Artificial Intelligence Advisor

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

Based in the New York, the UNOPS Development Group Cluster supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. For example, within the United Nations Development Programme, the Cluster works with the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support and the Office of South-South Cooperation.

The cluster also supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations in the delivery of project management and implementation services

Global Pulse (http://www.unglobalpulse.org/about-new) is an innovation initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Big Data. Its vision is a future in which big data is harnessed safely and responsibly as a public good. Its mission is to accelerate discovery, development and scaled adoption of big data innovation for sustainable development and humanitarian action. Global Pulse is building a catalytic network of in-country innovation centers, which will test new tools, data and analysis, share what lessons with the global community, mainstream successful approaches for real-time impact monitoring into policymaking. The first Lab has been established in New York (Pulse Lab New York) followed by Jakarta, Indonesia and Kampala, Uganda.

Pulse Lab Kampala (http://www.unglobalpulse.org/kampala) is an inter-agency initiative of the United Nations under the Office of the Resident Coordinator in Uganda. The first of its kind in Africa, it brings together researchers from Government, the UN, non-governmental organizations and private sector to explore the utility of new sources of digital “Big Data” (such as social media, mobile data, online information) and real-time analysis techniques for social development monitoring and program planning.

Pulse Lab Kampala supports the UN Country team to tap into the revolution obtaining more and better data to support development work and humanitarian action supporting: 

1. Enhance Early Warning: Detection of anomalous trends and patterns of events enables early warning of emerging crises and earlier responses to prevent long-term harm;
2. Real-Time Awareness:  An up-to-date picture of trends, hotspots and dynamic changes in population behaviour enhances programme planning and monitoring of implementation and
3. Rapid Impact Monitoring and Evaluation: Timely feedback on the impact of programmes and policies allows for adaptive course correction and accelerated achievement of results.

Under the guidance of the Chief Data Scientist and the Manager at Pulse Lab Kampala, the consultant will support Pulse Lab Kampala to implement groundbreaking data innovation initiatives. The consultant will utilize the latest techniques in artificial intelligence, machine learning (including e.g. deep learning and probabilistic inference), computer vision and natural language processing to develop projects harnessing Big Data in various forms (for example, telecoms data, satellite imagery and social media data) to support the monitoring and achievement of the Global Goals.

Specific duties include:

• Advise the team at the Lab to implement cutting edge research in artificial intelligence and machine learning applications;
• Provide insights into artificial intelligence techniques focused on deep learning and methods;
• Develop highly scalable software to implement Pulse Lab project requirements based on state-of-the-art machine learning methodologies;
• Apply expert coding skills to platform development projects in coordination with the technical team at the Lab;
• Adapt machine learning and neural network algorithms and architectures to best exploit modern parallel environments (e.g. distributed clusters, multicore SMP, and GPU);
• Develop solutions tapping into Big Data for real world, large-scale problems related to monitoring and achievement of the Global Goals;
• Facilitate technical contributions from University partners to Pulse Lab projects in the areas of artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive modeling.

Desired Competencies

• Excellent communications skills, both oral and written;
• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
• Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• A proactive, critical and flexible thinker, and problem solver;
• Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstration of personal maturity;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
• Client orientation with constructive approach to resolution of problems and dedication to providing timely support;

UNOPS Core Competencies

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Planning and Organizing
• Client Orientation
• Technological Awareness

https://careers.un.org/lbw/attachments/competencies_booklet_en.pdf

https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

Advanced degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or related technical field is required. 

• At least 7 (seven) years of experience in a branch of computational informatics (development, health, bio-, geo-, etc) using machine learning is required;
• Knowledge of one or more programming languages, particularly those commonly used for analytics such as: Python, Matlab, R is required;
• At least three years of experience in Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence is desired;
• Experience in transitioning technology from the research environment to users is desired;
• Strong background in Natural Language Processing or Computer Vision is desired;
• Knowledge of current state of the art in machine learning techniques, data analysis, statistics, experimental design, and familiarity with applying these methods to the social sciences is desired;
• Familiarity with analytical techniques such as text mining, image processing, predictive analysis, event detection, visualization techniques and modeling of complex systems is required;
• Working experience in a developing country is an asset. 

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.