Chief Information Officer and Director, BMS / Information Management and Technology

Background 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. 

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

With 17,000 people connected across field offices in 170 countries and territories, UNDP works within a rapidly changing environment, helping countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results. UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 sets out how UNDP will develop our six signature solutions –enabled by digitalization, innovation and development financing –to scale-up development impact for country partners and within UNDP’s own systems.

To realize the #NextGenUNDP digital transformation, the organization will continue to develop its capability to leverage existing, emerging and future digital technologies and the opportunities they offer to improve both its own operations and the way UNDP creates and delivers value for those it serves. A significant portion of this transformational agenda is supported by investment in technology that enables the organization to move to the next level in information technology capabilities as envisioned in the Information Technology (IT) Strategy 2020-2024.

The IT Strategy lays out the path for a complete overhaul of UNDP’s information technology infrastructure and ensures that IT investments are appropriately linked and aligned to realize the corporate vision. It provides the framework for UNDP’s digital transformation, and the operational components to deliver measurable tangible results. The four-year roadmap charts how a digitalized environment and infrastructure, performing optimized business processes, making data available in a secure and reliable manner will underpin the organization’s business transformation and will position UNDP as a leader in the UN system.

The CIO leads the Information & Technology Management team helping drive UNDP’s digital transformation efforts, enabling and leveraging technology to address complex global challenges and meet long-term global sustainable development goals across seven key pillars:

• Increased collaboration and engagement
• Digital workspaces and tools available to all
• An enhanced cybersecure environment
• A Nextgen global workforce
• Strengthened data driven decision making
• Best in class global infrastructure and applications
• Data-enabled smart facilities

The CIO supervises the architecture and engineering of UNDP’s digital corporate platforms as well as the associated enabling customer services. S/he provides strategic guidance to the office of BMS/ITM and oversees Cyber Security, Data Management, and Project Implementation (Quantum, UNALL) and ERP Support. S/he leads the implementation and optimization of the seven key pillars outlined in the IT strategy, focusing on cybersecurity, internal controls and risk management.

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will be covering the following functions, under the direct supervision of the BMS Director, the CIO::

1). Leadership and Management of BMS/ITM 

• Is a member of the BMS Senior Management Team, supporting BMS work planning, results reporting and exercising management leadership over BMS/ITM.
• Sets the strategic vision and steers the implementation of the IT Strategy.
• Supports the digitalization of UNDP’s environment and infrastructure with the aim of optimizing business processes.
• Leads and provides oversight for the effective implementation of Information Technology projects such as UNALL and Quantum.
• Leads the formulation of corporate IT strategies, policies, and standards.
• Supports the Director of BMS in advocacy for – and representation of — BMS/ITM within corporate management processes and with external partners.
• Provides strategic and technical leadership in the procurement, development, management, enhancement, technical support and delivery of information and communication technologies, systems and services.
• Ensures robust and reliable availability and service level of UNDP central information communication technology services, incorporating innovative technology with high-quality support, cyber-fraud prevention controls, and risk management.
• Leads the drafting of negotiations and review of legal instruments (MOUs, LOUs, SLAs) with partners and clients as relates to information and communication technologies, systems and services.
• Manages BMS/ITM staff, consultants and contractors and operations on a global level; for staff, this includes personal leadership and talent/career development;
• Ensures continuous improvement and best practices in all areas of BMS/ITM operations, including compliance with UNDP’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework and policies.
• Supports the CDO in translating business needs into solutions.

2) Design, Integration, Utilization and Monitoring of UNDP’s Digital Corporate Platforms

• Remains aware of technology trends as may relate to UNDP’s global technology platforms, and actively seeks to optimize solutions that will provide greater value for money in the UNDP operations.
• Oversees the design and operation of UNDP’s cybersecurity architecture, internal controls (including applicable ISO compliance) and risk management.
• Supervises the design, integration utilization and monitoring of UNDP’s corporate IT Infrastructure, including global network connectivity, UNDP cloud operations, and the personal hardware, productivity suite and collaboration tools made generally available to all staff, consultants and contractors supporting UNDP global operations under a wide range of conditions.
• Supervises the design, integration, utilization and monitoring of UNDP’s Corporate Business Systems Ecosystem (Quantum, UNall) and ERP applications supporting planning, budgeting, human resources, reporting and other business processes.
• Supervises the design, integration, utilization and monitoring of UNDP’s innovation Platform as a Service (PaaS), a suite of development tools, software development facilities, data services and toolkits of re-usable applications, libraries and applets.
• Oversees the architecture, design, development, integration and delivery of enterprise data management processes and tools.

3) Ensure the effective provision of Cyber Security services and Oversees Risk Management

• Supervises the management of UNDP`s information security risks, IT business continuity and IT disaster recovery plans and ensures the development of a wide range of security-related events, specific to the organization and its various operations that can adversely affect the security and safety of UNDP assets and the reputation of the organization.
• Ensures UNDP’s cybersecurity protection, both in terms of human resources and systems to protect against sophisticated cyberattacks.

4) Provide oversight and quality assurance of Data management Services

• Oversees Data Governance for the creation, change and consumption of enterprise data.
• Ensure that there is an effective roadmap, architecture, management and technical support of UNDP’s corporate data and analytics platforms.
• Enables organizational effectiveness and promotes a culture of data-driven decision making through the deployment of new technologies and partnerships with internal business stakeholders and external technology providers.

5) IT Governance and Knowledge Management and Sharing 

• Promotes an effective flow of information through the network of digital champions, and country office and bureau-level IT Managers.
• Provides guidance to country offices and bureaus in developing their own IT plans.
• Supports UNDP’s digital and IT governance mechanisms.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The incumbent supervises the positions who directly reports to him/her as indicated above.

Competencies

Core Competencies – UNDP Core Competencies can be found here.

• Achieve Results – LEVEL 4: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact
• Think Innovatively – LEVEL 4: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight
• Learn Continuously – LEVEL 4: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all
• Adapt with Agility – LEVEL 4: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes
• Act with Determination – LEVEL 4: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence
• Engage and Partner – LEVEL 4: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion – LEVEL 4: Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion

People Management: UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

This position has managerial responsibilities. The incumbent’s direct reports are: Deputy Director and CTO; Chief of Cyber Security; Chief of Data management Services; and Chief of Digital Corporate Platforms Operations and Advisory services.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Business Direction & Strategy – Strategic Thinking:

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

Business Direction & Strategy – Entrepreneurial Thinking:

• Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.

Business Development – Collective Intelligence Design:

• Ability to bringing together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions

Business Management – Results-based Management:

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Management – Customer Satisfaction/Client Management:

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs.
• Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
• Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests.
• Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concern.

Digital and Innovation – Policy/regulations for digital and emerging technology:

• Ability to design or advise on regulations and policy for digital and emerging technology..

Digital and Innovation – Digital Thought Leadership:

• Ongoing research into emerging technologies and digital trends and the applications, risks, and opportunities associated with digital adoption, combined with the ability to communicate this synthesis with a broad audience.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Masters) in Computer Science, Information Communications Technology, Business Administration or closely related fields

Experience:

• A minimum of 16 years of experience in senior managerial, information and communication technology positions, managing a geographically diverse workforce, with country-based operations in large international organizations or multi-national corporations.
• In-depth, current expertise and demonstrated experience in the management of large ERP systems, SharePoint, Cloud, and web-based IT solutions is required;
• Demonstrated ability to deliver complex, corporate global scale IT solutions.
• Technical leadership experience in developing and implementing enterprise architectures and IT strategy to support the strategic objectives of the organization;
• Experience in undertaking change management and culture change activities to support an organization’s transformation.
• Experience in forming partnerships in the field of digital technologies to advance organizational objectives.
• Knowledge of the UN system.

Language:

• Fluency in the English language is required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer 

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders) 

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements. 

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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