IT Engineer & Application Portfolio Manager

Job Description

LWF World Service (WS) responds to humanitarian emergencies and human needs on behalf of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in 26 countries worldwide. In pursuance of its responsibility and based on its strategy, LWF World Service: Provides support to refugees, returnees, internally displaced people, their host communities and communities at risk, emphasizing livelihoods, quality services, protection and social cohesion. Establishes and runs country programs and emergency operations. Engages in cooperation and partnership with governmental and non-governmental organizations, the relevant United Nations agencies and other structures involved in humanitarian and development programs as they link to the LWF World Service mandate.

The position is part of the LWF IT Solutions Team within World Service. The IT Solutions Team belongs to the Finance and Support Function, which provides global services to LWF Country Programs, to World Service, and to the other departments located in the Communion Office.

The position holder acts as the IT Owner and functional expert for LWF's application portfolio, such as Odoo, M365 and other solutions. He/she manages the lifecycle, configuration/customization, and cost-optimization of these tools, translating business needs into standard technical solutions. Proactively monitoring the market for new features, he/she rationalizes the application catalogue to ensure maximum value and efficiency

Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree in information systems, Computer Science, or Engineering.
• Experience: 3 to 5 years of experience in Application Management, Functional Support, or IT Asset Management.

Certifications

• Odoo Functional Certification is highly appreciated.
• Any certification related to Microsoft 365 Collaboration (e.g., Managing Microsoft Teams) or Data Management is a plus.

Soft Skills

• Curiosity & Tech-Savviness: A natural drive to explore new software, read release notes, and test new features (e.g., within ActivityInfo, Odoo, or M365).
• Optimization Mindset: Ability to look at a list of applications and ask: "Are we using this efficiently? Can we reduce costs? Is there a better way?"
• Service Orientation: Acting as a partner to Business Owners to help them get the best out of their tools.

Languages

• English: Full professional proficiency (C1/C2) is mandatory.
• Spanish/French: Beneficial (Working knowledge is an asset).

Additional Study & Key Experience

Key Experience 1 (Application Portfolio Management)

• Experience managing a "Catalogue of Applications." Ability to track licenses, analyse usage costs, and propose rationalization (replacing paid tools with existing standard features).

Key Experience 2 (Odoo Functional Mastery)

• Proven experience as an Odoo Configurator. Ability to use Odoo Studio, configure automated actions, adjust reports, and manage module settings (Sales, Inventory, Project, etc.). Python programming knowledge is required.

Key Experience 3 (Collaboration Solutions - Functional)

• Expert-level knowledge of Microsoft 365 from a usage perspective. Proficiency in structuring Teams, designing SharePoint sites, and configuring OneDrive for business workflows. (Note: Tenant Administration is not required).

Key Experience 4 (Niche Solutions/M&E)

• Familiarity with (or strong curiosity to learn) specific NGO/Data collection tools like ActivityInfo.

Key Experience 5 (IT Ownership)

• Experience acting as the "IT Owner" of an application, being the main point of contact for the software vendor and the internal Business Owner regarding upgrades, features, and issues.

Experience in Supervision

• None

Position Environment & Dimensions

• Geographic Remit: Global. The role supports a distributed workforce across various time zones.
• Team: Part of a lean, efficient team of 10 IT professionals.
• Role Definition: Acts as the IT Owner for the Application Catalogue. The IT Owner ensures the tool works, is updated, is cost-effective, and is secure.
• Financial Responsibilities: High focus on Cost Optimization. Responsible for analyzing licensing models and suggesting more efficient ways to spend the IT budget.

Internal Relationships

• Works closely with the Project Manager/Business Analyst (who drives the projects).
• Provides L2/L3 support to the Operations team.
• Advises Business Owners on new features.

External Relationships

• Manages the technical relationship with software vendors (ticket escalation, feature requests, license renewals).

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Application Catalogue Management & Optimization
• Portfolio Rationalization: Maintain the "Application Catalogue." Regularly review the list of tools to identify redundancies. Maintain and update the Business Continuity Plan for each applications. Cost Control: Analyze licensing usage. Identify unused licenses and propose newer, more cost-effective licensing models to management. Technology Watch: Actively monitor the market and the changelogs of current tools to identify new features that could benefit the organization. Interact with the LWF Operations and Support team to facilitate their work
• 2. Odoo Functional Management (Configurator)
• Act as the primary Odoo Configurator. Translate business needs into Odoo configurations using standard settings and Odoo Studio. Manage the functional testing of new Odoo versions before they are released to users. Lead the interaction with the provider to supervise and assess their recommendations. Ensure the platform evolves to meet the changing needs of the organization, minimizing the need for heavy custom development.
• 3. Collaboration Solutions (M365) & Other Apps (ActivityInfo, ...)
• M365: Design and configure efficient workspaces in Teams, OneDrive and SharePoint. Create templates and standard structures for users. Guide users on the "Best Practices" of collaboration. Specific Solutions: Become the subject matter expert for tools like ActivityInfo (and other solutions). Understand how they work, configure databases/forms/workflows, and connect with the Business Owner.
• 4. Project Participation
• Support the Project Manager/BA during the implementation phase of projects. Take responsibility for the technical configuration tasks within the project plan. Ensure that any new application introduced into the catalogue follows IT standards (security, login, data privacy).
• 5. Operational Support (L2/L3)
• Handle escalated support tickets regarding application functionality. Troubleshoot "weird" behaviors in applications and work with the vendor's support team to fix bugs.

Special Duties

• As assigned by the supervisor.
• Documentation: Maintain "Technical Fact Sheets" for every application in the catalogue (Vendor contact, License renewal date, Admin credential's location, etc.).

Major Challenges

• Balancing Requests vs. Standards: Users will ask for specific tools they like; this role must diplomatically steer them toward the Standard Catalogue or prove why a new tool is necessary. Continuous Learning: The landscape of SaaS (Software as a Service) changes weekly. This person must enjoy constantly learning new features in Odoo, M365, ActivityInfo and other to keep the organization up to date. Cost vs. Functionality: Finding the "Sweet Spot" between saving money and giving users the best possible tools.