ICT Specialist - Product Lead (Data Insights & AI)

Summary of functions:

1. Understands user needs in social and humanitarian action 

2. Identifies, owns and drives use cases/products supported by partners inclusively from conception to operation

3. Coordination of pro bono partners

4. Project Delivery and Performance

5. Capacity Building and Innovation Scaling

• Coordinates research and when possible co-design with key user groups to understand and capture the evolving user needs for the strategic focus within the area of data insights for social and humanitarian action

• Coordinates (or delegates) regular dialogue with key user groups to test the success or failure of meeting prioritized needs during the development of products through user testing, qualitative and quantitative monitoring following continuous delivery principles.

• Maintains and develops relationships with social and humanitarian partner agencies to monitor whether the overall objectives of Disha products and ecosystem stay mutually beneficial with partners’ objectives.

• Collaborates with Disha Policy Lead and partner agencies on reviewing and implementing humanitarian protection requirements supported by the Ethical frameworks of the UN

• Identifies, owns and drives products supported by partners inclusively from conception through development and deployment to operation. Specifically owning the vision, objectives, benefits.

• Draws together user needs in a cohesive, evolving, sustainable and implementable product designs in collaboration with the other Disha Leads and with support of pro bono partners.

• Works with Tech Lead and Engineers to break down work into implementable pieces.

• The Product Lead takes ownership of (or delegates) regular prioritization of pieces of work in negotiation with Tech Lead(s) to ensure delivery of the most desirable, viable and feasible technology as fast as possible for users' needs, i.e. following a lean /agile approach. Including bringing user testing feedback into the loop of developing the software and AI.

• Coordinates deployments and/or handover of products from the point of view of supporting user onboarding, access and feedback. Works with partner agencies to ensure they have knowledge and ability to use the product, if not enough time to make it self-explanatory.

• Product Lead supports the Head of Disha to in designing a cohesive ecosystem of use case products and platforms in collaboration with Product Managers, Tech Leads, Platform Lead and Policy Lead

• Supports the Head of Disha in initial engagement and set up of partnership working with pro bono partners from the technology industry and academia.

• Within the scope of their work, the Product Lead develops, and where necessary defines, the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders for effective collaboration and project success. 

• Coordinates ongoing dialogue and day to day work including asynchronous chat, regular touch points and coordination meetings, utilizing available remote working technology to work across time zones and between individual’s availability.

• In alignment with the Head of Disha and other Disha Leads, work to establish a productive and coordinated environment within and across the teams.

• Support the Head of Disha in the definition of project objectives, resource plans, and timelines in collaboration with project partners.

• Collaborate with Workstream/Use Case Lead(s) for project planning including resource allocation, impact trajectory, progress monitoring, and risk profile review.

• Draft, align, and deliver on project work plans including raising any delivery roadblocks and significant delivery risks to Head of Disha in time.

• Manage the production of the required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary.

• Ensure clear next steps at any point during the project lifecycle and clear ownership of next steps for streamlined execution.

• Plan resource requirements for use cases in consultation with Head of Disha (and Capability Leads where required) .

• Manage project priorities and prepare materials to report on project progress to inform decisions.

• Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded.

• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover outputs.

• Ensure direct involvement of partners in project teams (co-development of solutions) as needed including ensuring continuous relevance of output for the partner.

• Build capacity of UN GP colleagues in AI Product Management, user research, data science design and other modern technology practices to support the long-term and sustainable capacity of staff.

• Encourage pro bono technology partners to share their expertise and methods to support capacity building. 

• Establish a supportive environment for learning and constructive discussion

• Actively interact with others across the UN system working on Scaling Innovation to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices.