IT Operations Officer (Foundational IT lead), CST II

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE: IT Operations Officer - Foundational IT lead

TYPE OF CONTRACT: International Consultancy (CST- level II)

UNIT/DIVISION: TEC

DUTY STATION (City, Country): Juba, South Sudan

DURATION: 11 Months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The TEC Foundational IT lead reports directly to the Head of TEC Unit, WFP South Sudan. The incumbent is responsible for delivering efficient, secure, and scalable IT and Telecommunications (TC) systems that support WFP’s strategic objectives. This includes leading the development, modernization, and maintenance of complex network and systems infrastructure under the foundational services portfolio, as well as overseeing cloud services (AWS and Azure) and strengthening cybersecurity controls to ensure compliance with WFP corporate standards. WFP South Sudan requires a skilled network engineer capable of designing, implementing, maintaining, and supporting a growing and complex network environment across the Country Office (CO) and all field locations countrywide. The incumbent will lead the Foundational IT team to ensure the delivery of robust, maintainable, and highly reliable network and cloud architectures, while implementing strong cybersecurity practices that enable staff to effectively deliver food assistance to beneficiaries.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Develop and maintain IT/TC systems, networks, and cloud environments (AWS and Azure), ensuring appropriate data security, access controls, and optimal performance across local and wide-area networks.

2. Participate in the development of plans, budgets, and policies, and lead the deployment of IT/TC systems aligned with business needs, in accordance with WFP corporate standards.

3. Implement and test new hardware and cloud-based solutions to improve and upgrade system performance; deploy required technology upgrades and integrations.

4. Develop technical specifications and tender documents and manage contracts with service providers to facilitate procurement of IT/TC equipment, cloud services, and support services at minimum cost, in line with WFP rules and regulations.

5. Coordinate and prepare reports on IT/TC activities, cloud usage, cybersecurity posture, investments, and costs, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities to improve cost-efficiency.

6. Maintain technical expertise and knowledge of industry developments in networking, cloud technologies, and cybersecurity; develop specialized skills within areas of competence.

7. Provide expert advice to managers and users to resolve complex network, cloud, and systems issues, ensuring correct application of IT policies, procedures, and tools.

8. Lead and motivate a technical team, monitoring performance and providing coaching, training, and guidance to ensure high performance and professional growth.

9. Build capability of IT staff by collaborating with HQ/Regional Bureau to design and deliver corporate training program on networks, cloud services, systems, and TC.

10. Ensure effective coordination with other UN agencies to align IT/TC activities and enhance inter-agency collaboration.

11. Maintain effective partnerships with internal stakeholders and external vendors to foster information exchange and meet service delivery requirements.

12. Contribute to emergency preparedness and contingency planning by providing technical recommendations, monitoring IT risks, and supporting rapid deployment of IT/TC services during emergencies.

13. Prepare operational plans and manage IT/TC resource requirements at the onset of an emergency to ensure continuity of essential services.

14. Manage PBX/telephony systems in all WFP offices and provide remote support to field technicians where required.

15. Configure and install various network and cloud-integrated devices and services (e.g., routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, VPNs, QoS, VSATs).

16. Perform network, systems, and cloud maintenance, including service packs, patches, hotfixes, and security configurations.

17. Monitor performance and ensure high availability, reliability, and redundancy of systems across all South Sudan offices and cloud environments.

18. Provide Level - 2/3 support and troubleshooting for network, cloud, and systems issues in the Country Office and sub-offices.

19. Work within established configuration, documentation, and change management policies from HQ to ensure awareness, approval, and successful implementation of all modifications.

20. Select, implement, and operate security tools, policies, and procedures in coordination with the corporate security team, ensuring strong cybersecurity posture across the CO and field offices.

21. Perform any other required duties.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

1. Modernized and standardized network and systems architecture countrywide, including improved performance, reliability, and security.

2. Implemented and optimized cloud services (AWS and Azure) to enhance scalability, continuity, and operational efficiency.

3. Enhanced cybersecurity posture through deployment of security tools, policies, configurations, and monitoring mechanisms.

4. Established and managed IT procurement contracts and LTAs to support Foundational Services and ensure cost-effective service delivery.

5. Updated documentation, network diagrams, SOPs, and configuration records to support continuity of operations.

6. Strengthened capacity of national IT staff through coaching, training, and knowledge-transfer activities.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced university degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field or first university degree with additional years of relevant work experience.

Experience:

- For candidates with a master’s degree or higher: A minimum of 5 years of progressive international experience in network engineering, systems administration, cloud services, and IT/TC infrastructure in large, distributed, or emergency environments.

- For candidates with a bachelor’s degree: A minimum of 7 years of the above experience is required.

- Previous experience in emergency support operations and/or in hardship duty stations is essential.

Knowledge& Skills:

• Proven hands-on experience in network design, configuration, and troubleshooting, including routing, switching, VPNs, and enterprise wireless (Cisco, Meraki, Ruckus).

• Skilled in cloud and data center operations, with certification and practical experience in AWS, Azure, VMware, and Citrix.

• Strong knowledge of network monitoring, diagnostic, and analytics tools for proactive performance and issue resolution.

• Proficient in Fortinet FortiGate (NSE1/2), SD-WAN technologies, and Unified Threat Management (firewalls, DMZ, content filtering, app control). • Experienced in VSAT engineering, fiber optics, LAN/WLAN, and remote deployment of ICT solutions across field environments.

• Competent in telephony/IP PBX systems, structured cabling, Wi-Fi solutions, CCTV, and infrastructure rollout.

• Strong background in IT procurement, vendor management, and leading technical teams for high performance.

• Capable of supporting emergency telecommunications and restoring connectivity in crisis situations

Languages:

Fluency (level C) in English language.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.