Information Systems Officer (ASYCUDA) – 2 Posts, Temporary

About the role

Two Information Systems Officer posts are open in the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) Programme, within the Division on Technology and Logistics of UNCTAD in Lusaka, Zambia. The officers report to the ASYCUDA Regional Coordinator for the East and Southern Africa Region and provide technical assistance and support to the National Customs Services and National Project Teams. The position is temporary, available for six months.

Key responsibilities

• Manage projects covering feasibility studies, systems analysis, design, development and implementation of new, moderately complex systems, or join development teams for major components of more complex systems.
• Develop detailed system and technical specifications and user documentation for ASYCUDA systems.
• Advise NCSs and NPTs on user requirements, application integration and linkage issues.
• Maintain, upgrade and enhance ASYCUDA user systems, troubleshoot and monitor performance, and advise on new techniques.
• Develop and maintain ASYCUDA proprietary programs such as Single Windows, with data security and access controls.
• Organize unit and integrated testing, assist users in acceptance testing, and develop training materials and manuals.
• Develop disaster recovery plans and train responsible staff.
• Write reports and papers on systems, requirements and information strategy, and guide or supervise junior staff and consultants.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in computer science, information systems, mathematics, statistics or a related field; a first-level degree plus two years of qualifying experience may be accepted instead.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of computer information systems, including customs and international trade digitalization; experience in prototyping complex customs IT systems, delivering training in government organizations and working in an international environment is desirable.
• English at UN Level II reading, writing, listening and speaking; Arabic, Spanish, Russian, French or Chinese (Mandarin) at UN Level I is desirable.
• Applicants for Field Service positions cannot be nationals of the host country, and candidates must meet UN integrity and eligibility requirements.

Required skills

• Knowledge of systems analysis, database design and programming for customs and international trade digitalization.
• Proficiency in several high-level programming languages, structured and object-oriented design, relational systems, scripting and query languages, and document design.
• Desirable: technical ICT programming with Java, Linux and Oracle.