Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Office/Unit/Project Description 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Office of Information Technology and Management (ITM) is the organization’s primary provider of high-quality products of ICT systems and Green Energy services to a global network of 155+ country offices and UNDP partners worldwide. The mission of the ITM Smart Infrastructure Services is to “Create Smart Facilities, build local Capacity and Inspire and Movement”, which guarantees efficient, innovative, and sustainable management of technologies for UN facilities, and consistency with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Smart Facility solutions include Green Energy services, Connectivity, Security and IoT and Data. ITM offers a framework of best practices to deliver resilient, highly available and sustainable business solutions that flourishing innovation throughout the organization. To support the transition to next generation infrastructure of UNDP, ITM manages and monitors the operation of the ICT infrastructure and Smart Facilities resources in global UNDP premises.

The UNDP ITM unit in Copenhagen is growing its team to bolster the support of their Global IT Operation using Artificial Intelligencs (AI) technolgoies. The office is focusing on using Artificial Intelligence(AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to enhance and automate various aspects of IT Operations and support of Smart Facilities projects. By using AI and ML technologies, the UNDP ITM is planning to transform the operation and development of global infrastructure to the next level of digitalization with AI driven operational approach. 

The Global AI Solutions Analyst (Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations) is responsible for leveraging AI and ML technologies to automate and optimize IT operations, enhance system performance, and proactively manage incidents. The Global AI Solutions Analyst plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between IT operations and data science by integrating AI into IT infrastructure to improve efficiency, predict issues, and reduce manual effort.

Scope of Work

• AI-powered monitoring and alerting: develop and build  AI/ML functionalities into the existing NMS (taking ownership of the existing NMS or develop a new system), to be able to detect anomalies and irregularities in system behavior, such as unusual traffic patterns, CPU spikes, or system slowdowns, and ensure that the NMS generates smart alerts based on the severity and root cause of incidents, reducing alert fatigue for IT operations teams.
• Automation of IT Operations: develop  automated workflows that can respond to common IT issues without manual intervention with AI-driven self-healing mechanisms that automatically correct performance issues or configuration errors in real-time or AI-driven predictive analytics to anticipate hardware failures or software glitches and schedule maintenance activities proactively, reducing downtime.
• Predictive Analytics for IT Operations: develop AI models that predict future system failures, performance degradation, or resource bottlenecks before they occur, allowing proactive issue resolution and using AI to forecast infrastructure needs, such as network bandwidth, storage capacity, or compute power, ensuring that resources are available when needed without overprovisioning.
• Security and Compliance Monitoring: use AI models to monitor IT systems for potential security threats, such as unusual login patterns, unauthorized access, or anomalies in network traffic and implementing AI-driven tools to track and ensure that IT systems comply with security regulations and organizational policies in order to automate security incident responses when appropriate, such as isolating compromised systems or adjusting firewall rules when anomalies are detected.
• Visualization and Reporting: create dashboards and visualization tools that display key operational metrics, system health, and the results of AI-driven insights to help IT teams monitor and make informed decisions and ensuring to generate reports based on AI-driven analytics for stakeholders, highlighting trends, root causes, and system performance to facilitate better decision-making.
• Documentation and continuous improvements: write documentation related to the development of AI-driven IT support operations, including procedures, system documentation, technical guides, conformity and corrective reports, and user feedback. Monitor and ensure compliance with corporate standards and ISO 9001:2008 for both the rollout process and documentation.
• Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing. Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues. 

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

Institutional Arrangement

• On a day-to-day basis, the Global AI Solutions Analyst will be working with and directly reporting to the Manager of Smart Infrastructure and Connectivity Unit (SICU) and Software Development Specialist in SICU.
• The Global ICT Advisor/Chief of SIS has the overall responsibility to guide the team
• Progress reporting will be done in the monthly team meeting and also Weekly SICU meetings. 

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core Competencies

Achieve Results:  LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 

Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible  

Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion  LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination  

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including

Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid

effective decision making

Knowledge of how IoT works, and ability to advise on

the opportunities and challenges for governments and

society

Ability in programming languages such as SQL,

Python, and R, be adept at finding warehousing

solutions, and using ETL (Extract, Transfer, Load)

tools, and understanding basic machine learning and

algorithms

Information Management &

Technology

Knowledge of Cyber Security technologies,

processes, techniques and tools. Apply practical

innovations to solve cybersecurity problems.

Capability to keep UNDP systems and data safe.

Knowledge of ISO 27001 principles. CSSIP, CSIM,

CISA or equivalent certification desirable.

Information Management &

Technology

Network, Communication and

Infrastructure Management

Ability to develop/integrate/operate/manage IT

network, communications, Cloud or on-premise

infrastructure, and new technologies like IoT. Cisco

CCIE CCNP or similar is desirable.

Information Management &

Technology

Ability to deliver the IT products and services to

customers at the right level of Quality and Costs,

taking into account user experience. ISO 20000

knowledge. ITIL certification or similar desirable

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

Required Education, Experience, Skills and Competencies

Minimum Education requirements

Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent)  in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science 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 

Holding any industrial certificates such as CCNA, CMNO, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, CISSP, CEH, CISM, PRINC2/ITIL/PMP/ISO20000 will be an added advantage

Minimum years of relevant work experience

Minimum of  2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree)  of relevant work experience, preferably in the area of IoT/IT and Digital Twin field or relevant is required.

Required skills 

Experience in IT Operations, Network Management/Monitoring System, Advanced AI technologies such as Generative AI and Generative models, Natural Language processing such as Transformer models, Deep learning of Neural neworks, and Edget AI models.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

Knowledge on MQTT, Webhooks, REST API, Node-Red, FTTT, Grafana, Time Series Database, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, R, JSON will be an advantage;

Experience in Network Infrastructure troubleshooting and maintenance, LAN/WAN technologies, Hardware configuration including network switches and routers, Identification and prevention of any potential network issues will be an advantage;

Experience in understanding cloud computing strategy and cloud-based infrastructure technologies, in order to apply it in developing infrastructure setup will be an advantage;

Experience in developing scripts to automate Infrastructure management  and operation tasks is desirable;

Demonstrated ability in effectively disseminating information through clear communication is desirable;

Experience in efficiently handle and manage ICT projects based on PRINCE2 or PMP or other standards is desirable;

UN experience is desirable;

Required Language (s): 

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in one or more additional UN languages will be an asset

Disclaimer

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: 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.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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