Digital Transformation Specialist ( Home-based )

Remote | New York City

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Remote | New York City
Grade: Mid level - IPSA-10, International Personnel Services Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Information Technology and Computer Science
Closing Date: 2025-02-12

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.

Office/Unit/Project Description

Emerging and future digital technologies are one of the most profound drivers of change globally. Recognizing that these technologies bring both opportunities to accelerate progress in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals as well as presenting challenges to development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been undergoing an organization-wide digital transformation since 2019. UNDP’s digital transformation seeks to help create a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and the planet.

UNDP is the development arm of the United Nations. Present in 170 countries with over 22,000 people, UNDP works on the world’s biggest challenges, from rising poverty and inequality to a rapidly changing climate, the emergence of crises and the continued degradation and destruction of our natural world. Our UNDP Digital Strategy 2022 – 2025 aims to support our partner countries to unlock the power of digital to tackle these pressing issues.

Within digital transformation, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has emerged as a powerful approach that has the potential to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). DPI is an evolving concept but is at its core an approach to digital transformation that draws on a set of shared secure and interoperable digital systems, built on open standards and promotes access to services for all, with governance and community as core components. Instead of a point-to-point solutions-approach, DPI is an infrastructure-first way of thinking about society-wide digital transformation that builds on a set of foundational systems, often conceived as digital identity systems, digital payments and data exchanges, which combined can accelerate inclusive digital innovation.

UNDP combines global advocacy with country-level technical support to create meaningful, lasting, impact. For instance, UNDP has been an advocate for including both DPI and DPGs as part of the recently adopted Global Digital Compact – a recognition among countries of the need for responsible and inclusive use of digital technologies globally. We work with the UN Tech Envoy to promote universal Safeguards for DPI, and with countries to promote peer-learning and sharing of knowledge and (open) solutions between countries. UNDP partner with a wide set of public and private organizations to bring the most recent practices on government digital transformation to countries, including the Digital Public Goods Alliance and its members, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the World Bank and others.

Within UNDP, the Chief Digital Office (CDO) provide a series of packaged offering to countries, for instance a Digital Readiness Assessment (DRA) and Data-to-Policy trainings, combined with bespoke digital advisory. While UNDPs Country Offices typically engage with governments on digital transformation projects over months and years, the support provided by the CDO is typically targeted for weeks or months-long engagements. Our services are usually delivered side-by-side with consultants from our deep roster of international experts, private sector, international and local partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNDP is hiring a Digital Transformation Specialist to support UNDPs work with DPI in countries, working closely with CDO and UNDP Governance colleagues, and other relevant partners. Key areas of responsibilities include support for project planning and execution, in-country technical assistance and convenings.

The Digital Transformation Specialist will be responsible for:

Lead National Digital Transformations and Project Design

Provide leading technical advice and support in cooperation with colleagues and consultants. Act as the CDO focal point for 5-10 UNDP country offices and associated government counterparts, including developing projects, participate in missions with consultants, undertake assessments, provide strategic recommendations, and work in close coordination with partners and UNDP Country Office staff.
Advocate for the importance of digital transformation for development to UNDP Regional Hubs, Country Offices, and sectoral teams within UNDP. Including for the DPI approach, and the universal DPI Safeguards, the use of open standards, open-source software and DPGs, methodologies to ensuring no one is left behind in digital transformation, involvement of civil society organizations (CSOs) in digital interventions, etc.
Ensure country-level interventions align with international standards and best practices. Keep abreast of developments in digital transformation and policy related to DPI. This could be strategies for strengthening local digital capacity, recent trends in digital wallets and verifiable credentials, types of civil registration and identity systems, data interoperability frameworks, etc.

Lead Strategic Partnership, Advocacy and Resource Mobilization

Coordination with partners: Maintain coordination, support webinars and events for joint advocacy with external partners (Co-Develop, Center for DPI, MyData, GovStack, AccessNow, World Bank ID4D team, ID4Africa, Secure Identity Alliance, Rightscon, etc.)
With support from colleagues in CDO, lead resource mobilization support and engage with global donors for a selected group of UNDP Country Office and government counterparts, using insights and recommendations from UNDPs technical support and assessments.
Support the development of practitioner notes, blog posts and other knowledge products related to inclusive digital transformation following the DPI approach in developing countries.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Institutional Arrangement

The Digital Transformation Specialist will report to the Digital Public Infrastructure Manager in the Chief Digital Office (CDO).

Given the global assignments to be undertaken, the Digital Transformation Specialist is expected to be reasonably flexible to attend meetings/video calls taking into consideration different time zones.

Competencies

Core Competencies
Achieve Results	LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively	LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously	LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility	LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination	LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner	LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion	LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Business Direction & Strategy	System Thinking	Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
2030 Agenda	Governance	Legal Identity for All
Digital	Digital transformation design	Practical and strategic skills in digital transformation for governments and organisations.
Digital	Digital thought leadership	Ongoing research into emerging technologies and digital trends and the applications, risks, and opportunities associated with digital adoption, combined with the ability to communicate this synthesis with a broad audience.
Digital	E-governance	Knowledge of how it works, understanding of the opportunities and challenges for governments and society
Business Management	Portfolio Management	Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity. Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
Business Management	Partnerships Management	Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements	Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Political Science, Computer Science, Information Systems, Development Studies, or a related field is required. Or A first-level university degree in the fields mentioned above, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience will be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Min. years of relevant work experience	A minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience working on digital projects in a public, nonprofit, or development setting.
Required skills	Demonstrated experience in project management. Demonstrated experience in providing technical assistance to governments or implementing strategies in developing countries. Demonstrated experience in drafting concept notes for donors/resource mobilization.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section	Demonstrated experience in digital transformation in government, governance, and/or digital technologies and human rights Experience working with/demonstrated knowledge of 'foundational' systems, data exchanges or digital identity in government Proven ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including governments, multilateral organizations, civil society organizations, private sector companies, academia, and donors.
Required Language(s)	Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is advantageous.
Professional Certificates	N/A

Disclaimer

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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