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ICT Specialist (Systems Developer), Rome , Italy

Vacancy announcement number:1302
Date of issue:07/14/2014
Deadline for applications:08/31/2014
Inform. & Comm Technology Div.: Organizational unit:
Level:P-3
Duty Station: ROME
Duration: Two years fixed-term
Organizational context
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an International Financial Institution and a specialized United Nations Agency whose mission is enabling poor rural people to improve their food security and nutrition, raise their incomes, and strengthen their resilience. To achieve these goals. IFAD develops and finances programs and projects aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and incomes and reducing rural poverty. IFAD's headquarters is in Rome, Italy, but has offices in 40 countries and finances programs and projects in more than 90 countries.
Divisional context
The Information and Communications Technology Division (ICT) is part of the Corporate Services Department of IFAD. Its stated objective is to be a strategic partner and a responsive service and support provider, delivering state-of-the-art information and communications technology and expertise to the workforce, its representatives and the leadership of IFAD.
ORGANIZATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY
The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Specialist is a seasoned professional reflecting an in-depth, complete understanding of ICT systems and applications development.
The ICT Specialist works under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance of the ICT Director, the general supervision and coordination of the ICT Solutions Coordinator and as part of the ICT Solutions team. The ICT Specialist will coordinate the work of and provide technical guidance to General Service staff, temporary staff and/or external consultants.
KEY RESULTS EXPECTED/MAJOR FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITIES
The incumbent will provide system development and technical support to IFAD¿s corporate systems, including IFAD¿s in-house developed solutions and Content Management Systems.
ICT MANAGEMENT: the ICT Specialist is a seasoned professional accountable for development, design, implementation and management of complex, interrelated applications and/or components of major ICT systems. Representative accountabilities/key results include (a) undertaking feasibility studies, systems analysis and design for specific systems, applications and/or for components of the more complex systems of the Fund¿s ICT System; (b) translating user requirements into functional and technical specifications for new applications, developing integrating existing modules, developing local enhancements, etc.; (c) configuring systems/application environments and leading the installation, maintenance, problem resolution/trouble shooting, optimization and system/applications upgrades; (d) monitoring transactions to measure the performance and continuing effectiveness of assigned systems and working with systems software personnel to resolve operational problems.
AGENT OF CHANGE: the ICT Specialist understands and applies the principles of change management and proactively serves as a role model for transformation and capacity for acceptance of change. Uses a seasoned knowledge of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other information technology to develop, analyze and promote acceptance of new methods of work and automated workflows. The ICT Specialist manages change through consultations with ICT colleagues and outreach to client offices to build understanding of and to ensure open and regular communications pertaining to current and planned changes in the Fund¿s information and communication technology strategy, standards, regulations and rules.
COMPETENCIES
Organizational
  • Strategic thinking and organizational development: Personal influence
  • Demonstrating Leadership: Personal leadership and attitude to change
  • Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge and innovates
  • Focusing on clients: Focuses on clients
  • Problem solving and decision making: Demonstrates sound problem solving and decision making ability
  • Managing time, resources and information: Manages own time, information and resources effectively
  • Team Work: Contributes effectively to the team
  • Communicating and negotiating: Communicates effectively: creates understanding between self and others
  • Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains effective working relationships
  • Managing performance and developing staff: Manages staff and teams effectively
Functional
  • Knowledge of information technology, particularly in systems analysis, database design, communications and programming.
  • Significant exposure to and demonstrated proficiency in all aspects of programming and analysis, including structured/object-oriented design, relational systems, scripting and query languages, document design and management, hardware and software requirements, systems facilities and execution protocols.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, to include proficiency in the development and implementation of systems of moderate size/complexity.
  • Capacity to identify and analyze systemic issues, formulate options and make conclusions and recommendations to resolve same.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a diverse organization tailoring language, tone, style and format to match audience; ability to present corrective feedback in a considered and tactful manner to promote acceptance.
Minimum Recruitment Qualifications
Education: Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in computer science, information technology, mathematics or other job related field. The advance degree may be substituted by a first university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) plus at least four additional years of relevant professional experience, over and above the minimum number of years of experience required, or formal professional ICT certification in at least one of the following:
Methodologies: Agile
Frameworks: Rails, J2EE
CMS: Any established CMS (such as Liferay)
Databases: PostgreSQL, Oracle 11g, Sybase ASE, Microsoft SQLserver, MySQL, CouchDB, Redis or a proven contribution to recognized open source communities supporting at least one of the above
Experience: At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional development experience, including participation in open source projects. Development experience in information technology in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope is desirable.
ROME
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Working knowledge of another official language (Arabic, French, or Spanish) is desirable.
ROME
  • Publishing of technology articles or ownership of a technology blog is highly desirable.
  • Proven experience in the following technologies:
ROME
Methodologies: Agile
Frameworks: Rails, J2EE
CMS: Experience with any established CMS (such as Liferay)
Databases: At least two of the following: PostgreSQL, Oracle 11g, Sybase ASE, Microsoft SQLserver, MySQL, CouchDB, Redis
ROME
Methodologies: TDD, BDD
Modeling: UML, ER
Architectures: Service-Oriented, Web-based, REST
Application servers: Unicorn, Puma, Apache Tomcat
Web servers: Nginx, Apache
Persistence: ActiveRecord, ActiveResource, Hibernate,
Web design: Bootstrap, jQuery, XML/XSL, XSLT, JASON, HTML, CSS
Configuration tools: Git, SVN
Other: Operating Systems: Linux, Windows
Experience in ICT architecture, knowledge management and metadata
Official Certificates will be accepted as proof of competency in the relevant technology fields. In the absence of such certification, testing may apply.
Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD.
Interested candidates are requested to apply by completing IFAD's Personal History Form (PHF) in English. The application should be made through the online system only. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY the instructions in 'How to Apply' before you start.
In the interest of making most cost effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.
Candidates may be required to take a written test as well as participate in interviews.
IFAD is committed to achieving diversity and is seeking a balanced workforce from IFAD's member states.