ICT Associate – Head of ICT Unit Full Time

Tiered Approach

In Line With The Commitment To Safeguard Capacity And Support Personnel Already In The Organization, a Majority Of UNDP UNCDF/UNV Vacancies Are Advertised Using a Tiered Application Process Whereby

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Office/Unit/Project Description

The UNDP Country Office administers and manages common premises and shared services on behalf of the co-located UN agencies, funds, and programs. The Common Premises Unit is established to ensure the efficient, secure, and cost-effective management of all common premises, assets, and services. The unit’s objective is to provide high-quality support services to all Participating Agencies, enabling them to focus on their core mandates 

The ICT Associate – Head of ICT Unit will provide leadership and coordination in delivering high-quality ICT services. The role requires strategic planning, infrastructure management, team supervision, and compliance with corporate ICT policies. The ICT Associate – Head of ICT Unit promotes a client-oriented approach and leads ICT support operations for CP and associated offices.

Scope of Work

Strategic Planning And Project Management

• Lead the common premises ICT team and coordinate the implementation of ICT activities and services, ensuring they align with UNDP’s operational needs and standards.
• Coordinate the integration of ICT assets and systems received from UNAMI, ensuring minimal disruption and full alignment with UNDP protocols.
• Oversee the decommissioning and repurposing of ICT infrastructure, ensuring proper asset documentation, labeling, and disposal according to UNDP and UN regulations.
• Develop local ICT budgets, procurement forecasts, and asset management reports for internal tracking and donor reporting.

Operational Management And Support

• Manage local IT support operations, including helpdesk services, network availability, and end-user support for hardware and software issues.
• Supervise national CP ICT staff and contractors, delegate responsibilities, and ensure team development and performance monitoring.
• Liaise with national service providers, vendors, and partners for procurement, maintenance, and service delivery of ICT-related contracts.

Network And Security Management

• Work collaboratively with the UNDP ICT Team on all aspects of the common premises network and security management. This includes planning, implementing, and maintaining secure network infrastructure, monitoring network performance, and ensuring compliance with UNDP security policies and standards.
• Participate in joint efforts to strengthen cybersecurity measures, monitor firewalls, and respond to security incidents.

Security And Risk Management

• Ensure robust ICT security measures are implemented, monitored, and reported in compliance with UNDP policies.
• Ensure business continuity planning (BCP) and disaster recovery measures are in place and tested.

IT Project Coordination And Administration

• Support IT project work as necessary, including developing proposals and solutions for standard desktop setups and new products.
• Serve as a focal point for coordination of related activities, such as monitoring or expediting computer applications or systems development projects.
• Prepare standard terms of reference, process and follow up on administrative actions, and resolve issues related to project implementation (e.g., training, procurement).
• Provide guidance to new/junior staff and ensure training is received for proper implementation of projects/assignments.
• Occasionally supervise a team of staff for specific projects.

Reporting, Documentation, And Strategic Planning

• Draft correspondence and communications, including work plan revisions and periodic reports.
• Keep abreast of developments in the field; perform benchmarking and propose new acquisitions.
• Ensure proper documentation of technical tasks, service records, and infrastructure diagrams.

Financial And Billing Management

• Calculates and complies cost estimates and projected budget requirements and assists in preparation of budget and audit reports.
• Assesses and evaluates costs of all services received, and provides reports as required, on cost trends and variations in the billing of all services being utilized.
• Follows up on outstanding payments and recovery of charges.
• Maintains electronic records of all expenditures for commercial communications of the compounds and provides this information on a regular basis.

The incumbent shall perform other duties within their functional profile, as deemed necessary, for the efficient functioning of the of the CP and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The ICT Associate – Head of ICT Unit will report directly to the Operations Specialist – CP. The incumbent will lead a national ICT team of the CP Unit and work in close coordination with UNDP ICT Unit, regional offices, global ICT support teams, and partner agencies.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results

LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work

Think Innovatively

LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

Learn Continuously

LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt With Agility

LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act With Determination

LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage And Partner

LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships

Enable Diversity And Inclusion

LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

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 concerns.

Business Management

Communication

• Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Business Management

Working with Evidence and Data

• Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.

Business Management

Digital Awareness and Literacy

• Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed

Information Management & Technology

IT Customer Support

• Ability to support customers on IT related issues and generate and contribute to continuous improvement processes to deliver a great user experience. Knowledge of ISO 9001 desirable. ITIL certification or similar is desirable.

Information Management & Technology

User Experienceand Business Analyst

• Capacity to translate efficiently users needs into IT requirements around human-centered design

Information Management & Technology

Network, Communication and Infrastructure Management

• Ability to develop/integrate/operate/manage IT network, communications, Cloud or on-premise infrastructure, and new technologies like IoT. Cisco CCIE CCNP or similar is desirable.

Min. Education Requirements

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

• Secondary education is required with formal training in IT systems, business software and/or web-based applications.
• A university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Information Technology, Information Systems, Information Management, Computer Science, Software Development or an equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Min. Years Of Relevant Work Experience

Minimum of 7 years (with high school diploma) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant working experience in development and implementation of ICT strategies, management and supervision of ICT services and teams, hardware and software platforms, telecommunications facilities, knowledge of Windows-based packages/applications, experience in web design and development of web-based office applications.

Experience working with user-centered designs and conducting user research and testing is required.

Required Skills

• In-depth knowledge of LAN/WAN design, routing, VLANs, VPNs, and Wi-Fi networks.
• Experience with Cisco/Meraki or equivalent enterprise-class network and firewall systems.
• Strong understanding of IP addressing, network segmentation, QoS, and redundancy setups.
• Proficiency in using network monitoring and management platforms (e.g., Zabbix, Meraki Dashboard).
• Ability to plan and implement infrastructure upgrades, failover mechanisms, and capacity management.
• Solid understanding of cybersecurity frameworks and risk management practices.
• Experience in firewall configuration, intrusion prevention, endpoint protection, and access control policies.
• Knowledge of disaster recovery, data backup, and business continuity planning.
• Familiarity with UN/ISO 27001 security standards and ICT compliance policies
• Experience managing service desks or IT support operations with defined SLAs.
• Proven ability to ensure timely response and resolution of incidents and service requests.
• Proficiency in IT asset management, licensing control, and software lifecycle oversight.
• Skill in analyzing recurring issues and implementing preventive and corrective measures.
• Oversight experience with telephony (VoIP / CUCM / Teams) and radio communication systems (VHF/UHF).
• Familiarity with VTC operations (Teams Rooms, Webex, Zoom, etc.) and meeting room AV systems.
• Familiarity with emergency notification systems, CCTV, and access control integration.
• Windows, UNIX, and Non-UNIX server platforms
• Virtualization platform: VMware

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Proven ability to develop/integrate/operate/manage IT network, communications, Cloud or on-premise infrastructure, and new technologies like IoT. Cisco CCIE CCNP or similar.
• Proven ability to deliver the IT products and services to customers at the right level of Quality and Costs, taking into account user experience. ISO 20000 knowledge. ITIL certification or similar.
• Proven ability to advise on IT continuity and disaster recovery. Knowledge of ISO 22301.
• Previous relevant experience supporting UN/International organizations or NGOs field communications systems.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English and Arabic languages is required.
• Knwoledge of Kurdish language is desired

Professional Certificates

• Certifications in CCNP, MSCA, MSCE or MCP are an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.