Consultant Information Technology

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WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE: Senior Telecommunications Specialist
TYPE OF CONTRACT: WAE Consultant (Level 2)
UNIT/DIVISION: IT Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch, TECF
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Remote working
DURATION: 11 Months (150 working days)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
Humanitarian workers are increasingly exposed to security risks. The most complex and some of the largest operations are in conflict and insecure areas. Giving all humanitarian staff (UN and Non-Government Agencies and partners on the ground) access to reliable telecommunications services, by means of a Security Communications System (SCS), is of paramount importance and is a pre-requisite for our presence on the ground. Such services have been provided by a number of agencies to-date, and they are often the only way to communicate in remote areas. They are also one of the key tools to support people during security incidents.
In recent years, technology has radically advanced, and can help provide faster, cheaper and more effective support to humanitarian staff. To take advantage of these advances, a two year project (TElecom Security Standards, TESS) was initiated in 2018 to collaboratively develop updated common UN SCS standards and solutions, for connectivity (hardware) and applications (software) using both current and up-coming technologies. TESS was also requested to contribute to updated security guidance and procedures supporting the SCS, in close collaboration with the business clients (IASMN, ETC, UNDSS).
By June 2020, {TESS+}, a common and permanent service, endorsed by the IASMN and the ETC, built on the same foundations of TESS, replaced the TESS project ensuring a continuous adoption, standardization and support of new security communications technologies, translated into proper security procedures and guidance.
The Senior {TESS+} Assessment Officer will be hosted by the WFP Technology Division (TEC), and be responsible for implementing the {TESS+} mandate, under the global supervision of the {TESS+} Senior Programme Manager, and in collaboration with the field teams.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

•Lead the country-based UN SCS (Security Communications Systems) assessments and support on the basis of connectivity, applications and security procedures, coordinating with inter-agency heads of agencies, partners, UN Country Teams and UNDSS;

•Provide training and support on the UN SCS systems based on previous assessments, present the findings to the Designated Officials, Security Management Team and UN Country Teams on site, in a comprehensive mission report, to pursue their support;

•Guide the local working groups (ICTWG and UNSMS) on the standardization of Security Telecommunications solutions;

•Identify solutions related to new technologies, while presenting the realities of field situations and constraints

•Provide technical advisory, specifications, support and guidance for specifications and procurement of goods and services within the area of expertise;

•Design and identify the training needs of local personnel in their domain of expertise;

•Design, budget and plan communications systems/equipment/services in designated areas;

•Provide reports, with support from external resources, within the area of expertise and on humanitarian activities within the operation;

•Design, install, or supervise installations or upgrades of SCS networks, ranging from simple single (isolated) repeaters to complex repeater network linked via IP (Point to Point microwave connections), including end user equipment (mobile and/or handheld equipment)

•Contribute in prototyping new solutions based on SCS technology

•Test new SCS technologies and summarize findings into concrete reports

•Perform any other related duty as required.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
1.Project(s) implemented, handed over or closed in the field;
2.Mission reports completed within 10 days of each field mission / activity;
3.Proposal for continuous improvement or enhancement of SCS communication standards shared.
4.Support the change management approach in the transition and/or implementation of security telecommunications implementations in the field
5.Lead the implementing team when delivering services in complex operations for telecommunications projects

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education & Experiene:
University degree in Technology, Business Management (or equivalent through experience) in relevant field and minimum 6 years of experience in relevant field or relevant post-secondary education with extensive relevant practical field work experience.
Technical Knowledge & Skills:
Skills may include but are not limited to the following:

•Ability to design, plan and execute projects in the field, and specifically in emergency situations;

•Ability and willingness to operate in hard, at times extreme, living conditions, to respond and travel to emergencies within 24 hours, to operate in distributed / decentralised teams and to engage with and support partners;

•Ability to work independently through appropriate personal initiative and regular follow-ups;

•Highly developed written and oral communication skills with the ability to influence and adapt communication styles to different situations and individuals;

•Collaborative hands-on team member and relationship-builder with a facilitative nature and strong business partnering skills towards colleagues and stakeholders;

•Highly developed Cognitive Capacity;

•Behavioural Flexibility.
Language
Fluency (level C) in English language. Recommended Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP's working language, Portuguese is desirable.

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

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• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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