ICT Specialist - ICT Project Management[Learning management system specialist]

Guided by the principle that youth are key actors to achieve peace and prevent violent extremism, as stated by UN conflict resolutions 2250 and 2419 and the United Nations Secretary General’s Plan of Action on Preventing Violent Extremism, UNAOC develops educational programming to enhance the ability of young civil society leaders to foster mutual respect, understanding and long-term positive relationships between peoples of different cultures and religions.

The Fellowship Programme aims at fostering intercultural exchange and interfaith understanding by engaging with young civil society leaders and professionals from Europe, North-America (EUNA), the Middle East and North-Africa (MENA). Framed around two-week exchange trips between EUNA and MENA countries, the Programme sends participants from each geographic area to their counterparts’ region. The Fellowship provides participants with first hand exposure to diversity and with the opportunity to experience cultural immersion while interacting with a wide range of local actors and partners. In every country visited, participants are being provided with crucial comprehension tools to help them understand the plurality of their surroundings, and to get an extensive grasp of host countries’ culture, politics, society, religion, media and more.

During the programme, 24 selected participants will:

●      Learn to deconstruct stereotypes and how to critically analyze them to reduce their prevalence;

●      Understand different perspectives and cultural sensitivities in identity-based conflict and gain tools to develop solutions at local, national and regional level to engage in intercultural collaboration;

●      Develop competencies and learn good practices to engage in intercultural dialogue with the aim to reduce polarization and promote inclusion;

●      Learn how to engage in cross-cultural conversations around current global challenges.

Programme components:

PLAN A – In-person Fellowship Programme:

●      Part 1: Online engagement (2 weeks). Participants from both cohorts start interacting through online collaborative modules provided by UNAOC. UNAOC and trainers facilitate the discussion, giving an opportunity to participants to get to know each other. They also start getting exposed to tools and concepts related to intercultural engagement and prepare for the first webinar. Time commitment: 2 to 3 hours per week.

●      Part 2: Webinar (2 hours). All participants take part in a webinar during which they exchange on intercultural dialogue, cultural sensitivities, deconstruction of stereotypes and cross-cultural collaboration.

●      Part 3: Travel (2 weeks). Participants from each geographical area travel to their counterparts’ region. They interact with a wide range of local stakeholders on issues related to intercultural dialogue and the theme of the 2020 Fellowship “Building Peace in the Age of New Media”.

●      Part 4: Online engagement (1 week). Participants from both cohorts interact through an online collaborative module provided by UNAOC. UNAOC and trainers facilitate the online exchange to help participants prepare for the second webinar. Time commitment: 2 to 3 hours per week.

●      Part 5: Webinar (2 hours). All participants take part in a webinar during which they debrief their experience and assess the lessons learned and how to use them.

PLAN B – All-online Fellowship Programme:

●      Part 1: Online engagement (2 weeks). Participants from both cohorts start interacting through online collaborative modules provided by UNAOC. UNAOC and trainers facilitate the discussion, giving an opportunity to participants to get to know each other. They also start getting exposed to tools and concepts related to intercultural engagement and prepare for the first webinar. Time commitment: 2 to 3 hours per week.

●      Part 2:  Virtual exposure (10 days). Participants from each geographical area interact with a wide range of local stakeholders from their counterparts’ region. Together they work on issues related to intercultural dialogue and the theme of the 2020 Fellowship “Building Peace in the Age of New Media”. They also take part in engage in virtual activities that introduce them to the cultural diversity of the destination countries.

●      Part 3: Webinar (2 hours). All participants take part in a webinar on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue during which they exchange on intercultural dialogue, cultural sensitivities, deconstruction of stereotypes and cross-cultural collaboration.

●      Part 4: Online workshops (4 days). All participants take part in a series of online workshops using various pedagogical methods and revolving around the theme of Intercultural and Interreligious dialogue.

●      Part 5: Online concluding module (3 hours). All participants take part in a concluding module during which they debrief their experience and assess the lessons learned and how to use them. 

This is a position in UNOPS for supporting projects carried out for UNAOC. The incumbent of this position will be a personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

In close collaboration with the UNAOC Project Management Specialist – Intercultural Engagement, the Learning Management System (LMS) specialist will work to support UNAOC, trainers and participants in the online implementation of the 2020 UNAOC Fellowship Programme.

As such the LMS specialist will work on delivering the following:

●      Manage the Learning Management System (LMS), including providing back-end administration, front-end implementation, and regular technical assistance;
Ensure all online-based training sessions are operating and are accessible to all online participants;

●      Provide hands-on, written, and/or video instructions to all users regarding the proper use of the platform, supplementing materials already provided by the LMS;

●      Develop and design with UNAOC and the trainers the implementation of online learning content that provides the best educational material and pedagogical methods for participants;

●      Leverage curriculum goals to determine and recommend how information can best be documented to meet compliance standards and presented within learning systems for ease of understanding by learners;

●      Design the layout of the LMS platform to be consistent with UNAOC branding guidelines, including customizing CSS and javascript files, as well as changing the color scheme and typography;

●      Leverage all relevant technology tools, to include Google platforms and MS Office, to manage day to day responsibilities and effectively communicate and collaborate with UNAOC, trainers and trainees;

●      Answer any questions regarding LMS functionality and support;

●      Understand online training priorities and proactively look for ways to improve LMS processes to support efficiency;

●      Serve as the subject matter expert and advisor on LMS functionality and processes, as well as providing LMS support for UNAOC, trainers and participants;

●      Work with the aforementioned parties to develop and build integration and implementation strategies to better serve the participants;

●      Answer key questions of participants;

●      Manage data feeds between the LMS and other information systems

●      Provide technical support, troubleshooting, and testing activities, when necessary.

All content and materials are subject to UNAOC’s approval. UNAOC will be responsible for sharing content and material with Fellowship participants and relevant partners as a resource and free of costs, for further use in their activities, including the possibility to share with their organization and beneficiaries.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

At a minimum, the LMS should fulfil the following deliverables:

●      UNAOC Approval of full customization of LMS platform

●      UNAOC approval of front-end design and layout of the LMS platform

●      Development and implementation of all modules and courses related to the Fellowship

●      Documented proof of online presence during all hours of the Fellowship program, regardless of time zone or location

●      Availability for virtual tech support whenever needed throughout the entire duration of the Fellowship

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree), preferably in information management science, information technology, computer science, information systems design, or a related field
• Two (2) additional years of relevant work experience, in combination with a relevant first level university (bachelor’s degree or equivalent), may substitute for the requirement of a master’s degree.

  Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of consecutive employment in a position with comparable responsibilities, providing communication, LMS, educational training and/or knowledge management expertise is required;
• Demonstrated understanding of program management, technical assistance, LMS, facilitation, and organization of large web conferences and/or training sessions is required;      
• Familiarity with popular Learning Management Systems, including but not limited to: Canvas, Google Classroom, Sutra, etc is required
• Proficiency in MS Office Applications (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel) is required.

Desirable experience (the following experience is optional candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply)

• Proficiency with Learning Management Systems implementation and maintenance is required
• Working knowledge of basic HTML and CSS is highly desirable;
• Experience developing LMS training materials is highly desirable;
• Experience in data collection, analysis, and written reports summarizing data collected is highly desirable;
• Experience in building curricula structure within a complex learning management system and other key learning technology platforms is highly desirable;
• Experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining compliance processes, learning management systems, eLearning development tools, and relevant learning technologies is highly desirable;

Language

• Excellent communication skills in both verbal and written English.

Others

• Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Ability to work effectively both individually and as a member of a team;
• Excellent interpersonal skill
• Excellent project management and organizational skills is highly desirable;

• Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement  - ICA retainer modality. A retainer contract is issued for a period of time during which the services of the individual contractor are required intermittently. The individual contractor agreement on retainer basis will specify a “unit price” per day worked. For budgetary purposes, a monetary cap will be determined when the contract is awarded and issued. Please note that the retainer contract will not provide for a minimum, and payment will be made only after completion of work
  
• Contract level: IICA-2/ ICSC 10
• Contract duration: ASAP - 31 December 2020 

• 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.