UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save childrenโs 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 โ 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 enhanceย programmeย delivery, operations efficiency, and organizational innovation. As AI capabilities expand across multi-cloud platforms, UNICEF requires a robust technical lead to design, govern, andย optimizeย its AI platforms and infrastructure.ย
How can you make a difference?ย
The AI Platform Technical Lead (Consultant) will play a critical role in architecting and overseeing the technical foundation of UNICEFโs 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 UNICEFย leveragesย state-of-the-artย AI capabilities in alignment with its Responsible AI principles and organizational priorities.ย
The purpose of this assignment is to provide strategic technical leadership in the design, deployment, and evolution of UNICEFโs AI platforms and infrastructure.ย This role will ensure the secure, ethical, and scalable integration of AI/ML solutions across UNICEFโs multi-cloud infrastructure while guiding partnerships and governance for AI adoption.ย ย
Scope of Work
The consultant will work under the direction of the Chief of AI and collaborate closely with ICTD technical teams, AI team, externalย partnersย and other UN entities. The scope of work includes the following responsibilities:ย
ย 1. AIย Platform Enablementย
Provide support in shaping UNICEFโs AI platforms to ensure scalability, security, and interoperability across systems.ย Contribute to defining the multi-cloud architecture (Azure, AWS, etc.), helping optimise performance, compliance, and cost-efficiency.ย Collaborate onย establishingย technical standards, frameworks, and governance models that enable responsible AI platform development.ย Assistย with integration efforts, API design, and interoperability with existing UNICEF digital systems.ย Work closely withย divisional and programmeย teams to translate business and programme requirements into technical specifications and platform features.ยย 2. Product Roadmapย ย ย ย
Establishย and maintain the product backlog and roadmap for the AI Portal and associated digital platforms.ย Translate UNICEFโs AI strategy into actionable technical plans, aligned with programme needs and innovation goals.ย Continuously evaluate and integrate emerging tools, APIs, and services that strengthen the platformโs capabilities.ย Develop andย validateย 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.ยย 3. Vendor Managementย
Manage technical aspects of contracts and partnerships with UNICC and other third-party providers.ย Build andย maintainย strong relationships with cloud and AI vendors, ensuring UNICEF is updated on developments and has access to strategic opportunities.ย Support technical evaluations and due diligence for vendor and partner selection.ยย 4. AI/ML Deploymentย
Provide technical guidance and support to internal teams and country offices experimenting with AI/ML solutions.ย Oversee the development, deployment, and monitoring of AI/ML models in UNICEFโs sandbox and production environments.ย Work with UNICC and relevant teams to manage infrastructure, pipelines, and DevOps/MLOpsย practices.ย Establishย criteria for piloting, scaling, and transitioning AI models into production use.ยWork Assignments Overviewย
Deliverables/Outputsย
Deliveryย deadlineย
AIย Platform Enablementย
Contribute to a multi-cloud AI platform architecture blueprint, including current-state and target-state diagrams with rationale for serviceย selection.ย Support development of technical standards and governance frameworks for AI platforms, covering security, privacy, and compliance for both sandbox and production environments.ย Develop a design and implementation plan for the GenAI sandboxing environment, detailing infrastructure, access control, and monitoring.ย Create integration and interoperability guidelines, including API specifications and system connection standards.ย Provide a cost-optimisation and resource management strategy for AI platforms.ยMonth 3-12 ย
Product Roadmapย
AI Portal Product Roadmap (2026โ2027).ย Prioritized product backlog with user stories for first 3โ6 months.ย Curated AI Portal User Persona Catalogue (covering at least 4โ5 key personas)ย User Journey Maps outlining how each persona interacts with the AI Portal.ย Feature Prioritization Matrix aligned to persona needs and UNICEFโs AI strategy.ยSandbox Feature Roadmap (progression of GenAI, ML experimentation capabilities).ย
Month 3-12 ย
Vendor Managementย
Vendor landscape & partnership analysis reportย Evaluation framework and scoring rubric for providerย selection.ย Technical due diligence reports on UNICC and selected partners.ยRecommendations for strategic vendor partnerships (12โ24 months)ย
Month 3-12 ย
AI/ML Deploymentย
Sandbox governance framework (readiness checklist, intake/prioritization process).ย GenAI experimentation protocol (testing, evaluation, scaling criteria).ย Deployment and monitoring framework for AI/ML models.ย RACI matrix for UNICEF, UNICC, and partners.ย Transition-to-production protocol.ยDocumented reduction in deployment cycle time (baseline vs. post-framework).ย
Month 3-12 ย
Advisoryย ย
Quarterly โAI Technology Trends & Impact Briefingโย
At least 3 recommendations from trend briefings reflected in AI strategy/roadmap.ย
Contributions to AI Steering Committee and Working Groups.ย
Month 3-12 ย
Travel
Four missions to Valencia (1-week each)
Economy class travel + DSA
Month 3-12
Financial Proposal:ย
Please indicate your ability, availability and your overall rate โ 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. ย
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will haveโฆย
Minimum requirements:
Education: Advanced university degree (Masterโs 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. Provenย track recordย of designing and deploying multi-cloud architectures.ย 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...
UNICEFโs 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 areโฆ
(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 othersย
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.ย 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 aย wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks andย 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:ย ย
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 requiredย 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.ย
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 applicantsโ bank account information.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEFโs 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.