Project Management Office (PMO) - Specialist [Digital Harms and Emerging 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 Office (PMO) Specialist – Digital Harms and Emerging Technologies Expert (Retainer) will provide substantive technical expertise and programme support to design, implement, and translate research, policy, and capacity-building activities relating to digital harms, emerging technologies and digital ecosystems within the context of preventing and countering violent extremism.

Depending on programme requirements, assignments may support one or more of the following thematic areas, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), gaming ecosystems, online platforms, digital communities and other emerging technologies relevant to PCVE.

The role may support any of the following:

* Evidence generation, including research, stakeholder consultations, data collection and analysis, and the development of analytical reports on the opportunities, risks and challenges associated with AI, gaming ecosystems and other emerging technologies in the context of PCVE. 

* Programme delivery, including the design and delivery of technical workshops, trainings, expert consultations, stakeholder dialogues and other capacity-building and visibility initiatives. 

* Policy and knowledge development, including the preparation of policy guidance, recommendations, technical guidance, toolkits, training curricula and other knowledge products to support evidence-based policy and practice. 

The Project Management Office (PMO) Specialist – Digital Harms and Emerging Technologies Expert (Retainer) will ensure that all outputs are methodologically rigorous, operationally relevant, and aligned with international human rights standards and UNOCT priorities, while promoting responsible, rights-based and context-sensitive approaches to addressing digital harms associated with AI, gaming ecosystems and other emerging technologies.

Expected functions may include the following: 

1. Development and Planning 

• Provide technical input into the design and implementation of activities related to digital harms, emerging technologies and digital ecosystems in PCVE, ensuring alignment with project objectives, donor requirements, and UNOCT priorities.
• Develop research frameworks and methodologies to assess the risks, opportunities and implications of artificial intelligence (AI), gaming ecosystems and other emerging technologies in the context of preventing and countering violent extremism.
• Design and deliver targeted capacity-building activities, technical briefings and learning initiatives to strengthen Member States' and practitioners' understanding of emerging digital threats and opportunities.
• Support PCVE-relevant stakeholder mapping across governments, academia, civil society, international organizations and private sector actors, including technology companies, AI developers, gaming stakeholders and online platforms.

2. Project Set-Up and Closure

• Design and implement research activities, technical assessments, consultations and other project activities to inform evidence-based programming and tailored technical support.
• Provide technical advisory support to partner institutions, including the development of policy recommendations, technical guidance, training materials, toolkits and other knowledge products relating to digital harms, AI, gaming ecosystems and other emerging technologies.
• Facilitate coordination with stakeholders, including Member States, international organizations, civil society, academia, technology companies and other relevant partners.
• Support the development and delivery of project activities, including expert consultations, workshops, stakeholder dialogues, training programmes and other 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 reports, policy briefs, guidance documents, recommendations and presentations.
• Translate technical and policy insights into practical, user-oriented recommendations and tools for policymakers, practitioners and other 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.

• 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 preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE), counter-terrorism, digital harms, trust & safety, emerging technologies, digital ecosystems, or related fields.
• Experience in research design, analysis, and the production of policy-relevant knowledge products, including analytical reports, policy guidance, recommendations or technical resources, is required.
• Experience working on any of the following: artificial intelligence (AI), gaming ecosystems, digital platforms, online communities, OSINT, online investigations, or other emerging technologies, including their opportunities, risks and implications for policy, governance or prevention programming, is required.
• Experience supporting the design and implementation of technical assistance, policy development, stakeholder engagement, research projects, operational guidance, or capacity-building initiatives is required.

  
  

Desired

• Experience engaging in multi-stakeholder environments, including advising governments, international organizations, civil society, and private sector/tech actors is desired. 
• Experience in designing and delivering capacity-building initiatives, including training or learning tools is desired.
• Experience translating complex technical concepts into accessible and user-centered content for non-technical audiences would be an asset.
• Experience working with digital communities or prevention-focused programming would be an asset.
• Experience within the United Nations or similar international organizations would be an asset.

  
  

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• 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. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
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• 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.