AI for Sustainable Development Manager - Home based

Background
  Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
  UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
  Job Purpose and Organizational Context

Emerging and future digital technologies and the opportunities they offer will profoundly improve the lives of those furthest behind. Recognizing this potential, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched an organization-wide digital transformation that will splice digital into its DNA—harnessing its potential to do good for more people, better and faster. UNDP’s 2019-2021 Digital Strategy created a new UNDP Digital Unit (the Chief Digital Office), charged with leading the next wave of innovation in sustainable development. A digital strategy (2022-2025) outlines how UNDP will create a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and planet.

UNDP is the development arm of the United Nations. Present in 170 countries with over 17,000 people, UNDP works on the world’s biggest problems: extreme poverty, climate change, good governance, renewable energy, crisis prevention, and women’s empowerment, among others. 

We are leveraging the power and agility of digital to propel all people forward, starting with digital initiative development, scaling innovation, and communicating this organizational change internally and externally. To achieve this, we need a team that's nimble, that's passionate, that has the technical skills required to help close the digital divide. Are you one of these people? Read more about our digital strategy here. 

To bring digital around the globe, we need someone who can work directly with governments, linking our growing global offer of expertise and advisory services with digital transformation initiatives at country level. This position will be part of the team at the Chief Digital Office (CDO) and report to the Head of Digital Programmes.
 

Duties and Responsibilities  

1. Provide strategic technical direction and leadership:

• Contribute to the design of and leading execution for UNDP’s programme on Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development, leading to successful delivery of our strategic objectives
• Lead strategy for AI, while contributing to Data, Digital Public Infrastructure.  This includes ongoing development of critical frameworks, models, guides. 
• Build UNDP’s ability to spot trends across our network to help UNDP stay ahead of the frontier issues of digital development. 
• Collaborate with other Managers to support the development of cohesive offers, proposals, programmes, and projects.

2. Ensure Effective Implementation & Scale: 

• Develop and execute the AI priorities, establishing touchpoints and processes for sourcing & implementing new ideas, tracking existing workstreams, and ongoing team management. 
• Design and pilot new approaches for connecting countries and stakeholders to harness digital development AI opportunities and mitigate risks and challenges, playing to UNDP’s strengths and value proposition. 
• Contribute to the digital transformation network to scale and support thematic, regional and country teams in co-designing impactful digital development programmes. 
• Lead the strategic development of the digital programme capabilities at UNDP to create a cohesive and/or coordinated approach where necessary. 

       

3. Ensure effective talent management.

•  Manage projects/programmes funded by donors, ensuring timely reporting and results. 
• Ensure excellent talent pipeline and hiring, including resource optimization working with other parts of digital transformation areas which prioritizes utilisation of existing resources.
• Manage the current pipeline and work with other teams to ensure the overall financial sustainability of the capability. 
• Lead the iteration and success of the specific offers within Digital Tr