Geographic Information System Developer

Position Title: Web GIS Developer

Client: Agency of the United Nations

Duty Station: Rome (offsite)

Daily Rate: Based on Experience - Euro

Period of Assignment:

90 days, December-May 2026 (possible extensions)

Organizational context

The Information Technology Division (ICT) is responsible for providing information technology solutions and services to support the operations of the Agency of the United Nations and to ensure that, in fighting rural poverty, the Agency makes the most effective use of Information and Communications Technology tools and services.

An important element of the Agency's work is the provision of updated information systems that enable operational activities. In this context, a key component is the enrichment of information platforms using consolidated corporate data, including the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and related datasets to visualize the spatial context of the Agency's interventions and to understand and monitor landscape use for effective project design. The Agency has set up an Enterprise GIS system using open-source tools (MerginMaps, QGIS, PostGRE/GIS, Geoserver, Geonode, OpenLayers, Leaflet, etc.). The GIS system has custom integration with PowerBI (custom widgets) and harvests a number of external datasets. The system has scaled up with several additional applications around the core infrastructure, which require support, updates, and enhancements.

The specific goal of this ToR is the development of a Web GIS portal based on open-source GIS tools. This portal will provide an easy-to-use and accessible interface for non-GIS experts to obtain an overview of global, regional, country, project, and project-site level investment data and supervision missions. The portal will have an internal version (with full data access) and an external version (with curated data access), featuring time-stamped space-time visualization, geotagged image locations, and summary statistics of key location-based indicators.

A Web GIS developer with hands-on experience in the open-source GIS technology stack is needed to support a number of Web GIS applications within the Agency.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the ICT Solutions Coordinator and members of the ICT-GIS team, the Consultant will support ICT in the following tasks:

• Get familiar with the current GIS infrastructure and the structure of the database (both raster and vector).
• Familiarize with the overall project requirements and specific tasks for web portal development and implementation.
• Assist and advise in the selection of the final technological stack for system setup.
• Assist and advise the DevOps team on the setup of staging and production environments based on the selected technological stack.
• Advise on data structure for the portal needs, based on the designed data pipeline.
• Develop the front-end web GIS portal.
• Assist with the review and mitigation of any security vulnerabilities of the web portal.
• Provide technical documentation on the setup.
• Perform any other duties relevant to GIS functionality as required.

Qualification and Experience

• Proven experience of at least 5 years in Web GIS (please indicate a minimum of two reference projects/links of Web GIS Portals or interactive dashboard applications in the CV). Only FOSS4G technologies should be included.
• Proven experience and knowledge of PostgreSQL/PostGIS, Geoserver, Geonode, GDAL.
• Proven experience in front-end GIS libraries: e.g., Mapbox GL JS, OpenLayers, Leaflet, (or equivalent front-end GIS frameworks; final choice of mapping library will be decided based on exact business and technical requirements).
• Proven experience with JavaScript frameworks such as Angular, React, Vue.
• Proven experience working with OGC-compliant Web Services (WMS/WMTS/WFS/CSW), Mapbox vector tiles, STACs.
• Good knowledge of responsive frameworks such as Bootstrap.
• Basic knowledge of satellite imagery frameworks (e.g., Google Earth Engine or equivalent).
• Basic knowledge of containerized infrastructure (Kubernetes).
• Ability to produce technical documentation.

Required Competencies

• Problem solver – able to propose solutions in a clear and understandable manner to non-technical users; capable of brainstorming and developing practical and innovative solutions with others.
• Team Worker – develops and maintains positive relationships with end users; able to consult and deal effectively with all levels of the organization and establish working relations of openness and trust in a multicultural setting.
• Planner and Organiser – prioritizes and organizes work (own and that of consultants) for effective resolution of functional and technical problems.
• Performer – demonstrates success in the design, implementation, and quality control of GIS solutions; able to develop clear and concise proposals for system implementation.

Languages

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English essential.