to prepare and submit their national implementation plans and national reports.
4. Support the Knowledge and Risk Unit in preparing presentations on assigned topics/activities and conduct online meetings and training webinars on the information technology tool using, as required.
5. Review and provide feedback on the national implementation plan templates and functionalities, following the testing by project pilot countries.
6. Update the Stockholm Convention electronic reporting system (SC-ERS) to provide access to the qualitative and quantitative information presented in the national implementation plans.
7. Assist with the preparation of documents and updating of project web page for consideration of meetings, as required.

In addition, the ICA will provide further support as required and requested by the Head of the Knowledge and Risk Unit.

The ICA will work 12 months full-time, and be responsible for the following deliverables:

• Support in consolidating Documents for consideration of the project coordination meetings on the integrated SC toolkit to improve the transmission of information under Articles 07 and 15.
• Support in drafting Technical specifications for an information technology tool in a form a database diagram, templates and functionalities, to store qualitative and quantitative information used in national implementation plans and national reports.
• Assist with the creation of a Database that supports the information technology tool to store qualitative and quantitative information used in national implementation plans and national reports.
• Provide Web service feed to handle information stored in the above-mentioned database in diverse applications or computer programs.
• Assist in the creation of Data entry forms (online and/or offline) to fill the above-mentioned database based on agreed templates and access rights of Parties.
• Work on Computer programs to extract information from the above-mentioned database and present it to the users when preparing a national implementation plan (in a Word file or using an online tool) or a national report using the SC-ERS.
• Work on Computer program to visualize and manage the qualitative and quantitative data collected.
• Collect Information about the integrated toolkit made available on the Stockholm Convention website.
• Completion of other tasks as requested.

Impact of results

• Submission by Parties of their national implementation plans, and national reports is facilitated.
• Enhanced availability, accessibility and quality of the qualitative and quantitative information on persistent organic pollutants chemicals used in national implementation plans and national reports.

a. Education

• Required: An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in computer science, information systems, mathematics, statistics or related field is required. University studies in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

b. Work Experience

• Minimum of 2 years’ relevant work experience, of which at least 1 at international level is required.
• Relevant experience at the international level related to chemicals management, in particular to information exchange activities between Parties and Conventions Secretariats is required.
• Proven experience in system's analysis and design, computer programming, including advanced programming skills in MS VB and C# for .NET platform is required.
• Experience in the development of applications using Microsoft Office, DotNetNuke Content Management System, JQuery, Kendo UI, MS SQL and relational databases is required.
• Knowledge of the Feedback server platform is an advantage.
• Prior knowledge of working in UN System is an advantage.

• Fluency in oral and written English is required for this position including ability to craft and deliver messages in an articulated manner. 
• Knowledge of other UN languages would be an advantage. 
  
  

Travel: Travel will be processed by substantive officer

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
Contract level: International ICA Level 1 (I-ICA 1)
Contract duration: 12 months, renewable

• 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
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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.