Organizational Setting

The Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division (CSI) is responsible for all Information Technology (IT) activities within the Organization.

CSI defines FAO Information Technology (IT) policies, strategy, IT architecture and standards and is responsible for the provision of digital products and services utilized to deliver the mandate of the Organization and support its operations worldwide.

CSI manages and supports a set of corporate digital products and services which collectively comprise the FAO Digital Workplace utilized by personnel across the Organization worldwide to access Organizational digital resources and data, in order to perform their work regardless of location or time zone in a secure manner. This includes management of an infrastructure that comprises  both cloud-based platforms and on-premise digital capabilities. These are accessible through a wide area network connecting all FAO offices across the globe.

The position is located in the Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division (CSI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
 

Reporting Lines

The Senior Information Technology Officer (Global Infrastructure) reports to the Director, Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division (CSI) and within work-planning and resource-allocation coordination provided by the Deputy Director, CSI.

Technical Focus

The Senior Information Technology Officer (Global Infrastructure) will lead the Digital Workplace teams responsible for the products and services that comprise the Organization's infrastructure (both cloud-based and on-premise), managed by CSI and utilized by FAO personnel worldwide.

He/she will manage teams that responsible for Organization's global digital infrastructure, including cloud platforms utilized by the Organization (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), office and productivity tools based on Microsoft technologies, the monitoring and support of the FAO wide area network, the FAO headquarters digital infrastructure, and the management of the FAO data centres. Duties and responsibilities will also include provision of technical support of corporate events and audio-visual setups within the Organization's headquarters in Rome, Italy. In addition, the successful candidate will lead the transformation of the FAO headquarters infrastructure in Rome, Italy through the replacement of legacy equipment and integration of various tools to ensure it meets the dynamic needs of the Organization.

Key Results

Leading strategies and provision of advice as well as IT projects and activities to ensure that the Organization's requirements for Information Systems (IS) and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) are effectively met.

Key Functions

•          Leads specialized activities carried out by CSI.

•          Prepares work plans and monitors progress to ensure delivery of operations and/or project outputs as per organizational needs and agreed priorities.

•          Manages the financial and human resources assigned.

•          Develops, monitors and reports on key performance indicators of the assigned functions.

•          Advises senior management on IT matters, including the implications of various functional and technological alternatives and on IS/ICT strategies, governance and standards including their impact on the Organization's ability to deliver its programmes.

•          Leads the planning, coordination and setting of policies for the development and implementation of an Organization-wide IS/ICT strategy and for the development of supporting standards, procedures and practices according to the agreed work plans.

•          Leads special projects and supervises staff, including external service providers and consultants.

•          Represents the Organization and the Division in formal meetings, negotiations and/or mediation/problem resolution meetings to reach agreement on various IT issues and/or to resolve difficult or contentious problems.

•          Promotes initiatives under the Organization's work on the Corporate Environmental Responsibility Strategy to reduce emissions, increase efficiency and integrate sustainability into the Organization's daily operations.

Specific Functions

·    Leads the various teams of Global Infrastructure within the CSI Digital Workplace stream ensuring support is provided at defined levels and agreed-upon work plans are executed as agreed.

·    Safeguards availability of various cloud-based platforms as per contractual agreements with vendors and ensures timely and effective communication to relevant stakeholders in the event of outages (both planned and unplanned).

·    Oversees the CSI disaster recovery plan, ensuring restoration of services as per established and agreed-upon metrics.

·    Leads activities related to the transformation of the Organization's global infrastructure into a proactive and intelligence setup through the replacement of legacy equipment and integration of various monitoring and service management tools.

·    Ensures the warranty and utility of the FAO global infrastructure, comprising of the Organization's wide area network and Rome Headquarters local area network.

·    Oversees the operation of the FAO data centers and Network Control Center (NOC) located in the Organization's headquarters in Rome, Italy.

·    Oversees service levels and key performance indicators under his/her areas of responsibility to ensure that targets are met as defined.

·    Oversees digital aspects for corporate events that take place at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This includes ensuring that all ICT capabilities are in place and available as per defined timelines during the complete event lifecycle and CSI personnel are in place to provide the necessary support.

·    Ensures continuing warranty and utility of audio-visual setups in meeting rooms located within the Organization's headquarters in Rome, Italy and managed by CSI.

·    Performs other tasks as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

·         Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Electric or Electronic Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics or a related field.

·         Ten years of relevant experience in leading diverse teams supporting a complex and diverse infrastructure (cloud-based and on-premise) in an international setting.

·         Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and limited knowledge ( intermediate proficiency -level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

·         Results Focus

·         Leading, Engaging and Empowering

·         Communication

·         Partnering and Advocating

·         Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

·         Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills

·         Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.

·         Extent and relevance of experience in the field of the Corporate Environmental Responsibility is an asset.

·         Extent experience in leading, engaging and empowering multidisciplinary teams, supporting an infrastructure Environment.

·         Extent of experience and knowledge in managing cloud-based platforms based on AWS, Microsoft, and Oracle Technologies.

·         Extent of experience and knowledge in managing collaboration and productivity tools based on Microsoft technologies (M365, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Teams, Sharepoint) and communications platforms (Zoom).

·         Extent of experience in designing and implementing a complex network topology connecting on-premise end-points (including data centres) to external capabilities (Internet, cloud-based platforms) and managed through a consolidated Network Control Center (NOC).

·         Extent of experience and knowledge in utilizing Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) methodology for the provision of services using processes such as incident management, request fulfillment, change management and configuration management. ITIL knowledge and certification is an asset.

·         Demonstrated experience in management of contracts and negotiation with external vendors for the provision of products and services.

·         Demonstrated experience in preparing project proposals, management reports and other documents related to the area of work.

·         Extent and relevance of experience in the field of corporate environmental responsibility is an asset.