ICT Specialist (Lead Full Stack Web Developer), P-3, fixed-term, post no. 103167, ICTD Digital Core, Valencia, Spain

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a connected world.

The overarching strategic goal of UNICEF’s Information and Communication Technology Division (ICTD) is to transform and build partnerships with our stakeholders to successfully implement UNICEF programmes globally through innovative technology-enabled solutions.

UNICEF is going through an exciting digital transformation that will influence the work of the entire organization. UNICEF is looking for dynamic, innovative professionals to drive the transformation and play a key role in shaping the way forward.

The Digital Tools and Platforms unit of the Solution Centre and Support section of Information and Communication Technology Division (ICTD) works with HQ divisions and UNICEF offices to provide web and internet related services including web development, customization, and administration support for the web content management systems, applications and website hosting environments.

How can you make a difference?

The ICT Specialist (Lead Full Stack Web Developer), serves as lead for back-end and front-end development, customization, enhancement, and daily support activities for the external-facing web content management systems and applications following the requirements, roadmap and timelines.  Other responsibilities include researching, investigating, and testing of new web technology and tools, as well as documentation and presentation of all findings and recommendations for future implementations. In addition, the incumbent assists the ICT Specialist and ICT Officer in planning and executing all software, hardware, and service migration related projects and activities for the external-facing web environment.

This position reports to the ICT Manager (Internet) at the P-4 level and supervises 3 international staff at the P-2 level. This position may also supervise the work of consultants.

Key responsibilities:

1. Lead back-end and front-end development teams and resources who are working on development and maintenance of UNICEF’s websites and online presences. Perform hands-on development activities. 

• Lead development team and perform hands-on development, customization, test and implementation tasks for web content management systems such as Drupal, WordPress, etc. following best practices and standards.
• Act as a key member of agile sprint team for sprint planning and backlog management of technical solution.  Implement the major aspects of the sprints per the defined functionality for the site with attention to detail and support through the testing and deployment.
• Perform functional and technical analysis, timeline analysis, and interface definition to translate customer requirements into software specifications and user stories.
• Develop new or revise existing web content management tools and systems as requested by business stakeholders.
• Contribute to software development projects for new tools and systems and updates of legacy tools and systems including needs assessment, project management, assuring compatibility with the existing platform, standards, guidelines and procedures for the environment.
• Lead development team to resolve performance and development issues. 
 
2. Perform technical architect, technical governance, and technical support activities.

• Perform requirement gathering, analysis, technical design, architecture, and governance activities for the web content management systems, applications and hosting environment.
• Provide expertise in the development of standards, architectural governance, design patterns, and practices.
• Ensure application and data security and consistency of online websites. 
• Track and monitor issues, providing solutions in a timely manner.
• Run and analyze QA tests (e.g. unit tests, acceptance tests, regression tests).
• Collaborate with Division of Communication Global Training and Support Lead to provide technical support and assistance to headquarter and field office staff in the sphere of website issues and related areas.

3. Create development, deployment, operational workflows and standards, and other technical application and software documentation.

• Create and maintain standards for back-end and front-end web design, development and deployment activities including best practices for testing, page architecture, to ensure a scalable, extensible, and high-performing web site.
• Prepare application and software technical documentation, update procedures and processes as necessary.
• Document best practices for source and version control, issue tracking, project management, and software interoperability.
• Measure and periodically report on key performance indicators identified for the function.
• Monitor and analyze key indicators and statistics of the relevant sites. Record statistics and periodically produce a report on findings. 

4. Research and evaluate new technologies. 

• Conduct research and make recommendations on web tools, software and services for external-facing websites.
•  Assist in tool and software selection and vendor evaluations.
• Interface with other offices in the organization to recommend new technology opportunities that will have an impact on external-facing web applications and environment. 

5. People management and leadership.

• Strategically lead, develop, and empower staff and consultants under supervision.
• Monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
• Promote positive culture of performance management, providing timely guidance, feedback and support to team.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Academic Degrees:
• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Information Systems Management, Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related field is required. A first University Degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Required Experience and Skills:
• A Minimum of 5 years of hands-on development experience in web content management system/application such as Drupal, WordPress is required.
• Proficiency in Drupal-adjunct technologies such as the LAMP stack, HTML, CSS, jQuery/JavaScript, SaaS, Varnish, SOLR, Rest API services, multi-dev workflow with either a Front-End focus or Backend focus is required.
• Working knowledge of development frameworks, such as Symfony is required.
• Working knowledge of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) coding best practices is required.
• Hands-on experience developing responsive designs, A/B and multivariate tests is required.
• Working knowledge of open source and third-party applications integration, including taxonomy, search, and analytics into existing systems is required.
• Familiarity with Agile methodology and Scrum framework, version control systems, such as Git continuous integration system and automated testing practices is required.
• Familiarity with content caching technologies and techniques, understanding of OS and application security and vulnerability assessments is required.
• Ability to stay abreast of new technologies and ability to support UNICEF web development projects to improve efficiency and effectiveness of business units.

Desirable experience:
• Experience with Drupal 9 is desirable.
• Hands-on experience with WordPress is desirable.
• Desired experience using Acquia as the infrastructure platform for Drupal. Strong hands-on experience with PHP and MySQL database.
• Prior experience of other technologies such as cloud services like Microsoft Azure, AWS will be distinct advantage.

Language requirements:
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and the core competencies as follows:

• Builds and maintains partnerships 
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness 
• Drive to achieve results for impact 
• Innovates and embraces change 
• Manages ambiguity and complexity 
• Thinks and acts strategically 
• Works collaboratively with others 
• Nurtures, leads and manages people

View our competency framework here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.