The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Information systems assistant vacancy

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Information systems assistant vacancy

Job Title: INFORMATION SYSTEMS ASSISTANT, G7
Department/ Office: United Nations Environment Programme
Duty Station: NAIROBI
Job Opening number: 14-IST-UNEP-32254-R-NAIROBI (X)
Deadline: 20 February 2014

Org. Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s 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. UNEP’s Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA) is responsible for analyzing the state of the global environment, providing early warning information and assessing global and regional environmental trends to catalyze and promote international cooperation and action on the environment. This post is located in UNEP/DEWA at the Nairobi duty station
Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer and the overall guidance of the Chief, Early Warning Branch, the incumbent will carry out the following duties:

Programmatic Development of UNEP Live:
• Contribute to investigating UNEP Live potential, challenges and opportunities in supporting environmental assessment activities as input for its further development;
• Investigate functionality of data and indicator component to provide on-line data exploration and analytical capabilities;
• Improve notification capabilities to extend beyond current Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) feeds to allow for setting up email alerts for future reports on specific topics;
• Create inter-faces to upload real-time alerts, data/observations from citizens including discovery;
• Propose and implement improvements to UNEP Live by tracking its utility and establishing feedback mechanism;
• Develop data repository for UNEP base maps;
• Facilitate regular maintenance of system platform and institute back-up mechanism;
• Link specified data/information services of UN partners and national data published by official sources to establish gateways to credible environmental data/information sources;
• Respond to official correspondence, requests relating to processing, analysing or dissemination of UNEP Live data and information.
UNEP Live data and information customisation:
• Assist in identification, collection and integration of data and indicators, maps, satellite images and reports for comprehensive database of priority environmental indicators and other knowledge products supporting assessment activities;
• Maintain GIS databases by processing metadata entries and upload into repository;
• Identify and evaluate capabilities of metadata holdings by National Partners, providing relevant access;
• Test and validate UNEP Live technical solutions including query results, user inter-faces, navigation paths, among others, against user needs, providing relevant recommendations;
Development of Spatial Data:
• Perform geo-referencing of data and assign appropriate geographic projections for interoperability;
• Undertake digitizing of geo-referenced imagery using appropriate GIS and remote sensing software;
• Rectify data, build topology, and assign attribute codes to themes;
• Undertake integration of geospatial and non-spatial data;
• Perform preliminary analysis and interpretation of data and satellite imagery; compile map layouts using appropriate software; perform field verification of remotely sensed data.
UNEP Life Awareness and outreach:
• Prepare technical system documentation and user guidelines, up-to-date technical improvements and functionalities;
• Participate in UNEP Live discussions, seminars, workshops and conferences and assist in identification and elaboration of user needs; attend inter-agency meetings where new technology solutions to dynamic environmental assessments and reporting are addressed;
• Provide training on country-level development of State of the Environment (SOE) Live and My Country components of UNEP Live;
• Promote UNEP Live partnerships with national and international organisations and private sector for environmental assessment, monitoring and reporting;
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Competencies
Professionalism: Knowledge of organizational information infrastructure, including hardware, software and application systems. Knowledge of relevant programming language(s) and ability to use programming skills to develop information systems. Knowledge of system development workflow and document flow processes, ability to conduct research and gather information from a wide variety of standard and non-standard sources. Ability to respond to changing requirements and assignments, ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. Ability to perform a wide range of application software development and maintenance tasks under minimum supervision. 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.
• 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.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
• 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
Completion of secondary education or equivalent is required. Supplementary courses/training in computer operations and database management, knowledge of ESRI GIS software package and Erdas macro languages and Global Position System (GPS) or other relevant field is an advantage
Work Experience
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in information systems analysis and programming, systems administration and maintenance, software development, technical writing or related area. Familiarity with GIS techniques, web mapping solutions and familiarity with ESRI software for Geographic Information Systems is desirable.
Languages
English 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 another UN official language is an advantage.


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