KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SPECIALIST (CULTURE)

Job Description

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Diversity of Cultural Expressions Entity promotes the diversity of cultural expressions and the creative economy as vectors for sustainable development. Its mission is to ensure the effective implementation and monitoring of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist. The Entity fosters international cooperation by providing assistance to governments around the world to design, monitor, and evaluate policies. It also provides support to the sound decision-making of the Convention’s governing bodies through knowledge sharing, data collection, analysis, and distribution via its Knowledge Management Systems (KMS).

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture (ADG/CLT), the general supervision of the Chief of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions Entity, the role of the Knowledge Management Systems Specialist is to lead the development and maintenance of the knowledge and information management systems and the website (https://en.unesco.org/creativity/) of the Entity. The Knowledge Management Systems of the Entity serve as a one-stop gateway for sharing resources, exchanging information and analysis, and include the following: i) an information-sharing web platform; ii) data gathering and visualization tools; iii) on-line platforms that allow the submission and evaluation of reports and funding applications; iv) a repository of documents; v) a stakeholder database; and vi) a working tool that streamlines the work of the Entity (see Annex 1 for more information).

In particular, the incumbent will:

• Ensure that the Knowledge Management Systems are able to support the work of the Entity in terms of resource sharing, data management, information and communication on all its activities, and carry out the necessary technical and programming developments to assure the maintenance of these systems, when required (e.g. Drupal views, custom pages, custom modules, data migration scripts, etc.);

• Ensure the appropriate up-to-date technological IT and web tools to provide new customizations to the on-line platforms, and propose the implementation of newly required systems and tools to replace existing ones;

• Ensure the necessary developments to support the periodic redesign of the Entity’s web page, following UNESCO’s technological standards and ensuring data flows between the Entity’s platforms and UNESCO’s IT systems; and migrate historical data to new platforms making it available and aligned with UNESCO’s new IT systems;

• Coordinate collaboration with concerned UNESCO services and external IT companies, for the overall development and maintenance of the Knowledge Management Systems, including the elaboration and follow-up of the contracts and the control on deliveries with the external companies;

• Provide training to the Entity’s technical and non-technical staff in the use of the Knowledge Management Systems.
  
  ANNEX 1: Additional information on the Knowledge Management Systems of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions Entity
  
  The Knowledge Management Systems of the Entity are part of a sub-site of UNESCO’s general platform which operates on Drupal 7.
  
  All operations on UNESCO’s servers are deployed through a GIT workflow supervised by UNESCO Central Services, which is in charge of the development, administration and security of the general UNESCO platform. The web architect/lead developer of UNESCO is responsible for validating any entry on the UNESCO server.

The Knowledge Management Systems of the Entity uses all Drupal core functions, inherited from the general platform, including some globally adopted modules, the indexes of specific entities, and the core files of the bootstrap theme.

The different on-line platforms include, but are not limited to: i) the on-line platform for application and examination of funding requests for the International Fund for Cultural Diversity; ii) the on-line platform for submission of periodic reports by Parties to the Convention; iii) a peer-to-peer database of experts; and iv) the Policy Monitoring Platform, which shares information and data on policies and measures.

The website is currently available in 3 languages (English, French and Spanish).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in knowledge and information systems management, web management, computer science, information and communication technologies, or related fields. An advanced university degree may be replaced by a first level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and at least four (4) years of additional relevant qualifying experience, of which preferably one (1) year acquired at the international level.

Work Experience

• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in the field of IT and web developments or knowledge and information management.

Long Description

Skills/Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to work with a Drupal-based platform or similar knowledge management systems (Drupal administration, technical development and programming).
• Knowledge of data gathering and data visualization tools, as well as with designing data workflows with standard web services between different technologies.
• Technical knowledge of programming (for example, HTML, PHP, jQuery, CSS, Bootstrap, PHP or GIT versioning).
• Knowledge of User Interfaces (UI) design.
• Ability to translate project needs into technical development activities.
• Ability to listen, be service-oriented and have good organizational and coordination skills.
• Capacity to elaborate functional documentation and contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to work and maintain effective working relationships in multi-lingual environment.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of English or French and good knowledge of the other language is an asset.

About the Organization

“Since wars begin in the minds of men and women, it is in the minds of men and women that the defences of peace must be constructed.” (UNESCO Constitution)

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.

Our vision

Political and economic arrangements of governments are not enough to secure the lasting and sincere support of the peoples. Peace must be founded upon dialogue and mutual understanding. Peace must be built upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of humanity.

In this spirit, UNESCO develops educational tools to help people live as global citizens free of hate and intolerance. UNESCO works so that each child and citizen has access to quality education. By promoting cultural heritage and the equal dignity of all cultures, UNESCO strengthens bonds among nations. UNESCO fosters scientific programmes and policies as platforms for development and cooperation. UNESCO stands up for freedom of expression, as a fundamental right and a key condition for democracy and development. Serving as a laboratory of ideas, UNESCO helps countries adopt international standards and manages programmes that foster the free flow of ideas and knowledge sharing.

UNESCO's founding vision was born in response to a world war that was marked by racist and anti-Semitic violence. Seventy years on and many liberation struggles later, UNESCO’s mandate is as relevant as ever. Cultural diversity is under attack and new forms of intolerance, rejection of scientific facts and threats to freedom of expression challenge peace and human rights. In response, UNESCO's duty remains to reaffirm the humanist missions of education, science and culture.