Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) was established in 1949 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide retirement, death, disability, and related benefits for staff of the United Nations and other member organizations of the Fund. UNJSPF administers benefits of more than 80,000 beneficiaries residing in more than 190 countries, paid in 18 currencies, and services more than 150,000 participants who work in the 25 member organizations of UNJSPF. The Fund has offices in New York (United States) and Geneva (Switzerland) and two liaison offices in Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand), respectively. The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund-Pension Administration (UNJSPF-PA) comprises about 278 staff members from diverse countries and cultures, based across four prominent duty stations (New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Nairobi). We are a career employer offering unique opportunities for growth within the United Nations system. We offer staff competitive benefits, including up to six weeks of annual leave per year, a defined benefit pension plan (not subject to variation of capital markets), parental leave, a comprehensive insurance plan, and flexible working arrangements subject to operational requirements. Our office is located in the heart of Manhattan, within walking distance from the Grand Central Station hub, in a state-of-the-art facility (the One Dag Hammarskjold building). Visit www.unjspf.org for more details. This position is located in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund-Pension Administration, Information Management Systems Service, Enterprise Applications Section (UNJSPF-PA/IMSS/EAS) in New York. The incumbent reports to the Chief of UNJSPF-PA/IMSS/EAS.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority and depending on location, the Information Systems Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Plan, direct and develop applications for major systems projects of significant importance to the institution, or major components of these complex systems which typically impact critical operations and large or multiple user groups of UNJSPF-PA.
• Provide expert advice on complex systems analysis and design; identify the need for new systems (or modifications to existing systems) or respond to requests from users; develop plans for feasibility assessment, requirements specification, design, application development and implementation, including project plans, schedules, time and cost estimates, metrics and performance measures.
• Develop cost proposals for contractual services, oversee the technical evaluation of proposals received and manage the contract service.
• Track and monitor project progress against plan, requirements, quality measures, standard processes; liaise with users on all aspects and during all phases of development and implementation.
• Provide professional leadership and work direction to assigned project team, and/or mentor and supervise the work of new/junior officers, contract staff, etc.
• Actively involved in the execution of the most complex aspects of the project (e.g., systems analysis, development, programming, etc.); oversee development of document and database structures, ensuring that all design aspects are addressed and control and security mechanisms are established.
• Develop, implement, and monitor information standards and guidelines, including testing paradigms.
• Prepare technical and user documentation for entire systems and interdependent applications; prepare training materials and detailed technical presentations.
• Keep abreast of developments in the field and determine the need for testing and evaluating new products and technologies; provide leadership on introducing technological changes; prepare various technical reports.
• Facilitate communications between UNJSPF/IMSS and its major internal business units and external client organizations for good client relations.
• Participate in planning and preparation of the budget, work program, and spending plan. Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
• Internal UNJSPF-PA business units, IT Systems Officers and other ICT specialists throughout UNJSPF, the Secretariat and other United Nations agencies
• Senior technical staff and managers in user offices and other user clients, including external users (e.g., Staff Pension Committees, Member Organizations, governments, international organizations, etc.)
• Counterparts in other organizations/businesses with experience in leading similar team initiatives
• Sales and technical personnel of hardware/software vendors, IT consultants, contract staff, etc. Expected results:
• Presents well-reasoned, innovative suggestions and approaches to deal with highly complex systems issues.
• Effectively leads and delivers, in a timely manner, major application development projects in accordance with overall objectives and policies.
• Serves as an effective spokesperson internally and externally and forms strong partnerships with relevant parties to help meet the organizations information technology requirements and foster information exchange. Competencies
• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of systems design, and development, management, implementation and maintenance of complex commercial and in-house applications and systems and in complex technical environments. Ability to develop and oversee large centralized or decentralized institutional systems; conceptual and strategic analytical capacity to understand information system and business operational issues so as to thoroughly analyze and evaluate critical systems matters. Knowledge of a range of computer languages and development paradigms, knowledge of organizations information infrastructure and IT strategy as it relates to user area(s). Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology. Education Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in computer science, information systems, mathematics, statistics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted, in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job – Specific Qualification Not available. Work Experience A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in planning, design, application development, implementation and maintenance of complex enterprise class business applications is required. Work experience with data modeling, creating documentation and diagrams that communicate the overall architecture of a solution to business, technical audiences…