Result of Service
- Critical UNEP web platforms continue to receive technical support during the transition period.
- Complex technical issues and high-risk changes are reviewed and addressed without requiring ongoing day-to-day involvement of the consultant.
- UNEP developers have increased capacity to maintain, troubleshoot and develop the platforms.
- Core technical responsibilities are progressively transferred to the replacement and Web Platforms team, reducing dependency on the consultant by the end of the assignment.
- Comprehensive Drupal technical documentation, practical technical training and an operations manual support development, maintenance and troubleshooting by the Web Platforms team.
Work Location
Nairobi
Expected duration
6 months part time
Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The mandate of UNEP is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The corporate website is the primary digital presence of UNEP, serving as a central hub for environmental information, policy updates and global initiatives. UNEP also maintains a broad portfolio of child, campaign, project and thematic websites that support programme delivery and communications across the organization. UNEP is implementing a Digital Portfolio Overhaul to modernize and rationalize its digital ecosystem. The work includes the modernization of the corporate website; development and rollout of standardized templates and reusable components through the UNEP Starter Kit; migration of child, campaign and project websites; modernization of search and content discovery; strengthening of multilingual functionality; and establishment of more consistent, secure and maintainable technical standards across UNEP web platforms. UNEP is recruiting a Senior Developer to provide senior technical support for the continued modernization of UNEP web platforms in the context of the Digital Portfolio Overhaul. The consultant will work eight days per month. The assignment will focus on complex or high-risk technical issues, continuity of critical systems, strengthening the technical capacity of the Web Platforms team and the structured transfer of knowledge and responsibilities to the consultant’s designated replacement. The consultant shall report to the Head of Web Platforms, who retains responsibility for work planning, prioritization, client management and overall delivery oversight. The consultant will:
- Provide senior technical advice and troubleshooting for complex issues affecting the corporate website, Starter Kit and priority web-platform migrations.
- Review architecture, code, configurations and implementation approaches for significant or high-risk changes and advise developers on required corrective action.
- Support technical readiness of major releases and migrations, with particular attention to dependencies, security, performance, integrations and rollback requirements.
- Provide specialist support, where required, on Drupal architecture, reusable components, React/Next.js integrations, APIs, OpenSearch and related platform functionality.
- Advise on technical standards and reusable implementation patterns that support maintainability and consistency across UNEP web platforms.
- Support resolution of priority production issues that require senior developer expertise.
- Coach the designated replacement through practical review of the principal systems, repositories, development workflows, deployment processes, architecture and outstanding technical issues.
- Develop a practical Drupal technical training and operations manual for use by UNEP developers and the designated replacement, covering development workflows, administration, deployment, maintenance, upgrades and troubleshooting.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive technical documentation for UNEP’s Drupal environment, including architecture, modules, themes, configurations, reusable components, integrations, APIs, search, deployment processes, dependencies, maintenance and troubleshooting procedures.
Qualifications/special skills
A master’s degree in computer science, information systems, software engineering or other related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in web development, including substantial senior-level experience with PHP and Drupal is required. Demonstrated experience providing technical leadership for complex websites or multi-site digital platforms is required. Strong experience with Drupal architecture, themes, modules, configuration, reusable components, website migrations and modernization of enterprise web platforms is required. Experience with JavaScript and modern front-end technologies, preferably React and Next.js. is required. Experience designing and integrating APIs and working with enterprise search technologies such as Elasticsearch or OpenSearch is required. Strong knowledge of Git, code review and CI/CD deployment workflows is required. Experience applying security, accessibility, performance and maintainability standards to web platforms is required. Demonstrated experience reviewing the work of other developers, providing senior technical guidance, producing technical documentation and training materials and transferring technical responsibilities to other technical staff or successor personnel is required. Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a multicultural and international environment is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required.
Additional Information
Not available.
