Chief of Section (Knowledge Services)

Job Description

Job Code Title: CHIEF OF SECTION, INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Department/Office: ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

Duty Station: ADDIS ABABA

Posting Period: 17 December 2015 – 14 February 2016

Job Opening Number: 52838

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.

Organizational Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Knowledge Services Section, Public Information & Knowledge Management Division at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Director, Public Information and Knowledge Management Division.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Director, Public Information and Knowledge Management Division, the incumbent will be responsible for implementing ECA’s Knowledge Management Strategy by ensuring that ECA’s operations, research, products and advice systematically incorporate the most reliable, relevant, up-to-date and comprehensive knowledge available from the continent and beyond. The incumbent will also be responsible for ensuring that Knowledge generated by ECA is shared and disseminated, internally and externally, and used in an efficient and effective manner.

In this context, the incumbent will perform the following functions

• ensure that the Section is able to effectively implement the knowledge management strategy, taking into account the Collections, the Connections and Outreach


• lead the implementation of the Knowledge Management strategy, as a means to enhance ECA’s organizational effectiveness


• ensure that ECA staff have access to accurate, appropriate and up to date online and onsite collections to carry out their daily activities


• turn the Library into ECA’s Research Service to compile for ECA authors and others, the most relevant source material available for preparing a research paper, case study, thematic publication, keynote address or any other similar requests


• Put in place Communities of Practice (CoPS to facilitate knowledge generation and sharing in support to the Commission’s work programme and priorities of member States


• develop tools and processes to assist staff and CoPs better generate, collect and share explicit and tacit knowledge


• conduct regular needs assessment on knowledge services and products needed by staff and other clients.


• develop databases and online web portals for information and knowledge dissemination and exchange, including strengthening the Access to Scientific and Socio-economic Knowledge in Africa (ASKIA) online portal and improving ECA’s Institutional Repository, ensuring that it bolters the work of the Commission


• design training programs and provide capacity building activities and technical assistance to strengthen and empower African stakeholders, and knowledge institutions to generate, collect, use and share knowledge


• undertake research and studies on the identification of appropriate strategies for supporting knowledge management processes and the emerging Knowledge Societies


• develop a knowledge gateway incorporating digitized resources from ECA through a well maintained institutional repository, an enhanced Access to Socio-Economic Knowledge in Africa (ASKIA) portal, an operational African Virtual Library and Information Network (AVLIN), Consolidated replies from Communities of Practices (COPs), up to date Knowledge Guides, etc.


• provide guidance and advice on knowledge management best practices, standards, policies and procedures to ECA, Sub Regional Offices (SROs), IDEP, Regional Economic Communities, member States and other key stakeholders, as well as strengthen ECA’s activities in promoting the knowledge societies in order to significantly improve the quality and impact of its knowledge products and services as well to enhance the Commission’s efficiency and effectiveness in line with the Strategic priorities of the Executive Secretary and ECA’s Business Plan


• provide support to SROs and IDEP in putting in place and managing knowledge services and in participating in the networks and CoPs established by ECA in general and PIKMD in particular


• enhance collaboration and partnerships with the African Union, African institutions, UN organizations and external partners to leverage on comparative advantages and pool resources to support knowledge creation, organization, and dissemination as well as share best practices and lessons learnt


• review regular budget allocations, prepare input to programme budget costs, monitoring expenditures, prepare performance reports and develop project proposals to raise funds


• manage staff, including supervision, mentoring, training and performance monitoring and evaluation of individual work performance


• liaise with other strategic units in the Division such as the Information and Communication Technology Services Section, the Communication Section and the Publication Section


• liaise with the other Divisions in the promotion of knowledge services and knowledge societies within ECA, SROs, IDEP, member States, African institutions, UN partners and other stakeholders


• Perform other duties as assigned.


• Competencies
  

  Professionalism

  
  

  Knowledge of the deployment use and promotion of information and communication technologies;
  knowledge of management information systems, electronic data management;
  knowledge management processes and library operations;
  Shows pride in work and in achievements;
  demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
  is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, 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 perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
  Planning & Organizing

  
  

  Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies
  Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required
  Allocates appropriate 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
  Accountability

  
  

  Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments
  Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards
  Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules
  Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments
  Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
  Managerial Competencies

  
  

  Leadership

  
  

  Serves as a role model that other people want to follow
  Empowers others to translate vision into results
  Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives
  Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support
  Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions
  Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo
  Shows the courage to take unpopular stands
  Managing Performance

  
  

  Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority
  Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member
  Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills
  Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines
  Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff
  Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative
  Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff
  Appraises performance fairly.
  Education

  
  

  Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in information technology, information science, information systems development, knowledge management, library and documentation science or related area.
  A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
  Work Experience

  
  

  A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in Information Society;
  Knowledge policy development and advocacy;
  management of library and documentation centers; planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of computer information systems;
  information network administration or related area is required.
  Experience in regional and international development cooperation and policy making including initiating, designing, implementing an coordinating information and knowledge networks with member States, regional and international organizations;
  negotiations with African high-level government officials and African regional organizations is also highly desirable.
  Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the first level university degree recognized by the United Nations.
  Languages

  
  

  Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French, (both oral and written) is required;
  knowledge of the other is desirable.
  Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage
  Assessment Method

  
  

  Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

  
  

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How to Apply

Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on ‘The Application Process’ and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on ‘Manuals’ hyper-link on the upper right side of inspira account-holder homepage.Applications are pre-screened by the system according to the published requirements of the job opening on the basis of the information provided in the application. In relation to the requirements of the job opening, applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their qualifications, including their education, work experience, and language skills. Each applicant must bear in mind that submission of incomplete or inaccurate applications may render that applicant ineligible for consideration for the job opening. Initial screening and evaluation of applications will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted. Applications cannot be amended following submission. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Job Categories: Information Technology Jobs. Job Types: Full-Time. Job expires in 30 days.

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