Background Information - Job-specific
Background Information โ UNOPS
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.
ITG
The UNOPS Information Technology Group (ITG) unit is focused on innovation and harnessing cutting-edge technology to deliver solutions to UNOPS that truly address business needs.
Working with UNOPS IT Group is a unique opportunity to deliver systems to users around the world, making an impact on development and solving practical problems for the UNOPS workforce and thereby help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.
ITGโs goal is to provide greater effectiveness, efficiency, and differentiation to UNOPS products and services. UNOPS IT Group is responsible for architecting, designing, delivering, and managing all UNOPS IT infrastructure and business applications, as well as core IT operations including platform management, secure hosting, system maintenance, access control, and monitoring. The unit includes Enterprise Architects, Business Analysts, Solutions Designers, Developers, and QA Testers from all around the world who are based primarily in Denmark and Thailand.
Role
We are seeking an experienced Network and Cloud Infrastructure Specialist to join our global organization and lead the management of our worldwide office networks. Reporting directly to the ITG Infrastructure Team Lead, you will have full responsibility for maintaining, developing, and expanding our office network infrastructure based on Cisco Meraki technology supporting approximately 60 offices across various countries.
A key part of this role is designing practical, reliable network solutions for offices in challenging environments, such as those with limited or unstable internet connectivity.
You will also work with global monitoring and alerting for our network infrastructure, ensuring the effectiveness of monitoring tools, responding to alerts, and troubleshooting issues in collaboration with local teams worldwide.
Additionally, you will be part of the team managing our Google Cloud Platform (GCP) environment, working on components including Identity-Aware Proxy, Load Balancers, virtual networks, and firewalls.
This position offers a unique opportunity to work autonomously within a small, diverse, and dynamic team, solving meaningful global infrastructure challenges.
Functional ResponsibilitiesGlobal Office Network Management (Cisco Meraki)
Serve as the primary technical authority for 60+ Meraki-based office networks, supporting and guiding local IT teams.
Design and implement robust network solutions for offices with unstable power or poor internet connectivity.
Manage deployment of new office setups and hardware upgrades.
Assist with custom network configurations and resolve complex connectivity/performance issues.
Develop and maintain hardware offerings to keep regional IT infrastructure up-to-date.
Cloud Network Infrastructure Management (Google Cloud Platform)
Design, implement, and manage critical cloud network services (VPCs, firewall rules, Cloud Armor, Global Load Balancer, IAP).
Utilize Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools to automate deployment and management of cloud infrastructure.
Monitor performance, security, and cost, recommending optimizations.
Implement cloud security best practices.General Network Monitoring and Troubleshooting (SolarWinds & Tools)
Use enterprise monitoring tools for real-time visibility and proactive issue detection.
Act as a second-level escalation point for network incidents.
Maintain clear documentation of network configurations and processes.
Stay current on emerging technologies and security threats.
Perform advanced troubleshooting using packet capture tools (tcpdump, Wireshark).
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above) Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground. Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education
Masterโs Degree, preferably in Computer Science, Information Technology, or Computer Networking or other relevant discipline is required.
A Bachelorโs degree in combination with additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of masterโs degree.
Experience
Professional Experience:
A minimum of 5 years in enterprise network infrastructure management.
Networking skills
Experience with managing large-scale office networks (500+ devices/users), preferably Cisco Meraki or equivalent cloud-managed solutions.
Experience supporting global/multi-site office environments.
Deep understanding of TCP/IP, routing (BGP, OSPF), switching, VLANs, VPNs, QoS, wireless networking.
Hands-on experience with enterprise LAN/WAN design, deployment, and troubleshooting.
Strong knowledge of network security, firewall rules, and perimeter defense.
Cloud Networking & Security
3+ years working with cloud networking, preferably GCP, AWS, or Azure.
Experience managing VPCs, load balancers, firewall rules, Identity-Aware Proxy, and cloud security.
Infrastructure Automation
Experience with IaC tools such as Terraform or CloudFormation.
Monitoring & Troubleshooting
Expertise with tools like SolarWinds, Nagios, Prometheus, or similar.
Advanced troubleshooting with CLI, packet capture (Wireshark, tcpdump), and log analysis.
Communication & Documentation
Experience with creating and maintaining technical documentation and network diagrams.
Strong communication skills in multicultural, remote-first teams.
Experience working with cross-functional teams in multicultural environments (International organizations)
Desired experience (not required):
Familiarity with open-source OS (e.g., Ubuntu) and open-source networking/monitoring tools.
Scripting skills in Python or similar for automation and network operations.
Experience with RESTful API integrations (especially GCP or Meraki).
Understanding identity protocols (OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, SAML) and troubleshooting authentication issues.
Relevant certifications such as: - Cisco CCNP/CCIE Enterprise or equivalent
- Google Cloud Certified - Professional Cloud Network Engineer
- Google Cloud Certified - Professional Cloud Architect
- Security certifications (CISSP, CISM)
Language
Full working knowledge of English is required.
Knowledge of another official UNOPS language (French, Spanish) is an asset.
Contract type: ICA Contract level: IICA2 - ICS10 Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.โ
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx
Additional Information
Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.