UNICEF is leading a multi-year investment project to overhaul UNICEF’s global digital engagement and communications. The Digital Transformation Project centers around a new unicef.org, which will become a knowledge and advocacy engine for children’s rights. The vision of a UNICEF that is innovative, collaborative, and nimble requires that unicef.org be transformed into a digital platform and content syndication service that is audience-centered, structured not as a mirror of our internal organization, but designed in a way that makes sense for the external user.
As a content resource and platform, unicef.org will become a visually engaging space for advocacy, engagement and fundraising, seamlessly integrated with social media platforms. The site will facilitate sharing of our operational knowledge with the world, especially for multi-partner and C2C (country to country) dialogue. Through blogs, mobile applications, open data, and other means, UNICEF’s flagship external web presence must reflect one brand, with many facets, voices and areas of expertise. The project entails a re-platform for unicef.org at the global, regional and country level, a new blog platform and connection points with other platforms that are part of UNICEF’s digital ecosystem.
The Technology Specialist is responsible for the planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of the overall technical aspects of the new digital platforms. This role will coordinate with UNICEF’s ITSS and communication teams as well as with external vendors in charge of building and deploying the platforms. In addition, the Technology Specialist will work closely with the internal web development team to work through the transition and grow the team to support the new platforms.
For more information, see the attached Terms of Reference.
Main Responsibilities
Manage overall technical development and implementation of the new digital platforms
- Be the main technical liaison between UNICEF ITSS and technology vendors for Web CMS, web hosting platform, global blogging platform, digital asset management system (DAM), taxonomy and search appliances, and other systems that might be identified as part of the Digital Transformation Project.
- Transform the business requirements of the digital platforms into architecture and design documents used by vendors and the team to build the solution. Work closely with vendors and UNICEF ITSS’s team to identify how different components will fit together and potential issues and risks early on, and develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
- Understand the requirements for content, user-centered design and information architecture, and integrate such requirements during the design and implementation of the solution.
- Work closely with the implementing vendors and UNICEF’s ITSS and communication teams to successfully implement the different platforms. Ensure that the proper processes for deployment and quality assurance are in place.
- Establish and oversee the software development and release process, review and approve proposed development releases, establish software revision control system and repository.
- Ensure that the security settings as well as hosting of the new platforms are in compliance with UNICEF’s information security policies and procedures.
- Work closely with the Digital Transformation Team on a roll-out plan of the new platforms to all UNICEF’s regional and country offices.
- Work closely with the Digital Strategy Transition team to jointly manage the risks associated with the transition to the new web content management platform.
- Manage enhancement requests and issues associated with the transition to the new web content management platform. Effectively handle and mitigate escalations before they become serious enough to warrant attention by Division of Communication (DOC) management.
Manage human resources and technical vendor relationships required by the development of the digital platforms
- Lead the evaluation and selection of technology vendors that will implement the new Web CMS, DAM and other systems that might be identified as part of the Digital Transformation Project
- Supervise recruitment, training, retention, and organization of all technical resources in the transition team in accordance with the hiring process, personnel policies, and budget requirements.
- Carry out performance review for technical staff, consultants and vendors.
- Manage the technical team’s work, monitor vendors’ deliverables, report on progress and performance, and mitigate program risks.
- Engage units’ senior management to 1) ensure that staffing to manage the unit’s technical team is in place either through retraining or hiring; 2) ensure management has bought in and provide the space for the intense work needed from staff and consultants over the transition period.
- Develop relationships and nurture alliances with various external individuals, groups and organizations, whose support is valuable to the achievement of the Digital Transformation Project.
Other responsibilities
- May be asked to travel
- Perform other duties as may be assigned