The UNICC workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, and opinions. UNICC seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity by ensuring equal opportunity and an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, ethnicity, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Purpose of the Position:

The purpose of the post is to manage multiple enterprise data centers across various locations. This role involves ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and security of UNICC data center infrastructure while effectively managing costs and inventory.

Objectives of the Programme:

UNICC provides the digital foundations that support the digital transformation and future of the UN system and other international organizations.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Chief, Business Solutions Section (OPB), the incumbent is responsible for the following duties:

Supervisory:

• Oversee daily operations of the Data Center Team, managing tasks, schedules and priorities, as well as SLA adherence
• Lead and mentor the team, fostering collaboration and high performance
• Develop training programs and conduct performance reviews to enhance skills and provide feedback
• Design strategies to optimize service delivery in alignment with management and organizational goals

Data Center Operations:

• Ensure uptime, performance, and reliability of data center infrastructure and components, including racks, servers, storage, networking, and facility systems
• Establish and enforce policies for capacity, availability, and service management
• Continuously improve processes to meet industry standards and organizational metrics

Technical Expertise:

• Leverage automation to enhance efficiency in deployments and management of large-scale environments and availability zone models
• Resolve technical issues related to data center equipment and systems
• Plan and execute data center projects, including upgrades, migrations, and new deployments
• Collaborate with internal teams and vendors to ensure seamless project implementation

Security and Compliance:

• Implement and maintain robust security measures in partnership with security teams
• Participate in periodic security audits and vulnerability assessments and ensure compliance with data privacy and security regulations

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Use monitoring tools to track performance and identify issues proactively
• Provide regular reports on uptime, incidents, and performance metrics, offering actionable insights

Expenditure and Inventory management:

• Manage budgets, expenditures, and vendor contracts for data center operations
• Oversee asset management, equipment provisioning, decommissioning, and inventory control, ensuring accurate tracking and timely replenishment of DC materials
• Implement cost-saving strategies while maintaining operational standards

Other:

• Promote active collaboration with Service Desk, Service Management team, Security team and other technical teams in UNICC to ensure efficient delivery of UNICC services
• Coordinate the provision and escalation of “stand-by” services to address escalation issues during weekends, holidays and outside of normal working hours
• Provide other ad hoc support either within the team or in other teams as required – this includes the participation in special projects or support to service delivery for short period of time on a part-time or full-time basis upon request from the senior management

Experience and Skills required:

Essential:

• Five (5) years of relevant IT work experience in supporting and/or operating enterprise data center environments and related services in a complex, heterogeneous environment
• Proven team management experience in an IT environment with customer-centric approach to delivery and proven success in establishing team objectives and relevant measures (metrics and KPIs)
• Expertise in data center standards and best practices, including infrastructure operation and management, and environmental controls
• Experience in capacity planning, disaster recovery, business continuity, and data center security
• Experience in technical solution design and testing with cross-functional teams to ensure integration and systems compatibility
• Experience with IT service management and information security standards (e.g., ISO 20000, ISO 27001) and frameworks such as ITIL, ensuring compliance and best practice adherence
• Comprehensive knowledge of multi-region, large-scale on-premises, hybrid, and private clouds, including availability zones models
• Proficiency in server operating systems and data center monitoring tools
• Proven ability to manage data center budgets, ensuring cost-effective operations

 Desirable:

• Data center experience in the private sector, understanding industry-specific challenges and requirements
• Hands-on experience with green-certified data centers and sustainable practices
• Experience working within remote and virtual teams, demonstrating effective communication and collaboration skills across different locations and time zones
• Experience leveraging automation to streamline processes, knowledge of API management, DCIM tools and basic understanding Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and scripting
• Foundational knowledge of cloud computing models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), and experience with public, private, and hybrid cloud environments

*Education:

Essential:

• First University degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Finance, or a related field

Desirable:

• Advanced University degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Finance or a related field
• Data Center Certification (e.g., Certified Data Center Professional (CDCP), Certified Data Center Manager (CDCM), CCNA or other relevant network certifications
• ITIL, ISO20000 certifications
• PRINCE 2 certifications

Languages:

• English: Expert knowledge is required
• Knowledge of another UN official language would be an advantage

UNICC Global Competencies:

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective relationships with colleagues and team members. Deals constructively with conflicts.
• Communicating: Expresses oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others; listens actively. Produces effective written communications. Ensures that information is shared.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences: Demonstrates the ability to work constructively with people of all backgrounds and orientations. Respects differences and ensures that all can contribute.
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment: Guides and motivates staff towards meeting challenges and achieving objectives. Promotes ownership and responsibility for desired outcomes at all levels.
• Producing results: Produces and delivers quality results. Is action oriented and committed to achieving outcomes.

Eligibility:

This vacancy notice is open only to internal candidates

Compensation:

Annual Salary Estimation (net of tax at single rate):

• Geneva, (Switzerland) including post adjustment (89,9% on December 2024): US$ 121,765

UNICC also offers generous leave and absence allowances, flexible working hours, overtime compensation, teleworking, access to training, and depending on eligibility other benefits such as relocation grant, dependency allowance, language allowance, or education grant.

Closing date for applications:

Applications will be accepted until midnight (Geneva Time) on 13 January 2025.

Notes:

• Technical and/or personality tests may be carried out as part of the selection process
  Only short-listed candidates will be contacted
  Though you may not be selected for this advertised position, the UNICC will keep your application in a roster if your profile is deemed to be of potential interest for the Centre. You may thus be solicited by our HR department to participate in an interview for another position* For UNICC staff members who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please refer to the applicable WHO e-Manual Annex 6 – Guidelines on Standard Minimum Experience Exposure and Education Requirements

* For UNICC staff members who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please refer to the applicable WHO e-Manual Annex 6 – Guidelines on Standard Minimum Experience Exposure and Education Requirements

Please inform us should you require any specific accommodation to facilitate your application

The UNICC workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, and opinions. UNICC seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity by ensuring equal opportunity and an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, ethnicity, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

For applications to be valid, they must contain a motivation letter and the filled Personal History Form.