IT Operations Officer - Foundational IT lead

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, established to save lives in emergencies and to use food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change. WFP operates in numerous countries around the globe, employing thousands of individuals dedicated to humanitarian efforts. The organization is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. WFP has received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, highlighting its significant contributions to global peace and humanitarian efforts. The organization invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training and mentorship programs, fostering a healthy and inclusive work environment. WFP's mission is centered around the values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion, ensuring that its workforce is diverse, skilled, and high-performing, working together to save and change lives.

Job Overview:
The IT Operations Officer - Foundational IT lead is a crucial role within the WFP South Sudan office, reporting directly to the Head of the TEC Unit. This position is responsible for delivering efficient, secure, and scalable IT and Telecommunications systems that align with WFP’s strategic objectives. The incumbent will lead the development, modernization, and maintenance of complex network and systems infrastructure, overseeing cloud services such as AWS and Azure, and enhancing cybersecurity controls to comply with WFP corporate standards. The role requires a skilled network engineer who can design, implement, maintain, and support a complex network environment across the Country Office and all field locations. The IT Operations Officer will lead the Foundational IT team to ensure the delivery of robust and reliable network and cloud architectures, enabling staff to effectively deliver food assistance to beneficiaries. This position is vital for ensuring that WFP's technological infrastructure supports its humanitarian mission effectively and efficiently.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain IT/TC systems, networks, and cloud environments (AWS and Azure), ensuring appropriate data security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, access controls, and optimal performance across local and wide-area networks.
• Participate in the development of plans, budgets, and policies, and lead the deployment of IT/TC systems aligned with business needs, in accordance with WFP corporate standards.
• Implement and test new hardware and cloud-based solutions to improve and upgrade system performance; deploy required technology upgrades and integrations.
• Develop technical specifications and tender documents and manage contracts with service providers to facilitate procurement of IT/TC equipment, cloud services, and support services at minimum cost, in line with WFP rules and regulations.
• Coordinate and prepare reports on IT/TC activities, cloud usage, cybersecurity posture, investments, and costs, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities to improve cost-efficiency.
• Maintain technical expertise and knowledge of industry developments in networking, cloud technologies, and cybersecurity; develop specialized skills within areas of competence.
• Provide expert advice to managers and users to resolve complex network, cloud, and systems issues, ensuring correct application of IT policies, procedures, and tools.
• Lead and motivate a technical team, monitoring performance and providing coaching, training, and guidance to ensure high performance and professional growth.
• Build capability of IT staff by collaborating with HQ/Regional Bureau to design and deliver corporate training program on networks, cloud services, systems, and TC. 1
• Ensure effective coordination with other UN agencies to align IT/TC activities and enhance inter-agency collaboration. 1
• Maintain effective partnerships with internal stakeholders and external vendors to foster information exchange and meet service delivery requirements. 1
• Contribute to emergency preparedness and contingency planning by providing technical recommendations, monitoring IT risks, and supporting rapid deployment of IT/TC services during emergencies. 1
• Prepare operational plans and manage IT/TC resource requirements at the onset of an emergency to ensure continuity of essential services. 1
• Manage PBX/telephony systems in all WFP offices and provide remote support to field technicians where required. 1
• Configure and install various network and cloud-integrated devices and services (e.g., routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, VPNs, QoS, VSATs). 1
• Perform network, systems, and cloud maintenance, including service packs, patches, hotfixes, and security configurations. 1
• Monitor performance and ensure high availability, reliability, and redundancy of systems across all South Sudan offices and cloud environments. 1
• Provide Level - 2/3 support and troubleshooting for network, cloud, and systems issues in the Country Office and sub-offices. 1
• Work within established configuration, documentation, and change management policies from HQ to ensure awareness, approval, and successful implementation of all modifications. 2
• Select, implement, and operate security tools, policies, and procedures in coordination with the corporate security team, ensuring strong cybersecurity posture across the CO and field offices. 2
• Perform any other required duties.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or a first university degree with additional years of relevant work experience. For candidates with a master’s degree or higher, a minimum of 5 years of progressive international experience in network engineering, systems administration, cloud services, and IT/TC infrastructure in large, distributed, or emergency environments is required. For candidates with a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 7 years of the above experience is necessary. Previous experience in emergency support operations and/or in hardship duty stations is essential. Candidates should also have proven hands-on experience in network design, configuration, and troubleshooting, including routing, switching, VPNs, and enterprise wireless technologies. Skills in cloud and data center operations, with certification and practical experience in AWS, Azure, VMware, and Citrix, are also required. Strong knowledge of network monitoring, diagnostic, and analytics tools for proactive performance and issue resolution is essential, along with proficiency in Fortinet FortiGate technologies, SD-WAN, and Unified Threat Management systems. Experience in VSAT engineering, fiber optics, LAN/WLAN, and remote deployment of ICT solutions across field environments is necessary, as well as competence in telephony/IP PBX systems, structured cabling, Wi-Fi solutions, and CCTV infrastructure rollout. A strong background in IT procurement, vendor management, and leading technical teams for high performance is also required, along with the capability to support emergency telecommunications and restore connectivity in crisis situations.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have an advanced university degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Alternatively, a first university degree with additional years of relevant work experience is acceptable. The educational background should be complemented by relevant certifications in networking and cloud services, which would enhance the candidate's qualifications for this role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of progressive international experience in network engineering, systems administration, cloud services, and IT/TC infrastructure for candidates with a master’s degree or higher. For those with a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience is necessary. Previous experience in emergency support operations and/or in hardship duty stations is essential, indicating that candidates should be well-versed in working under challenging conditions and capable of adapting to rapidly changing environments.

Languages:
Fluency (level C) in the English language is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, but English is the primary language of communication within the organization and is essential for effective collaboration and reporting.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified as an International Consultancy (CST-level II) and is based in Juba, South Sudan, with a contract duration of 11 months. The role is full-time, and WFP is committed to recruiting internationally, ensuring a diverse pool of candidates. The organization offers an attractive compensation package, which is detailed in the Terms and Conditions section of the vacancy announcement. WFP emphasizes the importance of an inclusive work environment and provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. Candidates are reminded to ensure their profiles are accurate and complete before submitting their applications, which should include a professional CV in English. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified, and all employment decisions are made based on organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications.