Head of IT Services

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Head of IT Services
Location: Montreal
Country: Canada
Deadline Date: 19-DEC-2024

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is a statistical agency established in 1999 that produces cross-nationally comparable data for education, science, culture, and communication and information. The UIS provides statistical and technical inputs for global, regional, and development agendas, including the UN Transforming Education Summit, the Global Education Cooperation Mechanism, G7, and G2

• The UIS aims to serve the needs of Member States by providing sound statistical information that informs policies and decision-making, benchmarks progress toward national and international goals, and promotes learning from the experience of others. The UIS IT and Data Production Services team supports the successful implementation of this vision through technology, tools, and processes that enable stakeholders to make the best use of the data produced by UIS.

Job Overview:
The Head of IT Services is responsible for planning, directing, and evaluating all informational technology programs of the UIS. This role ensures the availability of appropriate IT infrastructure, applications, and software required to support the substantive statistical programs of UIS and the delivery of responsive IT support to UIS staff and programs. The incumbent will identify and manage complex and diverse user requirements, plan, develop, and coordinate the information technology systems for UIS, and oversee the development, design, and implementation of new IT applications and changes to existing IT systems and software packages. This position requires innovative approaches in the development of new IT applications and systems to meet the changing and emerging statistical and program needs of the Institute. The work of IT services is critical to the delivery of the substantive statistical programs of the Institute, and the incumbent will manage a team of three staff, develop a UIS IT Strategy, and contribute expertise to the overall UIS data management strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establish and implement an IT systems and infrastructure strategy aligned to the UIS program goals, including developing, implementing, and coordinating systems policies and procedures, determining standards for data acquisition, processing, storage, and dissemination, and managing the overall efficiency of UIS IT systems and networks.
• Contribute to UIS’s digital strategy to increase access to, visibility, and usage of UIS data and information products, including designing and implementing data-centered infrastructure and solutions, supporting data production, and managing UIS databases.
• Manage the implementation of changes to data systems to ensure compliance, protection, privacy, and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security requirements.
• Plan and maintain UIS’ audiovisual, camera, and phone systems, and software license control.
• Develop the section’s budget and spending plan, selecting and purchasing new and replacement hardware and software, and maintaining inventory records of all IT assets.
• Develop training materials, technical and user documentation, and train staff in the use of UIS systems.
• Keep abreast of developments in the field and provide leadership on introducing technological changes.
• Lead and supervise the staff of the IT Unit, ensuring effective planning, coordination, and prioritization of daily tasks and responsibilities.
• Coordinate/liaise with UNESCO DBS on matters related to information technology systems for UIS. 1
• Perform any additional activities that may be required in support of the UIS mandate and to ensure the success of the UIS team.

Required Qualifications:
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in computer science, data management, information systems, information sciences, information technology, or a related field. Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in planning, development, implementation, and maintenance of data ecosystems. At least five years of experience in envisioning, planning, and executing Information Technology roadmaps in a technical product environment. Experience in database programming languages (SQL, etc.), DevOps tool chains, creating, testing, and implementing business continuity and disaster recovery plans, managing teams, and supporting cross-functional teams and collaborating with stakeholders in support of analytics initiatives.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in computer science, data management, information systems, information sciences, information technology, or a related field is required. Relevant certifications such as Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP), AWS Certified Big Data - Specialty, or Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate are desirable.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in planning, development, implementation, and maintenance of data ecosystems. At least five years of experience in envisioning, planning, and executing Information Technology roadmaps in a technical product environment is essential. Experience in database programming languages, DevOps tool chains, and managing teams is also required.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge (spoken and written) of English is mandatory. Working knowledge of other UNESCO official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is considered desirable.

Additional Notes:
The contract is a project appointment for a duration of 1 year with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance. The position is open to both internal and external candidates. The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 117,303 US dollars, and benefits may include 30 days of annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, and a pension plan. UNESCO emphasizes the importance of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence, and integrity in its staff members and applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.