Associate Computer Information Systems Officer (P2)

Background:

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairpersonship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions. 

The OSCE Secretariat's Department of Management and Finance (DMF) is responsible for managing the material and financial resources of the Organization. The objective of DMF is to provide efficient and effective management of non-staff resources in support of OSCE programmatic activities. It provides policy guidance on the management of OSCE financial and material resources and develops and maintains OSCE Financial Regulations and Rules and Financial Administrative Instructions. DMF consists of Budget and Finance Services, Mission Support Section, Information and Communication Technology Section and the Information Security and Co-ordination Unit.

Information and Communications Technology Services (ICTS) Section is responsible for the delivery of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in support of the core business of the OSCE. This includes the management, operation, implementation, support, and maintenance of ICT projects, systems, and infrastructure, and the delivery of ICTS support services to the Secretariat. ICTS provides corporate ICT services, ICT policy guidance, and support to all OSCE Institutions and Field Operations. The Section consists of four units: Infrastructure Operations Unit, Services and Support Unit, Functional Support Unit, and Software Development Unit. 

The ICTS Software Development Unit (SDU) is responsible for the analysis, design, development, and maintenance of custom and commercial software systems used in the Secretariat and across the OSCE.

The OSCE is committed to further increasing the number of female staff in all areas of the OSCE's work. Currently, female staff are underrepresented in the above-mentioned field of expertise. Female candidates are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Chief, Software Development and overall guidance of the Deputy Director, Head of ICTS, as Associate Information Systems Officer, you will be responsible for the project management, design, development, maintenance, and support of OSCE computer information systems.

More specifically, you will be tasked with the following: 

1. Providing specialized technology advice to OSCE business units; carrying out feasibility studies, pilots, and prototypes to verify the suitability of technical solutions; assessing internal and extra-budgetary ICT project proposals for budgetary and technical feasibility; participating in ICTS process improvement activities;
2. Gathering, documenting, and analysing the information system requirements of user representatives and other stakeholders; aligning user requirements with platform and technology options, and proposing affordable and fit-for purpose technical solutions;
3. Managing SDU projects in accordance with ICTS standards (PRINCE2, Agile); writing and maintaining project documentation including business cases, project plans, risk/issue registers, and status reports;
4. Assigning project tasks and work packages to team members and suppliers, and monitoring their progress and the quality of deliverables; managing project budgets and human resources within agreed constraints; monitoring overall project status, risks, and issues and reporting to the ICTS Project Management Office (PMO) and the Project Board; performing project closure activities;
5. Participating in the architecture and design of information systems;
6. Developing and maintaining software solutions according to agreed designs, functional requirements, and applicable standards;
7. Co-ordinating and executing the manual and automated testing of information systems, including unit testing, component testing, integration testing, and functional testing; co-ordinating User Acceptance Testing activities with user representatives; writing test documentation such as test plans, scripts, and reports;
8. Deploying software systems into development, test, and production environments according to ICTS standards;
9. Writing and reviewing technical and user documentation including architecture documents, maintenance manuals, user guides, and deployment instructions;
10. Providing second level technical support for SDU-supported systems, according to the ITIL standards applied in ICTS; responding to and resolving incidents and service requests in a professional manner and according to the defined SLAs; supporting users directly with incidents and service requests; conducting root-cause analysis of reported issues, providing workarounds or implementing permanent fixes;
11. Writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and other support documents for SDU-supported systems;
12. Performing other duties as assigned.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat 

Necessary Qualifications:

• Second-level university degree in computer science, information systems, software engineering, or an equivalent information technology-related field; a first-level university degree in the said fields in combination with two additional years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree;
• A minimum of two years of experience in the planning, design, development, maintenance, and support of computer information systems; 
• Experience in managing and/or participating in software development projects that use a project management methodology like PRINCE2, Project Management Institute (PMI) and/or agile methods;
• Experience in gathering, documenting, and analysing information systems requirements;
• Technical experience in the following areas is required: design and development of web applications using Microsoft .NET, C#, and modern JavaScript frameworks. Experience with Angular or Blazor is desirable; 
• Experience of relational database development, including SQL programming. Experience with Microsoft SQL Server and/or Oracle databases is desirable;
• Experience in development for Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Azure is desirable;
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration is around EUR 6,100, with the actual monthly salary depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Austria. Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.

Please note that appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/. 

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. 

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Candidates interviewed and found suitable in the recruitment process for this vacancy notice will be placed on a roster of suitable candidates (valid for three years) for fixed-term posts, should a suitable opportunity arise. The placement on a roster does not guarantee a future appointment or assignment.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation, therefore the maximum period of service in this post is 7 years.

The mandatory retirement age at the OSCE is 65 years for contracted positions at the general service, professional and director level. The Organization shall apply an age limit of 62 years at the time of appointment as the incumbent selected is normally expected to carry out the contractual obligation of two years. 

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.