Closing date: Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Job Identification : 9945

Rentals : Rabat, Morocco

Posting Date : 04/13/2023, 05:48 PM

Apply Before : 04/20/2023, 03:59 AM

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNDP

Grade : NPSA-10

Vacancy Type : National Personnel Service Agreement

Practice Area : Governance

Office : Regional Bureau for Arab States

Contract Duration : 1 Year

Education & Work Experience : Master’s Degree – 5 year ( s ) experience

Other Criteria : Professional experience of at least 5 years in the field of digitization, IA or mathematics applied in Morocco and internationally

Required Languages : French

Desired Languages : English

Vacancy Timeline

1 Week

Job Description

Background

UNDP is committed to recruiting diverse staff in terms of gender, nationality and culture. We also encourage people from ethnic minorities, indigenous or disabled communities to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and / or abuse, or any form of harassment, including sexual harassment, and / or all forms of discrimination. All selected candidates will therefore have to undergo rigorous checks relating to the references provided as well as their background.

Office / Unit / Project Description ( max 300 words )

The UNDP and the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation ( MESRI ) have concluded an initiation plan, with the main objective of supporting the Ministry in the deployment of priority projects of PACTE ESRI 2030. This PACTE, co-built, with the various stakeholders on a territorial scale, carries a new dynamic likely to propel the quality and efficiency of the ecosystem as a whole. This plan, which involves profound transformations both in terms of teaching and science and in terms of governance, places digital at the heart of its deployment devices, with all that this requires in terms of adaptation and upgrading of the information system of the Ministry and the university ecosystem under its supervision.It is in this context that the UNDP in collaboration with MESRI, recruits for the team led to manage the initiation plan a Specialist in digitization strategy and artificial intelligencefull-time for the duration of execution of the initiation plan by renewable annual contract, the first 6 months constituting a probationary period. She / he will be based ( e ) in Rabat.

Scope of Work

The the Specialist in digitization strategy and artificial intelligence will be recruited ( e ) locally and selected ( e ) on the basis of an open competitive process based on the principles of independence and objectivity. He / She will be responsible for :

  •  Conduct an in-depth diagnosis on the degree of digital maturity within MESRI and a benchmark for best practices in digitization in the context of higher education.
  •  Design a global and integrated vision of the digitization strategy within MESRI and decline the strategic vision in an operational roadmap for the deployment of the Ministry’s digitalization projects, both at central government level and at university level under supervision.
  •  Design and implementation of the ESRI ecosystem digitization strategy :
  •  On the basis of the structuring projects agreed within the framework of PACTE-ESRI 2030, the Specialist in digitization strategy and artificial intelligencewill have to outline the strategic vision in terms of digitization and the levers of its operational deployment.
  •  Technical and functional specifications :

Establish the technical and functional specifications of the Digital transformation projects agreed in the PACTE ESRI-2030 ( orientation system; educational innovation; administrative and financial management; recruitment platforms … ), according to a proactive approach and open to technological breakthroughs in digitalization to stay in tune with the best international standards.

  •  Capacity Building :

In a strategic and operational vision approach, the Specialist in digitization strategy and artificial intelligencewill be led to identify the areas requiring capacity building for the personnel involved in the appropriation of new technologies in the digital field :

  •  Artificial Intelligence
  •  Virtual and increased realities
  •  Robotics and Cobotics
  •  Sensors and IoT ( Internet of objects )

This capacity building will mainly involve the animation of an ecosystem of qualified partners focused on results and deliverables, analysis of the offers of subcontractors ( services, budget, human resources, contracts etc … ), and monitor the effectiveness of achievements and deliverables.

  •  Budget monitoring :

The the Specialist in digitization strategy and artificial intelligencewill be the first guarantor of monitoring, evaluation and adjustment of the various budgets attributable to the projects for which he or she will be responsible for supervising.

Throughout the implementation of the initiation plan, he / she will ensure gender equality and the empowerment of women on an individual, institutional and social level.

Institutional Arrangement

The the Specialist in digitization strategy and artificial intelligenceof the initiation plan reports directly to the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, or to a person designated by the latter.

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas / open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic / integrated thinking

Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 2: Adapt processes / approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 2: Is facilitation / integrator, bring people together, build / maintain coalitions / partnerships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business Direction & Strategy

System Thinking

Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment 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 Direction & Strategy

Effective Decision Making

Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources

Business Development

Knowledge Generation

Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsible to a stated need

Business Development

Knowledge Facilitation

Ability to animal individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Business Development

Collective Intelligence Design

Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions

Business Management

Working with Evidence and Data

Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

Digital & Innovation

Data engineering

Ability in programming languages such as SQL, Python, and R, be apt at finding warehousing solutions, and using ETL ( Extract, Transfer, Load ) tools, and understanding basic machine learning and algorithms.

Competencies

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful MFSA

Min. Academic Education

  •  Master in artificial intelligence / mathematics / data science or equivalent;
  •  Doctoral or engineering degree in the above areas would be an asset.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

  •  Professional experience of at least 5 years in the field of digitalization, in Morocco and internationally ;
  •  A confirmed experience of at least 5 years in applied research in artificial intelligence, the development of projects in technologies linked to the digital transformation of institutions in the private and public sectors.

Required skills and competencies

  •  Solid experience in gender-sensitive management of teams, animation, consultation and setting up of partnerships with various social, professional and institutional actors ;
  •  Proven experience and in-depth knowledge in Data science and artificial intelligence ;
  •  In-depth knowledge of disruptive technological solutions.
  •  Mastery of Planning and Monitoring and Evaluation Methods and Tools ( Results-based Management, TCO, Cost Benefit Analysis, Data Digitization and Governance Aspects etc. ) ;
  •  Leadrship coupled with a good sense of teamwork, organization and management ;
  •  Expertise in risk management related to digital transformation projects ;
  •  Experience in change management on large-scale transformation projects ;
  •  Dynamism, rigor and force of proposal.

Desired additional skills and competencies

  •  Have a good knowledge of the context of higher education, scientific research and innovation ;
  •  Good operational knowledge of the institutional and professional actors concerned by the initiation plan ;
  •  A detailed knowledge of the governance aspects of Programs / Projects ;
  •  Professional experience at international level.

Required Language ( s ) ( at working level )

  •  Mastery of Arabic, French and English ( written and spoken ) essential.

Professional Certificates

N / A

Travel:

As part of the performance of its functions, the Specialization will be required to carry out missions on a national and international scale.

Dislaimer

Female candidates are strongly encouraged.

Important information for applicants

All positions in the MFN categories are subject to local recruitment.

Information for applicants regarding « UNDP Roster »

Note : UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy notice. We can also keep the applications and take into consideration the candidates applying for this post for other similar posts within the UNDP, at the same hierarchical level and with a job description, experience and similar educational requirements.

Diversity of the workforce

UNDP is committed to ensuring diversity among its staff and encourages all qualified candidates, regardless of their gender, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, of their culture, their religion and their ethnic origin, to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. We strongly encourage female candidates.

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