UNESCO Senior IT Assistant

Position: UNESCO Is Hiring A Senior IT Assistant -2026 Apply Now
For experienced IT professionals seeking a meaningful international career, UNESCO’s current vacancy for a  Senior IT Assistant (G-6)  in  Trieste, Italy  offers a rare opportunity to combine advanced technical work with a global development mission. Based at the  Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) , this role is not just another IT position—it is a chance to contribute directly to strengthening scientific capacity in developing countries while working within one of the world’s most respected international organizations.
With an Final date to receive applications of  12 January 2026 (midnight Paris time) , this position is open to  internal and external candidates who are entitled to work in the European Union . Below is a comprehensive overview of the role, responsibilities, qualifications, and benefits to help you decide whether this opportunity aligns with your professional goals.
The  United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)  is globally recognized for its commitment to peace, sustainable development, and international cooperation through education, science, culture, and communication. Within UNESCO’s  Natural Sciences Sector , the ICTP plays a particularly vital role.
Founded in  1964 by Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam , the ICTP in Trieste has spent more than five decades supporting scientists from developing countries. Its mission is to provide advanced education, research opportunities, and skills development that enable scientists to build long and productive careers in their home countries. By doing so, ICTP has been instrumental in combating scientific brain drain and strengthening global scientific capacity.
As a  Senior IT Assistant , you would be directly supporting this mission by ensuring that ICTP’s digital systems are modern, efficient, and capable of supporting complex operational and scientific processes.

Position Overview

Job Title:

Senior IT Assistant
Post Number:  1

ITSC PA122TP

Grade:  G-6
Duty Station:  Trieste, Italy
Sector:  Natural Sciences
Contract Type:  Project Appointment
Duration:  1 year
Recruitment:  Open to internal and external candidates
Estimated Annual Salary:  Approximately  EUR 50,372
The role sits within the ICT Unit at ICTP and reports to the  IT Engineer , under the overall authority of the ICTP Director and the Head of ICT.
The Senior IT Assistant will work on projects aimed at  developing, redesigning, maintaining, and integrating ICTP systems  that fall outside UNESCO’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) framework. These projects follow a process review approach designed to introduce modern digital tools and streamline operational workflows.

Key responsibilities include:

Business and Workflow Analysis:  Assisting the IT Engineer and process owners in identifying and documenting business needs, analyzing workflows, and assessing whether customized systems or off-the-shelf solutions are most appropriate.
System Design and Development:  Participating in planning, specification, design, and development of computer application systems in line with institutional standards and best practices.
Software Development and Testing:  Developing software, implementing new releases, and conducting quality assurance, testing, and optimization across multiple system modules.
Documentation and Training:  Drafting and validating technical documentation, user manuals, training materials, and presentations, as well as supporting user training sessions.
Deployment and Support:  Managing software deployment, version control, data recovery, and providing second-level technical support to resolve issues efficiently.
System Integration:  Supporting interoperability between applications by coordinating system integration activities internally and externally.
Mentoring:  Working alongside junior staff and providing guidance on development, testing, and documentation practices.
Additional Duties:  Contributing flexibly to the overall success of ICT Unit projects as required.
This combination of hands‑on technical work, coordination, and mentoring makes the role ideal for seasoned IT professionals who enjoy both development and collaborative…