Background

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 planet.

UNDP is the development arm of United Nations. Present in 170 countries with over 17,000 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. The strategy lays out UNDP’s ambition to use a rights-based approach to digital technologies to improve our development results and help build inclusive digital ecosystems globally that leave no one behind. These aims are supported by the transformation of our internal, operational systems and building an agile, digitally capable workforce. 

The UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development (GC-TISD) is part of UNDP’s Digital, AI and Innovation (DAI) Hub, which leverages digital, data, and systems innovation to help governments and partners address complex development challenges through more agile, adaptive, and inclusive approaches. 

Based in Singapore, the Global Centre draws on the country’s strengths in technology, policy, and innovation, engaging a broad ecosystem of government agencies, private sector actors, academia, and thought leaders. Through this collaboration, the Centre connects policymakers, practitioners, and experts globally to exchange insights and co-create practical solutions that advance sustainable development.

Established in 2019 as a joint initiative of the Government of Singapore and UNDP, the Centre is now entering its 2025–2028 phase, led by a dedicated team that works closely with UNDP Country Offices and partners worldwide. Its core functions include identifying, co-creating, and scaling innovative and technological solutions that drive progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The Centre’s work aligns with the UNDP Strategic Plan 2026–2029, which positions Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as key accelerators for achieving UNDP’s four main goals: prosperity, effective governance, crisis resilience, and a healthy planet. Within this framework, the DAI Hub—situated in UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and led by the Chief Digital Officer—anchors this vision and supports the integration of digital transformation and AI across UNDP’s global operations.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Specialist, Digital and AI will report to the head of the UNDP GC-TISD and will work closely with the UNDP Global Centre's Team as well as UNDP colleagues regionally and globally, as relevant to the work being undertaken. 

Until the recruitment process for the UNDP GC-TISD Head is finalized, the Specialist will report to the Head of Digital Partnerships and Engagement at the DAI Hub of BPPS.

The Specialist will undertake the following scope of work:

1. Provision of Country Office Support & Capacity Building

• Support UNDP Country Offices in their digital and AI transformation efforts, drawing on Singapore’s experience and expertise, and fostering collaboration through national and regional partners such as AI Singapore and the National University of Singapore.
• Conduct briefings and trainings for UNDP Country Offices and national government counterparts; organize or facilitate training, peer-to-peer learning, and technical exchanges.
• Provide tailored technical advice in collaboration with UNDP’s global and regional digital and AI experts.

2. Development of Knowledge Products and Thought Leadership

• Distil best practices and lessons learned from Singapore’s and other countries’ experiences in applying digital and AI technologies for development.
• Identify transferable and scalable practices that can be applied in other contexts and regions.
• Lead and/or contribute to the development of knowledge products — including issue papers, policy briefs, toolkits, and guidance notes — thereby contributing to UNDP’s global thought leadership on digital transformation and responsible AI.

3. Horizon Scanning, Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration

• Keep abreast of emerging issues and innovations related to AI and digital transformation, assessing their strategic relevance to developing countries.
• Actively engage with different teams within UNDP to integrate digital and AI perspectives into thematic and sectoral areas.
• Strengthen collaboration with the DAI Hub’s global initiatives on Digital and AI

4. Ensure Initiative Implementation

• Support implementation of agreed outputs within the digital and AI portfolio of the GC-TISD, including activities with the Government of Singapore and other strategic partners.
• Contribute to emerging areas of work that apply AI and data-driven solutions to challenges such as climate action, sustainable cities, circular economy, and decarbonisation.
• Facilitate AI Literacy, Ethics, and Education
  • Lead and support initiatives emerging from the MOU between UNDP and AI Singapore (NUS), focused on advancing AI literacy, ethics, and education across the region.
  • Co-develop training materials, awareness campaigns, and regional workshops that promote responsible and inclusive AI adoption in line with UNDP’s Digital Strategy 2022–2025.
  • Facilitate collaboration with governments, universities, and local partners to scale AI literacy and ethical AI practices through a “train-the-trainer” model and digital public goods.

5. Positioning and Engagement

• Identify and engage strategic partners in the digital development space, including but not limited to Member State governments, private sector, foundations, think tanks, and multi- stakeholder alliances particularly on Artificial Intelligence
• Assess, prioritize and deepen existing partnerships (including bilateral relationships and multi- stakeholder networks where UNDP has corporate participation)
• Identify and cultivate partners for the Center and the Hub’s work on Digital and AI, pursue overall resource mobilization and partnership opportunities

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

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:

Business Direction & Strategy    

• Business Acumen: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization
• 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

Digital & Innovation    

• Digital Ecosystems: Knowledge of how they work, understanding of the opportunities and challenges for governments and society 

Partnership management    

• Resource mobilization: Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirement
• Strategic engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives

Business Development    

• Knowledge Generation: Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Management    

• Results-based Management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tool

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Global Affairs, International Relations, Development Studies, International Relations, or a related field is required. Or
• A first-level university degree in the areas stated above, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in driving international development Programs and policies in a public, nonprofit, or development setting, particularly working with digital technologies and/or AI.

Required skills:

• Experience interacting with and steering stakeholders and partnerships across sectors towards a common objective related to digital technologies and AI.
• Proven track record of strong understanding of digital technologies and AI.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to capture and synthesize information on an ongoing basis to produce analysis and recommendations.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section:

• Experience in developing training materials, awareness campaigns, and regional workshops that promote responsible and inclusive AI adoption is desired. 
• Experience in the development of knowledge products — including issue papers, policy briefs, toolkits, and guidance notes is desired.
• Experience in facilitating training, peer-to-peer learning, and technical exchanges is desired.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of another official UN language is advantageous.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.