Head, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Unit

Position description

Position Summary

Job Category: Vacancy

Vacancy Notice Number: ICC/24/MUL/8

Position Title: Head, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Unit

Position Type: Fixed term

Number of Positions: 1

Date of Closing: 26/05/2024

Grade: P4

Annual Salary Estimation: Brindisi: USD 98,667; Valencia: USD 103,926 (single rate, including post adjustment)

Duty Station: Brindisi, (Italy); Valencia (Spain)

Organizational Location/Unit: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Unit (DDAI)

Position Description

The UNICC workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, and opinions. UNICC seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity by ensuring equal opportunity and an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, ethnicity, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Purpose of the Position:

The Head, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Unit will play a pivotal role in advancing AI practice for both UNICC and its partner organizations. Following the framework provided by the Data and Artificial Intelligence Section (DDA), the incumbent will be in charge of formulating the enterprise strategy, identifying relevant AI use cases and developing implementation roadmaps.

Objectives of the Programme:

The objective of the Centre is to provide trusted ICT services and digital business solutions to its Clients and Partner Organizations.

Main duties and responsibilities:

The incumbent will work under the direct supervision and guidance of the Chief, Data and Artificial Intelligence Section (DDA) within the Digital Delivery Division (DD) and will formally supervise the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Unit (DDAI). This role involves leading cross-functional delivery teams to ensure the creation of value through AI solutions and tracking associated benefits. Collaborating closely with various departments and stakeholders, they identify GenAI needs, define project requirements, and ensure alignment of GenAI initiatives with organizational objectives. The Lead will be tasked with initiatives to design Data and AI related initiatives and frameworks. This includes building multistakeholder communities and initiatives involving data sharing, ownership, provenance and traceability, data rights, AI responsible design and release, open-source and licensing, and emerging frontier AI systems and technologies.

The incumbent will perform the following duties:

• Develop and implement a visionary AI strategy for UNICC partners, aligning it with the UN 2.0’s objectives
• Supervise the creation of state-of-the-art multimodal AI models, prioritizing scalability and using industry-leading benchmarks to empower data-driven decision-making and innovation
• Oversee the training of large-scale AI models. Managing the data pipelines, selecting appropriate algorithms, configuring parameters, and monitoring the training process to ensure efficiency and accuracy
• Optimize infrastructure to bolster the efficiency of AI inference, supporting applications and research initiatives to drive transformative outcomes across the organization and beyond
• Ensure the quality and performance of generative AI models, conducting rigorous testing and evaluation , elevating standards of output quality, diversity, coherence and ethical integrity
• Work closely with various business units and stakeholders to identify and scope potential use cases for Generative AI within the organization to foster innovation within UNICC and its partner agencies
• Collaborate seamlessly with cross-functional teams to ensure the integration of AI into UN partners objectives promoting synergies and amplifying impact
• Ensure that projects are delivered on budget and within timelines, applying best project management practices including resource optimization, risk mitigation, and rigorous planning
• Lead and inspire a high-performing team of AI experts, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration to propel the organization towards the forefront of AI innovation and achievement
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insight through graphs, charts, tables, and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation
• and reporting
• Other: Provide other ad hoc support either within the team or in other teams as required – this includes the participation in special projects or support to service delivery for short period of time on a part-time or full
• time basis upon request from the senior management

Recruitment Profile

Experience and Skills required:

Essential: 

• At least seven (7) years of IT experience, including proven experience on big data, blockchain, generative and multimodal AI, machine learning or related area
• Proven expertise in building advanced multimodal foundation models such as GPT-4, CLIP, Gemini, AudioPALM, and SeamlessM4T
• Deep understanding and strong technical expertise in areas such as image understanding, text generation, interactive image dialog systems, segmentation, generation, and editing
• Proven hands-on experience in data science and Natural Language Processing (NLP), Natural Language Understanding (NLU) and Natural Language Generation (NLG)
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think creatively
• Proven experience in leading applied AI and research groups, driving innovation within cross-functional teams
• Proven experience managing a multicultural team
• Deep business and technology acumen
• Ability to influence and drive transformative change within a complex and successful organization

Desirable:

• Publications and contributions to the AI research community are a plus
• Experience in Big data, high-tech or financial industry is beneficial but not mandatory
• Experience in data analytics or related area

Education*:

Essential: 

• Advanced university degree in Computer Vision (CV), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Speech Processing, Multimodal AI, Generative AI, or a closely related field

Desirable: 

• PhD in Computer Vision (CV), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Speech Processing, Multi-modal AI, Generative AI, or a closely related field

Languages:

Essential:

• English: Expert knowledge is required

Global Competencies:

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective relationships with colleagues and team members. Deals constructively with conflicts.
• Communicating: Expresses oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others; listens actively. Produces effective written communications. Ensures that information is shared.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences: Demonstrates the ability to work constructively with people of all backgrounds and orientations. Respects differences and ensures that all can contribute.
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment: Guides and motivates staff towards meeting challenges and achieving objectives. Promotes ownership and responsibility for desired outcomes at all levels.
• Ensuring effective use of resources: Identifies priorities in accordance with UNICC’s strategic directions. Develops and implements action plans, organizes the necessary resources and monitors outcomes.
• Driving UNICC to a successful future: Demonstrates abroad-based understanding of the growing complexities of ICT issues and activities. Creates a compelling vision of shared goals, and develops a roadmap for
• successfully achieving real progress in improving ICT services.

Application instructions

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