CONSULTANT VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Issued on: 24 February 2025
ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION | ERSKI Division, Events and Outreach Unit, UN-Habitat |
DUTY STATION | Home based |
FUNCTIONAL TITLE | Senior Digital Innovation Consultant |
CONTRACT TYPE | Consultant |
POST DURATION | 12 Months |
CLOSING DATE | 31 March 2025 |
BACKGROUND
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. The Events and Outreach Unit is located within the External Relations Strategy Knowledge and Innovation Division (ERSKI) of UN-Habitat. One of the Division's key mandates is to promote strategic alliances to support achievement of the goals of adequate shelter for all, and sustainable urbanization and human settlements development. The World Urban Forum (WUF) is UN-Habitat's key stakeholder flagship platform.
The WUF is a non-legislative technical forum convened by the UN-Habitat biannually since 2002. The forum gathers a wide range of experts from every walk of life. Participants of the forum include but are not limited to national, regional and local governments, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, professional, research institutions and academia, professional, private sector, development finance institutions, foundations, media, United Nations organizations and other international agencies. The WUF is recognized as the foremost global arena for interaction among policymakers, local government leaders, non-governmental organizations, and expert practitioners in the field of sustainable urban development and human settlements. The WUF has been identified as a key platform to support implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) adopted at the Habitat III conference. The WUF provides opportunities for stakeholder organizations of all kinds to come together to share the latest in innovative advances in sustainable urban development and projects showcasing the implementation of the NUA.
Objective of the Consultancy
UN-Habitat is working to strengthen its engagement with its partners in recognition of the rapid urbanization process and the strategic political relevance and potential for unique and important contributions to the regional and global debate on urban issues.
One of the first key steps being taken was the concluded creation of the long-term WUF website to increase partner engagement, cohesion among existing partners and to engage with a wider range of non-traditional partners. A second key step was the development of the digital UN-Habitat Global Event Management System (GEMS v 1.0) used for WUF and other corporate events. To revamp its communication with partners for greater impact based on lessons learned it is necessary to further scale up the WUF website and GEMS used for registration, event application platform, reporting and other new digital tools that will foster continuity from session to session and create a positive online user experience for several thousand participants who register online, thousands who submit event applications and exhibition booking and several hundred of event organizers using the back-end features of the platform. The consultancy also seeks to develop and launch the new UN-Habitat’s corporate website.
To achieve the above, UN-Habitat seeks a consultant to further create the dynamic, functional, and user-friendly websites, digital tools and applications that reflects the ambitions of the agency vis-à-vis the mandate of the World Urban Forum and other corporate events.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Events and Outreach Unit and with technical oversight from Chief of Communications, Head of the Production Unit and UN-Habitat ICTS, the incumbent will be required to perform the following functions:
- Oversee the development of the new UN-Habitat corporate website.
- Coordinate the migration and smooth transition from the old UN-Habitat corporate website to the new one.
- Ensure the smooth integration between corporate website, World Urban Forum website, GEMS and WUF13 App., including archiving past WUF sessions.
- Lead two teams of consultants or individual contractors with overseeing timelines and outputs. Team 1 will be working on WUF, GEMS, digital forms for Urban October outreach, reporting and a new planned digital invitation system; and team 2 on the new version of the main corporate website.
- Breakdown the project tasks for other consultants.
- Take part in designing mock-ups of the various application structures, elements and final prototypes including new subsections as required.
- Develop website specifications based on functional requirements and an implementation plan in line with the product/outputs.
- Incorporate inclusive and fully web design standards to make the main corporate website, the Global Event Management System (GEMS) and WUF website accessible to Persons with Disabilities.
- Collaborate with team members on further development of existing web applications and creating new features for various event management services, moderation processes with editing function, automated email and alert features.
- Collaborate with team members of the WUF13 APP and write codes for linking website and the APP for automated broadcasting of content updates in the event programme and speakers details as required.
- Monitor, implement and maintain the WUF website, corporate website and GEMS system, including security patches, software updates and new features in collaboration with the UN-Habitat ICTS team and OICTS.
- Take part in the technical reviews and testing processes.
- Support and guide team members on posting content/updates on the WUF website, corporate website and GEMS as required.
- Provide technical support with trouble shooting and quick problem solving.
- Create and update ‘user journeys’ and ‘tutorials’ for the various applications and back-end moderation features and ‘moderation guides’ as required.
- Provide training to UN-Habitat content focal points on the corporate website.
- Provide trainings to external partners on GEMS features and functions; and training to moderators for the backend features.
- Perform other duties as required.
EXPECTED RESULTS/ ULTIMATE RESULTS
UN-Habitat Corporate website, digital forms for Urban October, Digital Invitation System, GEMS system v.2.0 and front-end development of the WUF13 website.
COMPETENCIES
PROFESSIONALISM:
Knowledge of all aspects of the design, development, management, implementation and maintenance of complex web projects using web content management systems and technologies; Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of digital communications strategy, tools, approaches and practices for the creation and maintenance of high-quality communication campaigns; Strong analytical skills and ability to rapidly analyze, strategize and integrate diverse information from various multimedia and digital sources. Shows pride in work and in achievements; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations.
PLANNING AND ORGANIZING:
Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
COMMUNICATION:
Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
TEAMWORK: Ability to work with teams, demonstrate leadership, conflict management and consensus facilitation skills; ability to work in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment, and to respect diversity; sensitivity to the main streaming of vulnerability; willingness and ability to work in difficult environments.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Experienced project manager with a technical lead and team lead background
- Self-motivated, critical thinker and the ability to thrive in a team environment
- Strong client-services orientation with excellent communication skills to non-technical staff
- Fluency in both oral and written English
- Ability to work with minimal supervision and a high level of resilience is required.
- Excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity is highly desirable.
Education
A first-level university degree in computer science, engineering, or equivalent is required.
Work experience
- Minimum of 10 years of proven experience in web development, User Experience (UX) design, web best practices, responsive design and digital strategy is required.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and multi-project management is required.
- Technical experience in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and PHP; Figma, Adobe XD or other prototyping tools, working experience in Git version control and the command line is required.
- Proven experience in Drupal is required.
Language
French and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in written and oral French and English is required. Knowledge of another official United nations language is an added advantage.
Payment
The consultant will be paid on a monthly basis at a level B Consultant rate (USD 9,050).
Applications should include:
- Cover memo (maximum 1 page)
- P11, indicating the following information:
- Educational Background (incl. dates)
- Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months)
- Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.)
All applications should be submitted to: Silvia Ragoss silvia.ragoss@un.org and cc Grace Mwangi mwangi21@un.org
Deadline for applications: Posting period 19 March 2025 – 31 March 2025.
UN-HABITAT does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unon.org