ICT ASSOCIATE (SOFTWARE DEVELOPER) - UNOCHA

Location :	Nairobi, KENYA
Application Deadline :	03-Dec-14
Type of Contract :	FTA Local
Post Level :	GS-7
Languages Required :	English
Duration of Initial Contract :	One Year
Expected Duration of Assignment :	One Year (with possibility of extension)

Background

The situation in Somalia remains fragile with continued political instability, climatic variability, and lack of basic social services. OCHA’s role is to coordinate effective and principled inter-agency humanitarian response and ensure that relief assistance reaches the people who need it in a timely manner. In line with OCHA’s global mission, OCHA Somalia continues to: Advocate for access to basic services, especially water, sanitation, education and health for vulnerable communities, including the collection, analysis and dissemination of information to humanitarian partners, and negotiation of access; Support the government efforts and humanitarian organizations in relocation of internally displaced and return; Coordinate the implementation of humanitarian response in Somalia with UN agencies and programmes, national and international NGOs and local authorities/communities as appropriate, with focus on strengthening the cluster approach; Enhance a protective environment that respects the human rights of all, including IDPs, returnees and minority clans. Under the supervision of Head of Humanitarian Financing/ Information Management Unit, the systems developer will analyze systems requirements, code and generate programs and tools for data processing. He/she will also update software changes, implement/customize in-house software upgrades and develop new programs and tools to automate internal office processes including OCHA funding mechanisms. He/she will also reviews software specifications, test program applications and create end user or technical documentation. In addition, the software developer will promote a client-oriented approach in the development and implementation of all applications and will provide end-user training and daily technical support to custom applications and users of the systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions: Develop and implement software systems and applications in line with user requirements to achieve organizational objectives; Document detailed system and other functional specifications and user documentation for major systems; Maintains, upgrades or enhances existing user systems; troubleshoots and provides continuing user support, to include resolving difficult problems, advising on the use of new techniques; Researches, analyzes and evaluates new technologies and makes recommendations for their deployment; Organizes and performs unit and integrated testing, designing and utilizing test bases; assists users in acceptance testing; Provide backup ICT helpdesk support and web management support (on the OCHA and Humanitarian Response web platforms), in the absence of the ICT/IM Officers or when delegated by his/her supervisor. Develops and implements software systems and applications in line with user requirements to achieve organizational objectives. Focusing on achievement of the following results: Compliance with corporate information management and technology standards, guidelines and procedures for the CO technology environment; Develop computer programs, integration of interrelated systems and program elements; ensures appropriate data security and access controls considering both local and wide area issues; Provides specialized advice to users, analyzing users’ requirements and translating these into new applications; determines application systems integration and linkage issues; Developing use case scenarios for testing the product  and source code library management. Provide backup ICT helpdesk support and web management support (on the UNOCHA and Humanitarian Response web platforms) in the absence of the ICT/IM officers or when delegated by his/her supervisor: Provide helpdesk support and training to staff on office automation applications (Lotus Notes, MS Office, WAN applications and mobile user clients); Assist in performing systems administration functions for Domino, network Operating systems whenever needed; Install and administer the office ICT applications and data telecommunication facilities. This involves administering data security for end user access to such network and/or facilities and troubleshooting ad-hoc hardware or software problems experienced on the network or facilities; Identification of opportunities and ways of converting business processes into web-based systems to address the issues of efficiency (e.g. office management systems, donor profile software, knowledge management systems); Content Management and technical maintenance of the CO websites and Intranet; Provision of technical advice on web management to partners as required. Develops detailed system and other functional specifications and user documentation for major systems. focusing on the achievement of the following results: Use their knowledge of the system-development cycle to analyze current systems and create, test, implement, maintain and document applications; Defines system requirements documents based on user interviews and liaison sessions and the project architecture: Analyzes software specifications for completeness and compatibility with operating system capabilities; Documenting user specification “change of scope” as well as documenting application versions. Administer, upgrades or enhances existing user systems; troubleshoots and provides continuing user support, to include resolving difficult problems. Researches, analyzes and evaluates new technologies and makes recommendations for their deployment focusing on the achievement of the following results: Providing Second Tier support to developed applications and users- troubleshoots and fixing software bugs; Ensuring application data is reliably backed-up in line with the OCHA Somalia corporate backup & recovery policy; Revises, enhances, updates and installs software components to optimize; Participate in office automation projects, review and recommend business improvement processes; Training system users and writing software user and technical administration manuals; Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in software development in humanitarian. Researches, analyzes and evaluates new technologies and makes recommendations for their deployment: Participate in office automation projects, review and recommend business improvement processes; Identification and promotion of different systems and applications for optimal content management, knowledge management and sharing, information provision; Participation in the organization of training for the CO staff on in-house applications; Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in software development in humanitarian context. Organizes and performs unit and integrated testing, designing and utilizing test bases; assists users in acceptance testing: Ensures that all software developed is bug-free, meets requirements and/or expectations, and is maintainable; All validation rules and Information management standards are incorporated in systems. Impact of Results The key results have an impact on the overall efficiency of the Country Office including improved business results and client services. Forward-looking ICT management has an impact on the organization of office management, knowledge sharing, and information provision.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:          Building Strategic Partnerships Analyzes general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives. Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things; Documents innovative strategies and new approaches. Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position; Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks; Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates same in own work; Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning; Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments. Promoting Organizational Change and Development Demonstrates ability to identify problems and proposes solutions. Design and Implementation of Management Systems Uses information/databases/other management systems. Client Orientation Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion; Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines; Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients; Responds to client needs promptly. Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management Gathers and disseminates information on best practice in accountability and results-based management systems. Core Competencies: Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity; Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment; Self-development, initiative-taking; Acting as a team player and facilitating team work; Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively; Creating synergies through self-control; Managing conflict; Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member; Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:          Secondary education with specialized certification in information systems, computer science or related field; First University Degree in related field is desirable but not a requirement. Experience:       7 years of relevant experience  in software design, object-oriented design and implementation techniques; thorough understanding of design patterns and their application in software development; Proven experience in designing web-based applications using ASP, ASP.NET, VB.NET; Client side coding: Mastery of cascading Style Sheets (CSS), XHTL, DHTML, Java scripts (Ajax & Jquery), HTML templates; Proven experience in design and implementation of web applications in open source technologies and specifically PHP/MYSQL/PostgreSQL; System integration with MS office applications templates; Proficient with Database; MYSQL, MSSQL, MS Access databases; Knowledge of W3C standards such as XHTML, accessibility standards, content sharing standards such as RSS/RDF and Open Archives Initiative; Proficiency in the use of web protocols including HTTP, HTTPS, WSFTP, SSL, SOCS and FTP; Experience with Apache web servers, Internet Information Server (IIS); Experience with Macromedia Dreamweaver, Notepad++, Macromedia Fireworks, visual studio, Adobe Photoshop and front page, C SS-P, C SS 2.0 and ColdFusion; Previous experience in projects involving humanitarian funding systems  will be an asset.  Language Requirements:            Fluency in oral and written English is essential. Apply here