Application Management Lead – Learning Management Platform

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is the World Health Organization (WHO), a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established in 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. The organization operates in over 150 countries and has a workforce of more than 7,000 employees. WHO's initiatives focus on various health issues, including disease prevention, health education, and emergency response, aiming to ensure that everyone can attain the highest possible level of health.

Job Overview:
The Application Management Lead for the Learning Management Platform is a senior-level position within the Information and Digital Technologies (IDT) department of WHO. This role is crucial for enhancing access to lifelong learning for health workers globally. The incumbent will coordinate team activities, manage operational processes, and ensure alignment with business requirements for the Learning Experience Platform (LXP). The position involves developing new policies and standards, leading teams, and advocating for innovative solutions in learning technology. The role also requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including external providers and UN agencies, to ensure the successful delivery of services and initiatives that support WHO's mission in health education.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Application Development & Delivery: Coordinate internal team activities and Managed Service Providers to deliver application-layer features that meet business needs and enhance the learner experience. Manage the full lifecycle of application development for the Open edX platform, including custom development and platform enhancements. Enforce coding standards and ensure compliance with WHO policies. Develop and maintain integration patterns and data architecture for Open edX and related services. Implement reliability engineering practices and oversee observability across all LXP layers. Define and enforce security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security practices for applications and infrastructure.
• Application Operations: Define and manage operational processes for services, ensuring high availability for users. Interface with product leads and business owners to align user support with business needs.
• Community & Capability Building: Lead the design and operation of open-source learning products, collaborating with external partners to mobilize resources for learning technology initiatives. Stay updated on emerging e-learning trends and technologies.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate must possess a Master's degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or a related field with at least 7 years of relevant experience. Alternatively, a Bachelor's degree in the same fields with 9 years of relevant experience is acceptable. Desired qualifications include certifications in Agile Project Management or SCRUM, enterprise information technology architecture certifications like TOGAF, and technical certifications related to Microsoft Azure, RedHat OpenShift, or MongoDB.

Educational Background:
Candidates are required to have a Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Information Technology, or Software Engineering. A Bachelor's degree in these areas is acceptable if accompanied by additional years of relevant experience. Certifications in Agile methodologies and enterprise architecture frameworks are highly desirable, as well as technical certifications in cloud services and database management.

Experience:
Candidates should have significant experience in software architecture and development, particularly with large-scale, cloud-native OpenEdx platforms. Experience in security, compliance, or data governance in enterprise environments is essential. Desired experience includes familiarity with microservices, containerization, CI/CD automation, and various programming languages and frameworks such as Python, Node.js, and modern JavaScript frameworks.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, while basic proficiency in French is considered desirable. The ability to communicate effectively in both languages will enhance collaboration within the international team and with various stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is a one-year contract with the possibility of extension. It is classified as a senior-level role (ICS 11) under the ICA - IICA - Regular contract type. The application deadline is set for midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date. UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups. Background checks will be conducted for all final candidates to ensure compliance with organizational standards.