Project Management Support - Specialist [Digital Technologies Expert] - Retainer

UNOPS Development and Special Initiatives team works with UN partners and Member States. This portfolio offers support for various initiatives and priorities of the UN Secretary-General in pursuit of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, it helps the UN Secretariat in implementing global programs in areas such as political affairs, climate, counterterrorism and peacebuilding, among others.

Not Required - part of GPO/NYPO

The United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) was established by the General Assembly in June 2017. UNOCT has five mandated functions: (1) Provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates entrusted to the Secretary-General from across the United Nations system; (2) Enhance coordination and coherence across the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy; (3) Strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States; (4) Improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts; and (5) Ensure that due priority is given to counterterrorism across the United Nations system and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the Strategy.

The Project Management Support - Specialist  [Digital Technologies Expert] - Retainer will provide substantive technical expertise and programme support to design, implement, and translate research, policy, and capacity-building activities related to artificial intelligence in preventing and countering violent extremism.

The role may support any of the following: 

• evidence generation (research, consultations, applied analysis on AI risks and opportunities for the PCVE sector)

• developing and delivering programme delivery (trainings, stakeholder dialogues, capacity-building initiatives)

• developing policy and practice outputs (guidance documents, recommendations, toolkits, training curricula)

The Project Management Office (PMO) - Specialist  [Digital Technologies Expert] - Retainer will ensure outputs are methodologically rigorous, human rights-compliant, and operationally applicable, while promoting responsible and context-sensitive use of AI in PCVE.

Expected functions may include the following: 

1. Development and Planning 

• Provide technical input into the design and implementation of activities related to emerging technologies and PCVE, ensuring alignment with project objectives, donor requirements, and UNOCT priorities. Develop research frameworks and methodologies to assess risks, opportunities, and use cases of AI in PCVE contexts.

• Design and deliver targeted capacity-building sessions and mentorship to support institutional adoption of AI governance frameworks and strengthen AI literacy and decision-making capacity in PCVE.

• Support PCVE- relevant stakeholder mapping across governments, academia, civil society, and private sector actors, including AI developers and platforms.

2. Project Set-Up and Closure

• Design and implement structured institutional or programmatic assessments (e.g. readiness diagnostics, needs assessments, or baseline analyses) to inform tailored support and engagement.

• Provide targeted advisory support to partner institutions, including the development or strengthening of policies, governance frameworks, risk management approaches, and operational guidance related to the use of digital technologies.

• Facilitate coordination with stakeholders, including Member States, international organizations, civil society, academia, and private sector actors.

• Support the development and delivery of project activities, including consultations, workshops, and capacity-building initiatives.

3. Monitoring and Reporting

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis of data collected through research, consultations, and project implementation activities.

• Produce high-quality analytical outputs, including policy briefs, guidance documents, and presentations.

• Translate technical and policy insights into practical, user-oriented recommendations and tools for policymakers, practitioners, and institutional stakeholders.

• Support reporting to donors and internal stakeholders, ensuring outputs are accurate, results-oriented, and aligned with project frameworks.

4. Quality Assurance 

• Ensure that all outputs meet high standards of analytical rigor, methodological soundness, and policy relevance.

• Apply human rights-based, gender-responsive, and conflict-sensitive approaches across all activities and deliverables.

• Integrate principles of responsible technology use, including considerations related to transparency, accountability, and risk mitigation.

• Review and refine project outputs to ensure clarity, usability, and alignment with UN standards and best practices.

5. Knowledge Building and Sharing

• Contribute to the development of knowledge products and practical tools (e.g. assessments, guidance frameworks, toolkits) to support institutional capacity and decision-making.

• Support the design and delivery of trainings, workshops, and learning initiatives to strengthen stakeholder capacity, including on governance, risk management, and responsible technology use.

• Facilitate knowledge exchange through stakeholder dialogues, policy discussions, and participation in relevant global or regional forums.

• Document lessons learned and emerging practices to inform future programming, policy development, and scaling efforts.

Required

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, political science, security studies, social sciences, technology policy, organisational management, or related field with five (5) years of relevant experience is required. OR;

• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) preferably in international relations, political science, security studies, social sciences, technology policy, organisational management, or related field with seven (7) years of relevant experience is desired.

Required

• Relevant experience is considered progressively responsible experience in AI/new technologies and PCVE, counter-terrorism, digital harms, or related fields. 

• Experience in research design, analysis, and production of policy-relevant outputs.

• Experience working on AI, digital platforms, or emerging technologies, including governance, human rights, or risk management dimensions, leadership readiness, or organizational readiness.

Desired

• Experience engaging in multi-stakeholder environments, including advising governments, international organizations, civil society, and private sector/tech actors.

• Experience in designing and delivering capacity-building initiatives, including training or learning tools.

• Experience working on responsible AI, digital wellbeing, or online harms, including behavioral and societal impacts of technology.

• Experience translating complex technical concepts into accessible and user-centered content for non-technical audiences would.

• Experience working with digital communities or prevention-focused programming would.

• Experience within the United Nations or similar international organizations.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.