Programme Management Specialist (Cyber and AI Specialist – Counter Terrorism) – Retainer

Background Information – Job-specific

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organizations.

New York Portfolio Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.

The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP). It provides Services to partners’ programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations Office for Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) to implement the project activities of the project for Counter-Terrorism Early Warning Network (EWN) for Central Asia.

The incumbent of this position will be a personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the Cyber and AI Specialist will be responsible for the following specific tasks:

• Develop and adapt training curricula and materials on data management, use of new communication technologies, cybersecurity, and AI applications in early warning systems in counter-terrorism;
• Co-facilitate five two-day national cascading trainings and one regional training across Central Asia and support the design of session plans and evaluation tools;
• Provide technical input to regional and national CT EWN events by advising on cybersecurity and AI content;
• Prepare summary reports and recommendations following each roundtable and training event;
• Draft technical guidance on the use of AI in early warning systems for counter-terrorism, emphasizing risk assessment, threat indicators, and human rights safeguards;
• Develop best practice briefs and materials on AI applications to counter online radicalization;
• Provide substantive input in the design and delivery of community-level trainings for local governments and border communities on threat assessment, indicator development, and the use of new technologies and AI to address online radicalization and related challenges emanating from Afghanistan;
• Liaise with the UNOCT Global Counter-Terrorism Programme in Cybersecurity and New Technologies and other relevant UN entities to ensure coherence and coordination of all activities.

Deliverables:

• Training curricula and presentations on cybersecurity, data management, and AI;
• Technical input to one regional and five national training’ reports and recommendations sets;
• One consolidated technical guidance note on AI in early warning for counter-terrorism;
• Contributions to community-oriented training materials;
• Brief report summarizing challenges and lessons learned;
• Brief report on recommendations for future programming (approx.10 pages long);
• Five post-training evaluation summaries (one per country).

Education/Experience/Language requirements

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
*CANDIDATES WITH NO UNITED NATIONS OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Education:

• A Master`s degree or equivalent in cybersecurity, computer science, data science, international security, or a related field with five (5) years of relevant professional experience is required.
• A Bachelor’s degree with seven (7) years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree.

Required Work Experience:

• Relevant professional experience is defined as experience in cybersecurity, AI applications, or counter-terrorism.
• Experience in capacity-building and curriculum development is required.

Desired Experience (The following experience is optional. Candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply):

• Knowledge of counter-terrorism, human rights, and PCVE principles is desired.
• Knowledge of Central Asia and/or experience in fragile or conflict-affected settings is desired.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Russian (write, read, talk) is required.
• Knowledge of French is an asset.
• Knowledge of an additional UN language is an asset.