Head, Information Services (P-5)

Head, Information Services (P-5)

PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS

Reporting to the Director of Administration, and in accordance with the OPCW Core Values of Integrity, Professionalismand Respect for Diversity/Gender Equality, the Head, Information Services Branch (ISB):

1. Supervises the ERP project and directly manages the internal and external resources currently engaged in the testing phase, and deliver the project into operational status.
2. Manages the existing supplier relationships and contracts and advises Management on areas of adaption and improvement.
3. Evaluates and recommend to Management the appropriate treatment of legacy data and systems replaced by the ERP project.
4. Formulates the medium-term OPCW ICT strategy and, once approved within the IT Governance framework, is responsible to implement it.
5. Provides policy guidance on the use of Information Technology to senior management on conceptual strategy development and management of the implementation of overall strategies and intra and interdivisional policies and procedures.
6. Manages the Information Services Branch, planning organising and overseeing its work:
   1. Workplan: prepares the annual branch work plan, reviews it on a periodical basis and ensures the timely implementation of it by determining the priorities and allocating the necessary resources for its completion;
   2. Budget: identifies and manages budget requirements and resource allocation, participates in the overall IS branch budget life cycle, proposing and negotiating the branch budget and, once approved, controlling and monitoring the use of allocated funds (as certifying officer);
   3. Human resources management: supervises ISB staff, mainly the two Heads of section and staff members of the IS Main Office. Oversees the supervision of other staff of ISB. Organises with the Human Resources Branch the recruitment of staff for vacant positions;
   4. Organises and/or carries out all administrative activities necessary for the functioning of the branch, such as procurement, staff performance, reporting of programme performance and Result based Budget (RBM);
7. ICT Governance and policy: Accountability for the adoption and implementation of relevant processes, methodologies, policies, instructions and practises across all federated ICT teams including matrix oversight of technology projects and procurement undertaken by those teams.
8. Project Management:Direct involvement in highly visible organisational projects, either as project manager, as a member of the project steering committee overseeing the project implementation, or chairing some internal working groups.
9. Represents OPCW in ICT or UN fora: As required, the incumbent shall participate in appropriate external committees and bodies as the OPCW representative and actively pursue engagement with the peer group to foster inter-agency collaboration, adoption and use of beneficial standards or commercial contracts that enables OPCW technology resiliency and supports its outreach agenda.

RECRUITING PROFILE

Education (Qualifications):

Essential: Advanced University Degree in computer sciences, business administration, mathematics, engineering or related field relevant to the work. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (minimum 12 years) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Required Certification: Relevant training/certification on current Information technology, methodologies and/or enterprise architecture.  Relevant training/certification in ERP system management or deployment.  Prince2 Practitioner.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 10 years of relevant and progressively responsible and combined experience related to softwaredevelopment and system integration technologies, information management, technical support, project management, IT security, database design, business intelligence, risk management, knowledge management.
• Extensive experience in business applications, especially ERP development and implementation, including but not limited to:Project management, Organisational change processes and staff communications, business process re-design, training and business user adoption strategies.Ideally, this would include experience working with Unit4 Business World (Agresso).
• Professional experience managing multiple technology teams through line managers or running multi-site ICT functions. Ideally, this will include third-party delivery teams under contracted terms and demonstrable skills in managing the differences of internal and external technical teams.
• Professional experience in ERP system implementation and stabilization.
• Experience in an international setting involving several nationalities amongst team members.

Desirable:

Professional experience working within a classified data security regime would be an asset.

Skills and Abilities:

• Professionalism: Demonstrates sound judgement based on extensive experience in information systems and technology suited to a diverse range of information needs and functions. Demonstrated ability to apply ICT to effectively solve business issues while also managing costs and risks. Ability to think and plan strategically, set direction and manage within a results-based management framework.
• Planning and organising: Proven ability to plan and organise work, requiring an in-depth understanding of its strategic direction and ability to integrate the work of the section into the OPCW work programme.
• Communication: Excellent drafting ability, strong negotiating and presentation skills to make for a trustworthy record keeping and information systems and to bring others to reach agreement on difficult issues.
• Teamwork: Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Client orientation: Ability to identify clients’ needs and propose appropriate solutions as well as establish and maintain effective work relationships with outside collaborators and other contacts, including member states and the public. Ability to understand how to use technology to succeed and how to satisfy both internal and external clients.
• Technological awareness: Excellent conceptual knowledge of Information Architecture, Information Management and Software Development Agile Methodologies, broad knowledge of all aspects of system design, implementation and management of highly complex Application Systems. Familiarity with all major Microsoft development products such as .Net Framework, Visual Studio, SQL Server. Skilled in using modern infrastructure technologies, platforms and deployment methods including external provisioning.
• Commercial acumen: Capable and experienced in formulating requirements for tenders and engaging with suppliers across the procurement and vendor management lifecycles. Especially desirable is programmatic expertise in public-sector procurements.

Managerial competencies:

• Managing performance: Proven managerial and analytical capabilities in planning and directing a team of technical staff responsible for information management and communication infrastructure. Strong supervisory skills and the ability to provide leadership and motivation to staff.
• Leadership: Strong managerial/leadership skills; demonstrated flexibility in leadership by performing and /or overseeing the analysis of complex human resources, financial and administrative management policy and programme issues; proven record of building and managing teams, including the ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff and design training/ skills enhancement initiatives to ensure effective transfer of knowledge/skills. Tact in negotiating skills; good judgment and decision making skills.
• Influencing: Well developed stakeholder management skills with demonstrable experience influencing decision-makers to make well-informed and action-oriented choices. This shall include matrix management skills to collaborate with peers in other Divisions and their respective technology teams to take decisions and actions that are aligned to the overarching OPCW ICT Strategy and the overall organisational goals in technology investment.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.