Overview
This role leads the establishment and operation of an AI Centre of Excellence, focusing on the strategic governance, development, implementation, and scaling of AI solutions across the organization.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide implementation for the AI Strategy and contribute to policy revisions.
- Establish and enforce a governance and risk management framework for AI ethics, transparency, data privacy, and responsible deployment.
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with peer UN agencies.
- Represent the AI Centre of Excellence in internal and external forums.
- Identify and validate new AI product opportunities by engaging with HQ and field offices.
- Lead the AI request intake process, assessing and prioritizing requests.
- Define AI readiness criteria for field offices.
- Serve as the primary interface between business stakeholders, end users, and the Core Systems Engineering (CSE) team.
- Own the rollout of AI products, ensuring operational fit and defining standardized quality gates.
- Manage the relationship with the CSE team.
- Drive AI adoption to ensure deployed products deliver measurable efficiency gains and improve the quality of key outputs.
- Oversee the implementation of advanced AI algorithms.
- Lead a team of Coordinators and Analysts.
- Build and sustain a global AI community of practice.
- Continuously scan and report on emerging trends, risks, and opportunities in technology.
- Provide regular updates to ITG leadership on pipeline status, adoption metrics, risks, and resource needs.
Required Experience
- Relevant experience working in technology, digital solutions, data-driven initiatives, or operational leadership in organisations with multiple stakeholders or related areas.
- Experience managing the end-to-end lifecycle of programmes or initiatives, from needs assessment and intake through to implementation and scaling across multiple locations or country offices.
- Proven experience establishing governance structures, risk management frameworks, or compliance processes.
- Experience acting as a strategic interface between technical engineering teams and senior business leadership, translating organisational priorities into actionable plans.
- Desired: Experience with AI, machine learning, or emerging technology adoption in an organisational setting.
- Desired: Experience in the lifecycle management of digital products or data-driven solutions, from concept through to global rollout.
- Desired: Experience with AI-specific governance (e.g., algorithmic bias auditing, LLM safety protocols, or the EU AI Act).
- Desired: Experience in inter-agency collaboration or building strategic partnerships across different NGOs or public sector bodies.
- Desired: Experience working within the UN system or a similar international multilateral organisation.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or related fields with 9 years of relevant experience OR Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience.
