Head of Division Information Management

GICHD’s 2023-2026 strategy defines its mission as helping to develop and professionalise explosive ordnance risk reduction, promoting innovative, tailored and sustainable solutions. Managing and ultimately reducing risk caused by a hazard implies knowing its likelihood and severity, understanding who and what is vulnerable to it and making sound strategic and operational decisions towards removing the hazard and/or improving resilience to it. Information Management, the practice of turning raw data into useful and usable information for evidence-based decision-making underpins all of this. Quality information (ie: information that is sufficiently accurate, precise and timely) on the geographic extent of hazards and on the prevalence of accidents and the number of associated victims enables us to gauge the level of the risk these hazard pose. When combined with information on humanitarian, development or peace-building efforts the result helps plan and prioritise mine action to maximum impact. A robust information flow from field operations to headquarters allows effective monitoring of and reporting on risk reduction progress.

One of the founding objectives of the GICHD was to provide the mine action community with solid information management systems. Over the years, the GICHD has established itself as a pivotal provider of IM support to mine action. The role of its IM Capacity Enhancement and Technical Development programmes is to ensure that Mine Action actors are enabled to leverage information towards evidence-based operational and strategic decision-making. This is accomplished by ensuring that the sector has an adequate pool of skilled personnel with at its disposal an up-to-date and fit-for-purpose Information Management System (the Information Management System for Mine Action – IMSMA) for compiling, storing and disseminating accurate, timely and relevant information on mine action. This goal has become all the more relevant as principles of Results-Based Management (RBM), which rely on the availability of sound information to build indicators, are being adopted throughout the sector. IMSMA has evolved through the Centre’s 25-year existence to follow technological and methodological trends. The Information Management Division, in charge of this aspect, has also evolved. It has gone from a provider of technical support and training to an advisory service with a more systems-oriented approach that includes organisational processes.

The Head of the GICHD’s Information Management (IM) Division is responsible for maintaining a forward-looking vision for its work and ensuring that the Centre remains at the cutting edge of Information Management developments relevant to explosive ordnance risk reduction sectors. While the bulk of the focus is directed towards external programmes, the role is also responsible for modernizing and improving the way the Centre leverages information management internally.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Information Management Division, striving for an entrepreneurial culture, cost-effectiveness and the achievement of results;
• Coordinate and monitor the Division staff, facilitate the development of staff, foster a collaborative, respectful and enabling work environment, conduct staff appraisals and promote diversity and inclusiveness;
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the information management framework underpinning the GICHD strategy;
• Ensure the compliance of activities and outputs of the Division with the policies and Internal Rules and Regulations of the GICHD;
• Foster Gender mainstreaming and empowerment of woman and girls within explosive ordnance risk reduction sectors;
• Ensure the division is adequately staffed and resourced to carry out its mandate.
• Develop and communicate a forward-looking vision of the Division’s work, translate it into a clear strategy and create an enabling environment for its implementation;
• Set clear quality standards for the work produced by the Division and ensure that these standards are met;
• Stay abreast of technological and methodological developments and trends in Information Management to assess their potential implications for the Division’s work;
• Ensure proper project cycle management and documentation;
• Mobilise funding for information management projects by preparing concepts and proposals; steward donor relationships as assigned;
• Coordinate the programme budgets and the allocation of contributions;
• Oversee the programme and project financial management process for the Division;
• Plan contingency and cost reduction measures;
• Process financial documents (expense reports, cash advances, credit card statements, etc) promptly;
• Act as the default Project Executive for the projects carried out in the Information Management Division;
• Foster coordination across divisions to ensure information management activities align with and mutually reinforce those of other divisions;
• Serve as chair of the steering committee of the IMSMA Expert Working Group.
• Consolidate roles within the Information Management division, identify and implement means to share and continuously improve between the Centre’s external and internal information management practices;
• Represent the GICHD in the Geneva Centres’ Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Steering Committee;
• Convene stakeholders and expertise to advise the management board on topics related to digital technology;
• Develop and keep current a digital technology road-map for the Centre; lead effort to rationalize and, as required, invest in key systems;
• Establish policies to ensure the Centre uses digital technology safely, efficiently and effectively;
• Lead campaign to standardize the Centre around a common set of digital tools and ensure staff have digital fluency to use those tools effectively.
• Contribute to the strategic development of the GICHD;
• Contribute to, and as assigned take a leadership role in, the continuous improvement of GICHD internal processes and practices;
• Propose and advance private sector and other partnerships that enable GICHD information management objectives;
• Serve as a permanent member of the Management Board, Inter-divisional Coordination Meetings and Human Resources Forum;

Requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent in the fields of Information Management, GIS, Business Analytics or related field
• Substantial experience in managerial functions and ability to lead and coach a diverse team
• In-depth knowledge of Esri GIS Software
• Broad understanding of the evolving IM/GIS technology field
• Ability to leverage wide network through the Hum/Dev IM/GIS sector
• Excellent communications skills in English (other languages are desirable)

Operating Network

• National programme directors, national programme operations managers, national programme chief IM officers
• UNMAS Chief of Programme, UNMAS country programme managers
• Donor representatives
• Software developers and suppliers
• Esri account managers and professional services
• IM/GIS academic researchers
• Humanitarian/Development IM/GIS community across UN and NGO space

Expected to travel up to 30% of the working time including to countries affected by explosive ordnance, with low-medium-high risk environment

Salary Information

Please note that the salary level for this role is CHF 160'949.- yearly gross, subject to social security deductions and income tax. The GICHD applies a progressive salary scheme The compensation policy is currently under review and is subject to change. This is an open-ended contract.

Applications

If you feel you have the right profile to take this challenge, kindly register your application on-line, including a CV in English on pdf format of maximum 2 pages and a letter of motivation.

Application Deadline: August 31, 2024

The GICHD implements a Gender and Diversity policy  and is an equal opportunities employer. Applications are encouraged from women and men, nationals of mine-affected countries and individuals with a disability or special needs, who meet the above profile requirements.

30 August 2024

Contract type

Permanent

Number of hours per week

Full time

Job location

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) is an international expert organisation based in Switzerland.

The GICHD works to reduce the impact of mines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war, in close partnership with mine action organisations and other human security actors. To do so, the GICHD supports national authorities, international and regional organisations and NGOs in their efforts to improve the relevance, performance and sustainability of mine action. Our advisors visit approximately 50 countries each year and offer remote support, enabling them to tackle explosive hazard contamination safely, effectively and efficiently. By bringing together experts and practitioners, gathering and sharing knowledge, the GICHD acts as a central reference point in mine action. We promote dialogue between mine-affected countries in local languages, fostering regional cooperation. This work is not just an end in itself but also contributes to the broader objective of human security – freedom from fear and freedom from want. This effort is facilitated by the GICHD's location within the Maison de la Paix in Geneva

The Centre's work is made possible by core contributions, project funding and in-kind support from 30 governments and organisations.

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