Giga Programme Manager

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Giga is a global UNICEF and ITU initiative to connect every school to the internet, and every young person to information, opportunity, and choice. It also serves as a platform to create the infrastructure necessary to provide digital connectivity to an entire country, for every community, and for every citizen. (http://www.giga.global). Giga has four core areas of work:

Giga is active in 30 countries and has connected over 5,500 schools in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America & the Caribbean, providing online access to over two million students and teachers. Key activities in these countries include using AI and satellite imagery to map school locations, using blockchain technology to monitor real-time connectivity status, using infrastructure and policy data to inform connectivity choices, and bringing all these elements together to design sustainable business models for connecting schools.
With the support of the Governments of Switzerland and Spain, Giga has established its global headquarters in Geneva, and its Giga Technology Center in Spain. Giga is positioned for its next phase of growth to scale up in all programme areas with new resources associated with this support.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The post is under the supervision of the Senior Advisor, Strategic Engagement and Initiatives and Giga ITU Lead (hereafter called “Senior Advisor”), in the Office of the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General (SGO). The role of the position is to lead the overall day to day General Secretariat activities of the Giga initiative. The incumbent of the position presents and defends result of the Giga General Secretariat team’s work and, in close collaboration with the Giga BDT team, takes ultimate responsibility for the outcome. To this end, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

• Lead the ITU General Secretariat Giga team including, in close collaboration with the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), overseeing the overall Giga project implementation, monitoring, staffing, provision of technical support, preparation of reports and administrative tasks.
• Lead the substantive development and execution of the ITU Giga Switzerland Programme including overseeing the project, formulation of strategies, implementation, monitoring, provision of technical support, preparation of reports and administrative tasks. Specifically ensure that the implementation and delivery of all project activities and outcomes are on time, within budget and of high standards and quality; ensure the team applies a structured work methodology; coordinate, assess and align risk mitigation tactics; monitor project activities and their progress; and promote projects and support and engage stakeholders.
• Manage the coordination of all ITU colleagues, including with the three Bureaus, to ensure successful delivery of the Giga and Giga Switzerland programme.
• Manage and develop, in close coordination with the Senior Advisor, all key interactions and activities with the UN System and Member States on Giga, including with UNICEF, and the Governments of Spain and Switzerland.
• Maintain existing and identify and build new partnerships for Giga from the private sector, civil society, and academia and promote the overall Giga initiative and ITU Giga Switzerland Programme; develop and organize related high quality events and activities to engage key stakeholders.
• Analyze and keep abreast of latest developments and trends, as well as identify good practices and solutions, as they pertain to Giga and its related areas of focus.
• Represent, promote and advocate the overall Giga initiative for the organization at external and internal meetings and events with key stakeholders and build and maintain strong relationships.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (continuation)

CORE COMPETENCIES

Applying Expertise; Effective Communication; Learning and Knowledge Sharing; Organizational Commitment; Results-Focused, and; Teamwork and Collaboration.

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

Knowledge of Microsoft Office 365. Advanced project management and team building skills.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Education:

Advanced university degree in business administration, international development, engineering, programme/project management, or any relevant area of study to support knowledge in programme/project management or a related field OR education from a reputed college of advanced education with a diploma of equivalent standard to that of an advanced university degree in one of the fields above. For internal candidates, a first university degree in one of the fields above in combination with fifteen years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree for promotion or rotation purposes.

Experience:

At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in managing projects/programmes in the context of international development, including at least three at the international level. A Doctorate in a related field can be considered as a substitute for three years of working experience.

Certification in project management (e.g., PMP, Prince, PMD) would be considered an advantage for this position.
Strong experience in providing expertise and advice to senior management on a wide range of international telecommunications/ICTs related issues and policies is required.
Previous experience in managing and/or implementing donor-funded programmes/projects will be an asset.
Experience within or coordinating with government bodies on ICT will also be an asset.

Languages:

Knowledge of one of the six official languages of the Union (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish) at advanced level and knowledge of a second official language at intermediate level. Knowledge of a third official language would be an advantage. (Under the provisions of Resolution No. 626 of the Council, a relaxation of the language requirements may be authorized in the case of candidates from developing countries: when candidates from such countries possess a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the Union, their applications may be taken into consideration.)

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and pension fund deductions) in US dollars and a post adjustment (PA) (cost of living allowance). The PA is variable and subject to change without notice in accordance with the rates as set within the UN Common System for salaries and allowances.

Annual salary from $ 92,731 + post adjustment $ 76,689

Other allowances and benefits subject to specific terms of appointment, please refer to:

https://www.itu.int/en/careers/Pages/Conditions-of-Employment.aspx