Information Technology Infrastructure Specialist

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

UN Environment's 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 digital transformation vision focuses on developing the organization's capability to lev-erage existing, emerging, and future data and digital technologies and the opportunities they offer to profoundly improve the way UNEP creates and delivers value and benefits for those we serve.

The vision is based on an open innovation approach enabling the effective co-design of innovative solutions with strategic partners, civil society and citizens.

UNEP is building a World Environment Situation Room (WESR) that will provide the contextualized and interpreted data on changes to the environment over space and time.

This role will support the development and operation of the new WESR platform, working with colleagues within UNEP and OICT to determine the requirements for hosting and operating the new platform, and making sure it runs smoothly and efficiently.

Under the direction of and reporting to the Head of the WESR:

• Works collaboratively with UNEP and UNON OICT colleagues to identify and document hosting and operational requirements for the new WESR platform
• Understands and documents user needs and requirements related to the new WESR platform and communicates effectively with stakeholders at all levels, ensuring these needs are considered during implementation and operation.
• Assists in the configuration and management of IT infrastructure for the new WESR platform ensuring it runs smoothly and efficiently.
• Supports the implementation of data pipelines using ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes using various tools and technologies.
• Contributes to the development and maintenance of user documentation as well as training of users for the new WESR platform.
• Monitors platform performance and troubleshoots any technical issues that may arise.

In undertaking these duties, the Junior IT Infrastructure Specialist will establish and maintain relationships to support collaboration with data, statistical, scientific, and other specialists/analysts, as well as technical staff across UNEP and in UN as well as representatives in national governments, international organizations, consultants, and NGOs.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected Outputs

The Junior IT Infrastructure Specialist will support the development and operation of the new WESR platform, working with colleagues within UNEP and OICT to determine the requirements for hosting and operating the new platform, and making sure it runs smoothly and efficiently.

• Professionalism: Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and rec-ommendations; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional com-petence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commit-ments, 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 perspec-tives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appro-priate 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.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly inter-prets messages from others and responds appropriately; proven interpersonal skills; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors lan-guage, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing infor-mation and keeping people informed; good spoken and written communication skills, in-cluding ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, artic-ulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, vol-unteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of differ-ent target groups.
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes sol-idarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

an IT operations role or in IT infrastructure design/implementation/maintenance, preferably in a multi-cultural environment, of which at least two years of progressively responsible experience in large-scale IT infrastructure systems is required.

• Proven experience with data platforms, data management, and ETL processes.
• Familiarity with web Content Management Systems
• Candidates must be able to demonstrate they are organized, reliable, and efficient. An understanding of how to work effectively as part of a team, and a willingness to learn and grow professionally by taking on new competencies and remaining abreast of developments in the IT infrastructure field is essential. Proven ability to work effectively with a wide range of various actors is also required. As well, UNEP highly values creativity and innovative thinking, coupled with a problem-solving mindset.

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighboring Somalia, Ethio-pia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean.

Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya's popula-tion of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%.

The country's GNP per capita esti-mated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% an-nually.

More than 26% of Kenya's people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Ken-ya's main food crops are "maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers." (FAO).

Nairobi is a modern metro-politan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available.

The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations.

The city is home to some 3,000 UN person-nel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP.

The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest.

The topo-graphic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate.

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