Background
The Digital, Inclusive, Accessible: Support to Digitalisation of Public Services in Ukraine (DIA Support) Phase 2 Project is built on achievements and lessons learnt from the previous phase (2021-2023), and aims to continue to support the ongoing digitalisation process in Ukraine with the view of strengthening the Governmentโs capacities to deliver high quality and accessible digital services to vulnerable groups in Ukraine while using digital technologies and solutions to address other complex challenges posed by the war, including ensuring transparency and accountability of the recovery process, critically important for Ukraineโs EU Integration.ย
The Project comprises of three outputs (components):ย
Output 1. Government institutions have strengthened capacity to design and implement inclusive digital transformation policy at national and local level. Output 2. The Government has a digital infrastructure which ensure efficient and effective processes for the civil service and delivery of technically modernized digital public services for vulnerable and war-affected groups. Output 3. Ukrainian women and men have increased their digital skills to fully benefit from digitalization.In the December 2024 report, \"Expanding Digital Transformation: Recommendations for UNDP Ukraine,\" UNDP Strategic Digitalization Advisor Catarina Nilsson suggested incorporating a digital transformation strategic advisory and partnerships position into the DIA Support project team. According to report, this will enable drawing learning directly from project implementation and provide a closer link to policy on digital development in Ukraine and internationally. Leveraging the teamโs deep technical knowledge, agile working methods, and relationship to the ecosystem will enable relevant policy advice and a role in the public dialogue on digital governance and the role of digital transformation in Ukraineโs development path at large. This would also create a bridge into UNDPโs project implementation, supporting the design of new initiatives and scale-up of successful activities.
Digital Transformation Strategy and Partnerships Specialist is responsible for developing analytical products, facilitating stakeholder engagement through coordination mechanisms, and preparing for donor dialogues. The incumbent will promote UNDPโs mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behaviour, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, and abuse.
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic policy support for digital transformation:
Programmatic coordination and technical expertise on digital transformation:
Provide strategic and technical expertise during the design, revision, and implementation phases of UNDPโs digital transformation-related projects. Coordinate preparatory activities for potential digital transformation pilot projects, including geographical targeting, partnership selection, and resource mobilization. Identify strategic opportunities for integration of digital transformation components into ongoing UNDP projects and initiatives. Collaborate closely with UNDP programme units to assess existing projects for potential integration and enhancement through digital transformation approaches. Facilitate coherence and synergies across UNDPโs interventions in digital transformation, ensuring consolidated results and measurable impact. Conduct ongoing analysis of activities implemented by the Government of Ukraine, UNDP, and other stakeholders, to identify digital transformation gaps, needs, and opportunities. Provide technical oversight and quality assurance for UNDPโs digital transformation initiatives, ensuring alignment with global development standards and UNDP corporate principles. Foster capacity development initiatives for UNDP and government partners on key digital transformation topics.Partnership engagement, advocacy, and resource mobilization:
Develop, manage, and expand strategic partnerships with key government entities, particularly the Ministry of Digital Transformation, other ministriesโ Chief Digital Transformation Officers, regional administrations, civil society organizations, international development partners, and relevant UN agencies. Establish and sustain strong relationships with high-level national authorities and international partners to support coordinated strategic approaches to digital transformation. Participate in high-level digital transformation forums, conferences, and events, advocating for inclusive and responsible digital development and promoting UNDP's strategic vision and thought leadership. Facilitate strategic collaboration with external partners to identify and pursue resource mobilization opportunities, including active fundraising, partnership engagement, and development of compelling project proposals. Support preparation and submission of UNDP-led project proposals, ensuring alignment with donor priorities and UNDP strategic objectives.Ensuring mainstreaming of gender equality and inclusiveness:
Ensure gender equality and inclusion considerations are fully integrated into UNDPโs digital transformation activities, reflected explicitly in work plans, budgets, reporting, research, analyses, and project outputs. Promote gender-responsive and inclusive approaches in digital transformation initiatives, advocating for safe, enabling, and discrimination-free environments. Ensure personnel and partners are informed and briefed about UNDP sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse policies. Utilize gender-responsive communication principles and methodologies in alignment with UNDP corporate standards.Knowledge management and strategic communications:
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
Digital Transformation Strategy and Partnerships Specialistย works under the direct supervision of UNDP Programme Specialist, Democratic Governance (Team Leader) and in close collaboration with the Project Manager and Project team.
Competencies Core Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactย Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsย 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 demandsย Act with Determination:ย 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 competenciesย Thematic Area Name Definition Business Direction & Strategy Strategic Thinking Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPโs mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight. Business Direction and 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. Business Management Communication Communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels. Business Management Digital Awareness and Literacy Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value. Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends. Information Management & Technology User Experience and Business Analyst Capacity to translate efficiently usersโ needs in IT requirements around human-centred design principles. Knowledge of Oracle Cloud, ServiceNow, SalesForce.com, and Microsoft product an asset. Partnership Management Relationship Management Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding. 2030 Agenda: People Gender Gender digital divide.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Information Management, Cybernetics, ICT, Management of Information Systems, Computer Science or Public Administration is required, or A first-level university degree (Bachelorโs degree) in the areas stated above in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience:
Minimum 7 years (with Masterโs degree) or 9 years (with Bachelorโs degree) of progressively responsible, relevant experience at the national or international level in managing digital transformation initiatives within the public sector, on leadership positions in government institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), or international technical assistant projects.Required skills:
Proven ability to achieve results in high-pressure, low-visibility environments related to digital transformation in the public sector. Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies sectionย Proven experience working with government bodies and international organisations at the highest level, with a strong track record of relationship building and management.ย Proven experience in the design, development and implementation of major IT systems, with an advanced understanding of digital transformation processes and procedures in the public sector. Experience working with and knowledge of BPMN notation is considered an asset. Working experience with digital public services, government digital tools development, or state registers management, or development is highly desirable.ย
Required Language(s):
Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Ukrainian is required for local personnel.ย