Closing date: Sunday, 15 March 2015

Vacancy code: VA/2015/B5002/7036

Position title: User Interface Designer

Level: ICS-10

Department/office: GPSO, Water and Energy

Duty station: Paris, France

Contract type: International ICA

Contract level: IICA-2

Duration; 4 months

Application period: 09-Mar-2015 to 16-Mar-2015

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Within these three core areas of expertise, UNOPS provides its partners with advisory, implementation and transactional services, with projects ranging from building schools and hospitals, to procuring goods and services and training local personnel. UNOPS works closely with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social and environmental sustainability for the projects we support, with a focus on developing national capacity.

Working in some of the world's most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices in development, humanitarian and peacebuilding contexts, always satisfying or surpassing partner expectations.

We employ more than 6,000 personnel and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.

Background Information - WEC

Water and Energy Cluster

Based in Copenhagen, the UNOPS Water and Energy Cluster provides specialized project management services to partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank. Together with partners, the cluster executes projects that support sustainable development by:

• promoting international cooperation to prevent and reverse environmental degradation of international water systems
• enhancing the resilience of communities and eco-systems to climate change
• lowering emissions by bridging renewable energy solutions
• developing Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions to strengthen climate-resilient development

Background Information - Job-specific

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short Lived Climate Pollutants ('the Coalition') is the first global effort to treat short-lived climate pollutants as an urgent and collective challenge. Launched in February 2012, the Coalition is encouraging rapid reductions in black carbon (or soot), methane and many hydrofluorocarbons to protect human health and the environment now, and to slow the rate of climate change within the first half of this century. The Coalition is a partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, and representatives of the private sector, the environmental community, and other members of civil society, that are committed to accelerating and incentivizing action to address key short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs).

The Coalition has a membership of more than 100 Partners as of 26 February 2015 and 11 approved initiatives for rapid implementation. UNEP is a Partner in the Coalition. UNEP also hosts the Secretariat and its DCPI Department are currently maintaining existing CCAC website.

For more information, visit www.unep.org/ccac

Functional Responsibilities

A User Interface Designer is needed to carry out redesign of the CCAC website reflective of the new CCAC visual identity and transformed into a user-friendly, intuitive, accessible and searchable tool for partners and other stakeholders interacting with the CCAC. He/She will contribute to overall development of the new website collaborating closely with the User Experience Specialist, Web Developer, Graphic Designer and the Secretariat to create a CCAC knowledge platform by advising, designing and testing visual and technical qualities of the new site.

As a support and executive role to the User Experience Specialist, the User Interface Designer is needed to assist in the UX planning and user testing, as well as lead design execution of the new structure and layouts. He/She will be expected to work closely with the Web Developer in the implementation stage to ensure the site meets user expectations, is easy to use and is technically implemented to highest standard.

Support planning and user testing:

• Participate in project planning and coordination meetings
• Assist in design of user observation scenarios based on existing website interface experience
• Conduct thorough assessment of existing website interface and functionality to devise improvements according to user needs and best practice in web design
• Participate in user interviews and observations
• Technically construct open and closed card sorting using appropriate software, e.g. ConceptCodify or similar
• Assist User Experience Specialist in creation of an exhaustive specification detailing structure and content of the new site describing interface and user interaction
• Sitemap creation for the new website

Wireframe layout creation:

• Creation of wireframes with all content elements that shows information grouping and position of different functional blocks on the site - interface layout and design (maximum 35 in total)
• Working with User Interface Designer in development of an interactive prototype based on approved wireframe layouts
• Coordination and liaison with the graphic designer and web developer to ensure execution of development is according to interaction needs respecting CCAC's visual identity guidelines

Prototyping and support in frontend development phase:

• Set up of interactive prototype for mobile and desktop testing using appropriate software, e.g. Adobe Fireweorks or similar
• Participate and assist in prototype testing to record user interaction feedback and required amendments
• Fine-tuning of layout and information structure on the site
• Assist in website blueprint model development with a focus on user interaction and functionality.

Monitoring and Progress Controls: Reporting on deliverables to the Head of the CCAC Secretariat on the basis of the purpose and scope of the assignment above, providing respective outputs is required:

• May 31: (1) Two interactive prototypes - for mobile and desktop using approved wireframe layouts; (2) recordings and observations from prototype testing; (3) Fine-tuned wireframe layouts and website structure; (4) Website blueprint model outlining user interaction needs to be implemented during development and production phase; (5) Notes from consultations with web developer and graphic designer;
• July 26: (1) quantitative evaluation of usability and interaction on the new site by click tale or user session monitoring to determine whether the new site meets user needs.

He/She will be expected to work closely with the User Experience Specialist, Graphic Designer, Website Developer and the CCAC Secretariat to ensure the project .

The Advisor/Specialist is not expected to work in the Paris office.

Competencies

Skills

• Observance of principles and ethic codes of the United Nations
• Minumum five years user-centered design experience comprised of web site design, software application design and consulting in both the private and public sectors
• Proficient in HTML, CSS and JavaScript, possess good knowledge of web standards, cross-browser compatibility issues and page optimization
• Experience for designing the same user experience through mobile, desktop and other devices
• Observer and facilitator experience in user testing
• Expert knowledge in responsive design methods and development of design iterations
• Experience in wire-framing and interaction storyboarding
• Previous experience in prototyping, especially with mobile-first approach
• Well-versed in fundamental visual and interactive design architecture disciplines and principles
• Usability work includes task and object analysis, card sorts, heuristic evaluations, user profiles, personas, scenarios, and others
• Strong working knowledge of HTML, CSS, Fireworks and associated design tools
• Verbal skills and ability for effective communication
• Ability to work closely with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals

Education

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Design, New Media Design or related field.
• First-level university degree in combination with two years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master's degree.

Experience

• A minimum of five years in website development, user interface design or a related field.
• He/she should have excellent written and spoken communication skills, profound expertise in user interface desing, technical knowledge of frontend development and coding and the capacity to work with colleagues and partners remotely.

Languages

• For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: International ICA

Contract level: I-ICA 2

Contract duration: 4 months lumpsum

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.

Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Application Information: https://gprs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=7036