| Posting Title: | KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT OFFICER, P3 |
| Job Code Title: | KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT OFFICER |
| Department/Office: | United Nations Environment Programme |
| Duty Station: | MONTREAL |
| Posting Period: | 04 December 2020 - 17 January 2021 |
| Job Opening Number: | 20-Documentation and Information -UNEP-143180-R-Montreal (X) |
| Staffing Exercise | N/A |
Org. Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for 'sustainable development'. One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention establishes three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is located in Montreal and is administered by UNEP. This post is located in the Convention on Biological Diversity, Implementation Support Division (ISD). Under the overall guidance of the Head of the ISD Division and the Head of the Capacity Building and Knowledge Management (CBKM) Unit, and the direct supervision of the Information Management Officer (Knowledge Management and the Clearing-House Mechanism), the incumbent performs the following duties:
Responsibilities1) Knowledge Management Activities: a) Contributes to the development and implementation of the Secretariat’s information and knowledge management strategy and work programme in collaboration with relevant staff b) Conducts knowledge audits to identify and map knowledge gaps and users’ needs and develops specifications for responsive solutions, tools and initiatives. c) Supports the development and application of knowledge management (KM) policies, procedures and standards. d) Identifies and publicizes relevant communities of practice, knowledge networks and collaboration platforms. e) Supports the promotion of a knowledge-sharing and organizational learning culture within the Secretariat. e) Contributes to the improvement of the CBD online information services including through testing and feedback. f) Participates in relevant meetings related to knowledge management and the Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM).
2) Content Management Activities: a) In collaboration with relevant staff members, devises and maintains a system for the classification and management of content of the Secretariat’s online information systems and platforms (including the website, clearing houses, portals and virtual/digital library) based on United Nations (UN) and internationally-recognized standards. b) Develops and maintains common formats and metadata schemes for the CBD online information services to standardize the capture, storage, search and retrieval of content. c) Designs and manages the Secretariats knowledge architecture, taxonomy and metadata schemes and digital file sharing systems to improve consistency in the content organization with a view to facilitating harmonized and integrated content management, findability, and easy access.
3) Records and Document Management Activities: a) Prepares and coordinates implementation of policies, standard operating procedures and guidelines for managing the Secretariat’s electronic records and documents. b) Oversees inventories of electronic records and the management of records transfer, retention and disposition schedules. c) Manages the acquisition, organization, storage, retrieval and disposition of electronic and physical library materials and other information resources, including facilitation of staff online access to peer-reviewed journals. d) Responds to requests for documents and library resources and advises on their accessibility. e) Oversees the development and maintenance of electronic reference tools and databases. f) Coordinates the creation, organization, management and preservation of digital archival records in line with the UN requirements and standards and facilitates their accessibility for internal and external use. g) Organizes and manages the digitization of documents and records of over 25 years of history of the Convention on Biological Diversity. h) Keeps the terminology, taxonomies, ontologies, indexing and other classification systems and structures up to date. i) Collaborates with relevant partners on issues related to documentation management and terminology, in particular the Multilateral Environment Agreement Information and Knowledge Management (MEAIKM) thesaurus project.
4.) Knowledge Management Programme Support Activities: a) Provides training and guidance to Secretariat staff, Parties, and other stakeholders to enable them to share knowledge and to access and retrieve information effectively through existing systems. b) Prepares results-based work plans and budgets for the knowledge management programme. c) Supervises the Information Management Assistant, contractual employees (consultants and individual contractors and vendors) providing support to the above tasks. d) Performs other tasks as requested.
• Professionalism: Coordinates the knowledge and information management systems and services at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat to support the implementation of the Convention and its Protocols by Parties and relevant stakeholders. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology. Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office. Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks. Shows willingness to learn new technology.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits inputs by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decisions, even when such decisions many not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in knowledge management, information studies, library science, records management or related area, preferably with a specialization in environmental information management, is required. A first level university degree combined with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Certification in CKS (Certified Knowledge Specialist) or RIM (Records and Information Management) is desirable.
Work ExperienceA minimum of five years of progressive relevant responsible working experience in knowledge management, information management, modern library management, digital records management and related field, preferably in the area of environment is required.
At least two years of international or regional experience in the public or private sector is desirable.
Experience with the management of metadata, taxonomies, thesauri, and other classification schemes is desirable.
Experience with developing content management standards, procedures and guidelines is desirable.
Experience with management of digital libraries is desirable.
Experience in archives management, including digital records preservation is desirable.
Experience in web-based collaborative platforms is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other UN official languages, especially French and Spanish, is desirable.
NOTE: “fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of “confident” in two of the four areas.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a substantive assessment which will be followed by a competency-based interview.
Special NoticeAppointment against this post is for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening.
Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/ Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.
Internal Applicants – when completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you.
Individual contractors and consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary
or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.
All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided.
If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" link.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
