Position: IT Expert (AfCDC)

Salary: $96,921.34/annum

Application Deadline: July, 13/2023

Organization Information

Reports to: Project Coordinator

Directorate/Department/Organ: Africa CDC

Number of Direct Reports: 0

Number of Indirect Reports: 0

Job Grade: P3

Number of Positions: 1

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Purpose of Job

The African Union, established as a unique Pan-African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States as well as developing a new partnership worldwide. Its Headquarters is located in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia.   

Officially launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2017 as a specialized technical institution of the African Union, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is Africa's first continent-wide public health agency. Africa CDC envisions a safer, healthier, integrated, and stronger Africa, where the Member States can effectively respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases and other public health threats. The agency's mission is to strengthen the capabilities of Africa's public health institutions and systems to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease outbreaks and other health burdens through an integrated network of continent-wide surveillance, laboratory, disease control and prevention, preparedness and response, and research programs. To achieve its mission, the Africa CDC works in all geographic regions of the African continent and has instituted technical divisions to focus on five priority areas, namely Surveillance and -Disease Intelligence, Laboratory Systems and Networks, Disease Control and Prevention, Preparedness and Response, and Public Health Institutes and research.

The IT Expert will be responsible for providing technical leadership and support for the implementation of a World Bank-financed project under the Africa CDC. The IT Expert will work closely with project teams to ensure that technology solutions are effectively integrated into project implementation and that all IT-related activities are carried out in compliance with Africa CDC and World Bank policies and procedures. The IT Expert will also work to ensure that the project's IT infrastructure is secure, reliable, and meets the needs of project stakeholders. The IT Expert must be committed to Africa CDC's mission of improving public health in Africa and must be willing to travel within Africa as needed. The IT Expert will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with IT regulations and policies, as well as managing IT-related risks.

Main Functions

Technology Planning

• Develop technology plans in consultation with project teams, ensuring that technology solutions are aligned with project timelines and budgets.

• Provide guidance to project teams on technology requirements and ensure that technology plans are included in project work plans.

Technology Solutions

• Evaluate technology solutions and provide recommendations to project teams on the best solutions to meet project requirements.

• Ensure that all technology solutions are fully integrated into project implementation and meet the needs of project stakeholders.

• Develop and implement strategies to ensure the security and reliability of the project's IT infrastructure.

IT Operations

• Manage IT operations, including network and systems administration, database management, and user support.

• Ensure that all IT-related activities are carried out in accordance with Africa CDC and World Bank policies and procedures.

• Monitor the performance of the project's IT infrastructure and ensure that any issues that arise are resolved in a timely and effective manner.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with Africa CDC and World Bank IT systems, policies and procedures, as well as applicable laws and regulations.

• Develop and implement risk management strategies to mitigate IT-related risks.

• Work with project teams to identify and mitigate any IT-related risks that may impact project implementation.

Stakeholder Management

• Develop and maintain relationships with project stakeholders, including project teams, vendors, and other IT professionals.

• Provide training and support to project teams on the use of technology solutions.

• Ensure that project stakeholders are informed of any IT-related changes or issues that may impact project implementation.

Specific Responsibilities

• Develop IT Infrastructure for Network, Systems and Telecommunication strategies, and develop programs in support of the implementation of the strategies to achieve the strategic and functional objectives of the project/Organization.

• Provide technological guidance for the project/Organization.

• Leads the architectural design, specification, and configuration of the IT infrastructure to build a solid foundation for new services or updating existing services.

• Manage IT operations, including network and systems administration, database management, and user support.

• Ensure that all IT-related activities are carried out in accordance with Africa CDC and World Bank policies and procedures.

• Monitor the performance of the project's IT infrastructure and ensure that any issues that arise are resolved in a timely and effective manner.

• Contributes actively to the development and implementation of business continuity protocols to minimize disruption to business operations in the event of emergency situations or data loss;

• Elaborates and coordinates the Cloud migration plan of the Commission

• Monitors and Evaluates performance of IT infrastructure for Network, systems and Telecommunication to optimize costs of organization-wide infrastructure and systems; 

• Develops, implements and directs the organization’s information technology security program in accordance with policies that support business objectives and requirements;

• Anticipates the needs of the division and prepares the annual procurement plan to ensure an efficient supply chain for critical IT equipment

• Ensures the digital transformation of the Commission in accordance with the organization’s strategic goals.

• Ensure compliance with Africa CDC and World Bank IT policies and procedures, as well as applicable laws and regulations.

• Develop and implement risk management strategies to mitigate IT-related risks.

• Work with project teams to identify and mitigate any IT-related risks that may impact project implementation.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field with a minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in IT in public/private or donor-funded projects, out of which three years need to be at an expert level.

OR

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field with a minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience in IT in public/private or donor-funded projects, out of which three years need to be at an expert level.

• Experience in managing complex IT systems with multiple stakeholders.

• Experience in IT, preferably in AU or a World Bank-funded project context is an added advantage.

Required Skills

• Strong understanding of IT principles and procedures.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Proficiency in IT software and Microsoft Office.

• Interpersonal skills 

• Planning and organizational skills

• Negotiation skills 

• Knowledge of public health programs and policies in Africa is an advantage

• Certification in cybersecurity

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages is required (English, French, Arabic, Kiswahili, Portuguese or Spanish). Fluency in English and knowledge of any additional language is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies

• Job Knowledge and Information Sharing

• Continuous Improvement Orientation

• Conceptual thinking

• Building Relationships

• Drive for Result

• Communicating with Influence

• Learning Orientation

• Change Management

• Change Management

• Managing Risk

• Strategic Insight

Core Competencies

• Building Relationship

• Accountable and Complies with Rules

• Learning Orientation

• Communicating with Influence:

Functional Competencies

• Conceptual Thinking

• Job Knowledge and information sharing

• Drive for Result

• Continuous Improvement Orientation

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

The Appointment will be made on a fixed-term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables. 

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

REMUNERATION:

The salary attached to the position is an annual lump sum of US$ 96,921.34 (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 78,461.08 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

How to Apply

Register using THIS LINK

Applications must be submitted no later than July 13, 2023 11h59 p.m. EAT.

• Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.

• Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as diplomas, Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.

• The African Union is an equal-opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Candidates from less-represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles. These countries include Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia.