INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION
ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technologies, with the mission to connect the world. To achieve this, ITU manages the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits at the international level, works to improve communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishes global standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communication systems. ITU also organizes global Telecom events bringing together the most influential representatives of government and the private sector to exchange ideas and knowledge for the benefit of all.
Project Officer
Vacancy notice no: 2045
Sector: BDT
Department: DNE
Country of contract: Switzerland
Duty station: Geneva
Position number:
Grade: P2
Type of contract: Short-term
Duration of contract: 5,5 months
Recruitment open to: External
Application deadline (Midnight Geneva Time): 11 June 2025
ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT
The Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) is responsible for the organization and coordination of the work of the Telecommunication Development Sector of the Union. BDT deals mainly with development policies, strategies, programming, projects, as well as technical cooperation activities to enable and foster universal access to affordable, high-quality and secure telecommunications/ICTs and Foster equitable and inclusive use of telecommunications/ICTs to empower people and societies for sustainable development. To effectively and efficiently serve the needs of Member States, BDT is organized into four functional areas:
- Operations Coordination Department (Office of the Deputy to the Director) (DDR)
- Projects, Partnerships & Digital Skills Department (PPS)
- Digital Networks & Environment Department (DNE)
- Digital Knowledge Society Department (DKS)
The Digital Networks & Environment Department (DNE) is responsible to assist the Member States, especially the G77 countries, in a wide range of ICT development challenges, as basic connectivity, spectrum management, evolution of current to future broadband networks and technologies, enabling universal and affordable access, and strengthening the security through the cybersecurity support. In addition, the DNE Department provides expertise and needed support for emergency telecommunications and the increasingly important and urgent aspects related to the environment and climate change.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In the Digital Networks and Environment Department, under the supervision of the Head of the Future Networks and Spectrum Management Division and in close coordination with relevant divisions, the duties to be performed are as follows:
- Support the effective implementation of the project, ensuring adherence to timelines and achievement of expected outcomes. This includes establishing and maintaining coordination mechanisms involving both internal and external stakeholders.
- Develop tools and participate in the development of the connectivity toolkit for last mile, Points Of Interest (POI) and school connectivity solutions.
- Develop, maintain and refine integration of the connectivity toolkit with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB).
- Identify potential partners and opportunities for additional integration of the BDT connectivity toolkit.
- Engage with potential industry partners and stakeholders to enhance the features and performance of the toolkit, ensuring alignment with market needs and technological advancements.
- Foster strong relationships with external collaborators to drive innovation and improve the toolkit’s capabilities. Actively support the project’s open-source objectives by contributing to the development, maintenance, and promotion of the toolkit.
- Engage with and contribute to the open-source community, managing contributions, ensuring best practices, and encouraging community-driven improvements for the toolkits and products.
- Assist with logistics and content organization for capacity development activities and other events related to the project.
- Support, coordinate and monitor the work delivered by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) team, including documentation and testing and provide technical recommendations as needed.
- Manage project documentation, monitor project progress and contribute to the preparation of reports and assessments, ensuring the achievement of project deliverables and outcomes.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Applying Expertise; Effective Communication; Learning and Knowledge Sharing; Organizational Commitment; Results-Focused, and; Teamwork and Collaboration.
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
- Proven knowledge in DevOps methodologies and software development practices.
- Proficient in implementing and managing DevOps workflows and (CI/CD) pipelines.
- Knowledge of version control systems such as Git, GitHub, and GitLab.
- Skilled in containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes.
- Knowledge of Python development, including web frameworks such as Flask and Django.
- Proficient in Python-based testing frameworks including PyTest and unittest.
- Skilled in data manipulation and analysis using Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib.
- Familiar with Python packaging and deployment tools, including pip, virtualenv, and conda.
- Proficient with cloud platforms including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud for provisioning and managing cloud infrastructure.
- Knowledge of cloud-native application development and deployment.
- Familiarity with serverless architectures and tools such as AWS Lambda and Azure Functions.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
Education:
University degree in telecommunications or computer science or a related field OR education from a reputed college of advanced education with a diploma of equivalent standard to that of a university degree in one of the fields above.
Experience:
At least three years of progressively responsible experience in the field of digital infrastructure development, broadband mapping, or a closely related area.
Experience at the international level would be desirable.
Experience with automation and API pipeline tools for continuous integration.
Experience in developing Python applications, libraries, and frameworks.
Experience with cloud monitoring and logging tools.
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).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This temporary opportunity is available to individuals residing locally.
INFORMATION ON RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the ITU career website. The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. ITU uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates. Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided. Messages originating from a non ITU e-mail account - @itu.int - should be disregarded. ITU does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
ITU applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. ITU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. Achieving gender balance is a high priority for ITU.
