IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICER (P-3)

UNFCCC - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Bonn, Germany

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the focus of the political process to address Climate Change. The Convention secretariat supports the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol by a range of activities. The secretariat has more than 500 fixed term staff and numerous consultants from countries all over the world. The secretariat has a complex information and communication technology structure for which software is developed, supported and maintained in-house.

What will you be doing:

You will be working in the Planning, Polices and Governance (PPG) Team of the Information Technology Services programme and you will be responsible for ITS governance and planning activities including: Support the PPG Team Lead in policy development, planning and governance issues, in particular as Secretary to the Management Team (MT) Sub-committee on ICT; overall portfolio management including monitoring of progress and compliance within ITS on Framework Programme Agreements (FPA) on all IT projects and services; Customer Relationship Management for selected secretariat programmes including negotiations of FPA with responsible officers in substantive programmes; defining sourcing strategies and managing suppliers engaged in assigned IT projects; acting as ITS Audit Focal Point and ensuring compliance with internal and external regulations and controls.

Expected key results:

• Governance and Planning;
• Portfolio Management;
• Customer Relationship Management;
• Sourcing Strategy and Supplier Management;
• Focal Point for internal and external audits.

You will have the following responsibilities:

1. Governance and Planning:

a. As Secretary of the MT sub-committee on ICT (MT SC ICT) you will carry out the following responsibilities in consultation with the PPG Team Leader:

i. Preparing and updating the annual ICT programme of work serving as the central planning tool for the MT SC ICT, advising ITS management and the Chair on issues that need to be raised;
ii. Drafting agendas and minutes, and ensuring timely and high-quality supporting documentation for all meetings;
iii. Monitoring implementation of MT sub-committee conclusions and decisions and raising with ITS management any issues requiring their attention.

b. You will undertake research and provide analyses in support of the development of ICT strategy documents and policies undertaken by the PPG Team Lead.

2. With regard to portfolio management of IT projects and services portfolio you will:

a. Oversee the overall ICT project portfolio using standard management techniques;
b. Assess the project portfolio in relation to prioritization and resource allocation and advise the PPG Team Lead and ITS management on issues that need to be escalated to the MT SC ICT;
c. Develop and implement agreed progress reporting mechanisms for projects/programmes, monitor the progress of projects/programmes, and create progress and financial reports;
d. Enforce project management and governance policies, processes and guidelines;
e. Develop recommendations for joint or coordinated application project delivery across client programmes in collaboration with CRMs.

3. Regarding customer relationship management you will:

a. Develop and maintain the Framework Programme Agreements (FPA) for larger or more complex client portfolios, including definition of business cases and advice on prioritization of requirements;
b. In consultation with programme counterparts and ICT experts, develop and advise on technology strategies and solutions for programmes in accordance with the secretariat ICT strategy;
c. Coordinate and monitor the delivery of ICT services and systems for the assigned client portfolio.

4. With regard to strategy and supplier management you will:

a. Develop and implement sourcing strategies for the procurement of services;
b. Advise ITS management on the ICT annual budgeting and planning process;
c. Manage budgets allocated to projects and monitors expenditures; 
d. Act as Certifying Officer, within delegated authority, for budgetary allocations and allotments for IT projects funded under FPA; 
e. Supervise and guide the Administrative Assistant in the implementation of daily operations for IT project management, IT project accounting and reporting to the client programmes.

5. You will act as Focal Point of the ICT audit process and work closely with the Manager IT Management and Monitoring (IMM) in ensuring compliance with internal and external regulations and controls.

What are we looking for:

Educational background:

• Advanced university degree in computer sciences, business administration or in a related discipline. Formal certification in IT Project and Portfolio Management is required. A combination of a university degree plus substantial professional experience in the field may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree in the relevant discipline;
• Formal training in business administration is a plus.

Experience:

At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in programme management, two (2) of which should be in areas of IT project and portfolio management, project management, IT supplier management and IT budgeting and financial management preferably in an international context.

Language skills:

• Fluency in English, both oral and written;
• Working knowledge of another official UN language an asset.

Specific professional knowledge:

• Knowledge of IT Project and Portfolio frameworks (e.g. P3O, PRINCE2, PfMP, PMP/PMI);
• Specialized expertise in monitoring and evaluation in particular with respect to project implementation, results based budgeting and financial management;
• Knowledge of UN administrative policies and financial regulations and rules.

Job related skills:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Customer and vendor negotiation skills;
• Excellent writing skills including effective written communications;
• Attention to detail;
• Ability to produce error-free, reliable financial reporting;
• Awareness and understanding of planning for near, medium and long-term perspectives;
• Ability to analyse and evaluate large-scale operations and organizational maturity and conceptualize, plan and implement relevant and achievable strategic solutions.

How to apply:

Please apply by using the on-line application system available athttp://unfccc.int/secretariat/employment/recruitment.