This position is located within the Information Systems Management Section (ISMS) of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM). The Assistant is under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Information Systems Management Section.
ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:
DESKTOP ADMINISTRATION AND CONFIGURATION:
•Occasionally supervises a team of staff for specific projects.
•Monitors all personal computers running the UN software delivery system to ensure that software distributions are being delivered correctly.
•Performs software distribution updates, scripting, testing and support.
Performs research into new versions of centrally supported software and perform beta testing, production rollout and post production support.
•Provides product support to corporate collaboration, video conferencing and productivity tools including IIM standard applications. Develops and provides training to staff on best practices and standard procedures related to internal collaboration.
Performs 2nd level desktop troubleshooting on UN corporate tools and services. in conjunction with the Help Desk.
•Provides technical advice to clients when necessary.
•Obeys and enforces all information security policies and procedures.
•Provides guidance and training to new/junior staff.
•Prepares, maintains, and updates files (electronic and paper) and internal databases including the development of queries and views as requested by internal client.
•Drafts documentation and reports.
•Performs other related duties as required.
SERVICE INSTALLATION AND SUPPORT:
•Receives and logs problem calls or service requests in the automated tracking system with minimum delay.
•Attempts to resolve service requests on initial contact.
•Performs tasks related to scheduled service requests, including equipment replacement, equipment installation/de-installation, software installation, LAN connection, returns to stock, site surveys, etc.
•Diagnoses and resolves any hardware, software, or connectivity problem with minimum delay.
•Provides basic training to end-users on the use of standard systems and applications;
•Drafts end-user and/or technical documentation.
•Acts as problem escalation point for staff.
•Escalates problems/tasks to the appropriate parties in accordance with established procedure.
•Detects problem patterns and recommends solutions.
•Keeps abreast of developments in technology both in the UN and in the industry in general;
•Provides technical training to staff.
•Occasionally supervises a team of technical staff for special projects.
•Performs other related duties as required.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
•May be required to lift, move, mount, or store equipment weighing up to 50 lbs, or up to 80 pieces of equipment on a daily basis.
•May be required to work on shift assignments on weekdays to maintain the service coverage from 08:00 to 18:00. Occasionally, on average once a month, the incumbent may be required to work ad-hoc assignments during evenings or early mornings of working days as well as holidays and weekends.
•PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of information technology and applications, including computer system networks. Good technical skills, ability to conduct network maintenance, provide server services and user support. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.
•COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
•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.
High school diploma or equivalent. Must have passed the United Nations Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT) at Headquarters or an equivalent locally-administered test at Offices Away. Post-secondary certification or courses in Information Communications technology, Information Management, Information Security or related programmes is desirable.
Work ExperienceA minimum of seven years of experience in information technology or related area. Experience in the end user support and product management of MS Office 365 tools and services including expertise in MS SharePoint is desirable. Experience in technically remote staff support when on field missions is desirable. Experience with SQL databases is desirable. Experience with ERP tools, particularly Umoja, is desirable.
LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French is an advantage.
AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include a desk review, an assessment exercise, and may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice•The temporary position is intended to fill the functions of short-term duration fro three months (with possibility of extension) and with an estimated start date as soon as possible.
•The duration of the appointment is subject to availability of funds.
•Recruitment for this position is done on a local basis, whether or not the candidate is a resident of the duty station.
•Candidates should have no expectation of any fixed-term appointment possibility after the end of this temporary assignment.
•If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the UN Secretariat, the selection will be recorded as a temporary assignment.
•Subsequent to the initial temporary appointment, new and successive temporary appointments may be granted for service in the same office or in a different office any number of times, for any duration, provided that the length of service does not exceed the period of 364 calendar days.
•Passing the United Nations Administrative Assessment Support Test (ASAT) or the Global General Service Test (GGST) in English or French at Headquarters, ECA, ESCWA, UNOG, UNOV, ICTR, or ICTY is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Service category in the United Nations Secretariat.
•A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments.
•All TJOs in the General Service and related categories, at the levels GS-5, GS-6 and GS-7 shall be open only to internal staff members at the respective duty station holding a Fixed-Term Appointment, Continuing Appointment or Permanent Appointment. When a qualified internal staff member cannot be identified, the hiring manager may submit a request for an exception for selecting an external candidate (including a staff member holding a temporary appointment). Such requests must be substantiated and submitted to the respective Recruitment focal point who in turn will review for transmittal to OHRM.
•In addition, all new entry-level recruitment in the General Service and related categories, for positions at the GS-4/TC-3/S-2/ PIA I levels and below, irrespective of the source of funding, will only be granted Temporary Appointments . Vacancies at these levels are open to both internal and external candidates, including staff members on temporary appointments. However, priority consideration will be given to serving staff members holding Fixed-Term Appointments followed by those holding Temporary Appointments. New external candidates will only be considered when a serving staff member holding a Fixed-Term or Temporary Appointment cannot be identified. Selection of a new external candidate requires the approval of OHRM. No entry level Fixed-Term Appointments will be granted to new external candidates.
•While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1
•For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.
•For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: www.un.org/hr_handbook/English.
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.