UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Safety.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this assignment is to provide dedicated product ownership for the development and delivery of AI-enabled solutions, ensuring that business needs, as defined by the AI Business Owner, are translated into clear product requirements, prioritised use cases, and implementable features. The Product Owner will support alignment between stakeholders, technical teams and governance functions to ensure that AI products are user-centred, operationally relevant, responsibly designed, and delivered in line with agreed priorities, quality standards and organisational requirements.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0006007 ToR.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education:
- Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related field.
- A first-level university degree combined with additional relevant qualifications and five years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu.
Work Experience:
- At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in product ownership, product management, or a related digital or technology delivery role is required for candidates with an advanced university degree.
- At least 5 years of relevant professional experience is required for candidates with a first-level university degree.
- Demonstrated experience in AI, machine learning, or data-driven product initiatives is required.
Language requirement: Fluency in written and spoken English.
Skills:
- Strong working knowledge of agile product ownership practices, including backlog management, user story writing, acceptance criteria and sprint planning; understanding of AI/ML product lifecycles, including data requirements, model evaluation and post-launch monitoring.

Desirables:

Familiarity with responsible AI principles, data protection and privacy requirements, and human-in-the-loop design; experience working collaboratively with data science, engineering, UX and governance functions.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
Cover letter
A separate financial proposal (upload the financial template to be completed)
Technical proposal requirements:

Applicants must submit a technical proposal of no more than 3 pages, excluding the cover page. It should briefly describe:

Understanding of the assignment
Proposed approach and work plan
Relevant experience delivering digital, data or AI products
Key risks and proposed mitigation

Applicants may also provide one relevant work sample or link, with confidential information removed.

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

AI Product Owner Consultant, UNICEF Digital Impact Division, Digital Center of Excellence, AI Office, Valencia, Spain, 12 months (remote) #595849