Programme Specialist (Digital Innovation) [Open to Tier 0, 1 & 2 applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) serves as UNDP's primary knowledge and advisory hub for the Europe and CIS region (RBEC). The Hub connects the region to a global network of development experts, builds knowledge and capacity, and forges partnerships to address the development challenges of a complex and diverse region. The new Regional Programme (2026-2029) integrates four strategic priorities: prosperity for all; effective governance; crisis resilience; and healthy planet. Under each programmatic priority the programme seeks to act as a catalyst for systemic transformation and to deploy the portfolio approach more widely, enabling dynamic experimentation, learning and adaptation across interconnected interventions. 

The IRH Innovation and Digital Team is taking forward a transformative approach to sustainable development through strategic innovation, portfolio and systems-thinking methods. At the core of this work is the portfolio approach, which organizes initiatives around cohesive outcomes, enabling UNDP to address complex challenges through systems thinking and adaptive management. With over 20 active portfolios across 7 Country Offices, this systems approach is reshaping development strategies in areas such as urban transformation, digital innovation, and crisis response. Looking ahead, the team is focusing on three key innovation portfolio areas: urban transformation; digital development and emerging technologies; and innovative financing. Across all dimensions of our work, the team employs systems thinking, future-oriented approaches emphasizing the generation of development intelligence, and acceleration of local innovation to unearth new development pathways. The IRH Innovation and Regional Team acts as a regional extension of UNDP’s global Digital, AI, and Innovation Hub (DAI Hub) and closely collaborates with the global team. 

The role of the Program Specialist (Digital Innovation) will be to lead the advancement of digital transformation and responsible engagement with emerging technologies across the Europe and CIS region, supporting the development of digitally-native societies, economies, and institutions that effectively leverage technology for public purpose. The role leads the team’s work on supporting Country Offices and their government partners in navigating the complex landscape of digital transformation and emerging technologies, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence and its implications for sustainable development.

Duties and Responsibilities

As a key member of the UNDP Innovation and Digital Team at the Istanbul Regional Hub, the Program Specialist will lead the advancement of digital transformation and the responsible engagement with emerging technologies across the region. The incumbent will support Country Offices in their work with governments and partners to build digitally-native societies, economies, and institutions. In doing so, he/she will integrate systems thinking and portfolio-based approaches into UNDP's work, including designing models for digital transformation, developing and delivering learning programs, and establishing strategic partnerships. The Program Specialist will collaborate closely with UNDP's global Digital, AI, and Innovation Hub to ensure alignment with global standards and practices while addressing regional contexts and needs.

In addition, the Program Specialist is expected to work closely with Country Offices and the Innovation and Digital Team Leader at the IRH in building both regional and national partnerships with relevant organizations, national stakeholders, and international partners that can help advance this work.

Policy and program leadership in digital development

• Provide strategic policy advice on digital transformation and artificial intelligence to Country Offices and UNDP teams, including providing inputs to the DAI Hub agenda and programming; lead on designing regional programming in the policy area;
• Expand UNDP’s approach to digital transformation based on systems thinking and portfolio approaches, unpacking needs-driven methodologies and helping UNDP build programs where digital is understood as a complex, multifaceted challenge;
• Design and coordinate dedicated learning pathways and engagement strategies to build regional capacity in digital and AI;
• Lead design and deployment of regional digital strategies and service offers, based on diverse needs and development trajectories within the region;
• Collaborate with regionally-relevant partners, including governments, international organizations, civil society, private sector, and academic institutions;
• Continuously identify emerging trends, technologies, and opportunities in the digital and AI space that are relevant to the region's development priorities;
• Support the Team Leader on resource mobilization and partnership development, including strategy formulation, partner identification, proposal development, and pitching to potential donors and collaborators.

Provide country office support and programmatic advisory

• Coordinate support to Country Offices on digital transformation and AI, responding to requests and providing peer review, programmatic advice, and support on partnership development and resource mobilization;
• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance Country Office programming in digital and AI, advising on strategy, engagement options, team composition, and program design;
• Deploy portfolio methodology in practice across Country Offices, including through learning initiatives and identification of strategic entry points for digital integration;
• Respond to requests for technical and strategic support, acting as a bridge to global and regional expertise, including technical specialists, and facilitating access to relevant knowledge and resources;
• Support Country Offices in partnership development and resource mobilization for digital and AI initiatives;
• Maintain and strengthen the regional community of practice on digital transformation;
• Act as the primary focal point for digital matters for the Innovation and Digital Team, the Istanbul Regional Hub, and Country Offices.

Lead Learning, knowledge management, and capability development

• Design, develop, and facilitate dedicated learning programs to build digital skills and capabilities approach with Country Offices and UNDP teams, ensuring firm grounding in systems practice and building on innovation achievements in the region to date;
• Ensure a relevant and accessible knowledge offer for the region, Country Offices, and partners, aligned with contemporary digital transformation challenges and opportunities;
• Lead relevant knowledge management efforts, including regular sensemaking activities, continuous generation of insights and strategic options, and ensuring the widest possible distribution and utilization of knowledge products;
• Collaborate with the global DAI Hub team to compare and feed insights;
• Support regional projects to embed digital capabilities, including providing guidance to initiatives such as the Urban Learning Center and other regional platforms;

Management, implementation, and product development

• Advise and oversee technical and design teams for digital and AI products, in close collaboration with the Service Design Lead;
• Manage projects and implement activities that help shape and refine the regional digital and AI offer, ensuring quality, timeliness, and alignment with strategic objectives;
• Oversee and provide guidance to staff and consultants working on digital and AI initiatives, ensuring effective team performance and delivery of results;
• Ensure effective coordination and integration of digital work streams across multiple projects and initiatives within the regional portfolio.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Institutional Arrangement

The Programme Specialist (Digital Innovation) will report to the Team Leader, Innovation and Digital Team, Istanbul Regional Hub. 

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results:  LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• 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 demands 
• Act with Determination:  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 competencies:

Business Direction & 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 Development  

• Collective Intelligence Design      
  • Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information, ideas, and technology to solve problems and design solutions or services. Knowledge and understanding of Collective Intelligence Design principles, methodology and practices.

Digital and Innovation    

• Data privacy and digital ethics    
  • AI, robotics, automation) and data. Ability to assess ethical implications when using, combining or sharing data, when building or implementing AI systems, and when advising on robotization and automation etc. 
  • Ability to design privacy protocols to ensure data is protected and used for legitimate purposes without unnecessary privacy risks

Digital   

• Data Governance            
  • Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases and operate data visualization technologies
• Digital product management      
  • Ability to design and lead digital product development including testing, ongoing product iteration, product strategy and delivery.

 Partnership Management           

• Strategic engagement   
  • Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives

 Governance       

• E-Government  
  • Knowledge of how it works, understanding of the opportunities and challenges for governments and society

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in International Development, Public Policy, Information Technology, Social Sciences, or related field is required, OR;
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years (with Master´s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of relevant professional experience in the use of innovative mechanisms and methods in development, including at least 2 years of working experience with digital transformation, data innovation, or emerging technologies in international development 
• Experience in designing complexity/portfolio or mission-based plans or strategies is required
• Experience in working with national or local governments is required
• Experience in leading multi-stakeholder processes in international development is required
• Experience in designing and leading innovative learning processes in international development is required

Desired skills:

• Experience with digital product development in support of policy goals is an advantage
• Work experience with the UN/UNDP is an advantage
• Demonstrated professional work experience and/or expertise on the Europe and Central Asia region is an asset
• Demonstrated experience in leading, working with and/or mobilizing networks and/or communities of practice for common goals is an asset
• Experience with development partners in the EU is an asset

Languages:

• Fluency in English with excellent writing skills is required. 
• Knowledge of another UN language(s) would be an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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