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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a digital future

UNICEF is accelerating its adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance programme delivery, operations efficiency, and organizational innovation. As AI capabilities expand across multi-cloud platforms, UNICEF requires a robust technical lead to design, govern, and optimize its AI platforms and infrastructure. 

How can you make a difference? 

The AI Platform Technical Lead (Consultant) will play a critical role in architecting and overseeing the technical foundation of UNICEF’s AI ecosystem. The role spans multi-cloud infrastructure design, product backlog and roadmap management, vendor engagement, and the oversight of AI/ML model deployment. It will ensure UNICEF leverages state-of-the-art AI capabilities in alignment with its Responsible AI principles and organizational priorities. 

The purpose of this assignment is to provide strategic technical leadership in the design, deployment, and evolution of UNICEF’s AI platforms and infrastructure. This role will ensure the secure, ethical, and scalable integration of AI/ML solutions across UNICEF’s multi-cloud infrastructure while guiding partnerships and governance for AI adoption.  

Scope of Work

The consultant will work under the direction of the Chief of AI and collaborate closely with ICTD technical teams, AI team, external partners and other UN entities. The scope of work includes the following responsibilities: 

 1. AI Platform Enablement 

• Provide support in shaping UNICEF’s AI platforms to ensure scalability, security, and interoperability across systems. 

• Contribute to defining the multi-cloud architecture (Azure, AWS, etc.), helping optimise performance, compliance, and cost-efficiency. 

• Collaborate on establishing technical standards, frameworks, and governance models that enable responsible AI platform development. 

• Assist with integration efforts, API design, and interoperability with existing UNICEF digital systems. 

• Work closely with divisional and programme teams to translate business and programme requirements into technical specifications and platform features. 

 2. Product Roadmap    

• Establish and maintain the product backlog and roadmap for the AI Portal and associated digital platforms. 

• Translate UNICEF’s AI strategy into actionable technical plans, aligned with programme needs and innovation goals. 

• Continuously evaluate and integrate emerging tools, APIs, and services that strengthen the platform’s capabilities. 

• Develop and validate user personas (e.g., programme officers, data analysts, ICT staff, country office focal points, and partners) to ensure the AI Portal meets diverse user needs and use cases. 

 3. Vendor Management 

• Manage technical aspects of contracts and partnerships with UNICC and other third-party providers. 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with cloud and AI vendors, ensuring UNICEF is updated on developments and has access to strategic opportunities. 

• Support technical evaluations and due diligence for vendor and partner selection. 

 4. AI/ML Deployment 

• Provide technical guidance and support to internal teams and country offices experimenting with AI/ML solutions. 

• Oversee the development, deployment, and monitoring of AI/ML models in UNICEF’s sandbox and production environments. 

• Work with UNICC and relevant teams to manage infrastructure, pipelines, and DevOps/MLOps practices. 

• Establish criteria for piloting, scaling, and transitioning AI models into production use. 

Financial Proposal: 

Please indicate your ability, availability and your overall rate – or rate per deliverable (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a rate will not be considered.  

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Work Experience: At least 7 years of relevant work experience in in software engineering, with a focus on AI/ML and cloud architecture platforms.
• Proven track record of designing and deploying multi-cloud architectures. 
• Expertise in a range of AI/ML technologies and frameworks.
• Expertise in MLOps/DevOps practices, model lifecycle management, and API integration.
• Knowledge of data security, privacy, and compliance frameworks.
• Strong project management skills, able to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• Excellent problem-solving, architecture design, and system integration skills.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.