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UNDP seeks a Digital Transformation Specialist for global ICT and finance roles, requiring 7-9 years experience in digital strategy, cybersecurity, data governance, and project management. International recruitment open to Tier 0, 1 & 2 applicants.
Last checked: 3 hours ago
Closing date: Friday, 7 August 2026
Country: Italy
Duty station: Rome, Italy
Contract type: International PSA- Regular
Grade: Not specified
Applicant eligibility: Not explicit in source
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Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Office / Unit / Project Description
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the leading organization for sustainable development within the UN system and acts as the key integrator for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP operates across headquarters, regional, and country levels, leveraging local expertise alongside global insights to deliver effective advocacy and solutions. For six decades, UNDP has worked with partners to lift millions out of poverty and expand opportunities for all.
UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029 is grounded in the determination to eradicate poverty—the greatest global challenge and a prerequisite for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Through the Strategic Plan, UNDP will continue supporting countries in advancing high human development while protecting the planet. Four strategic objectives—prosperity for all, effective governance, crisis resilience, and a healthy planet—guide its direction, powered by three accelerators: digital and artificial intelligence (AI) transformation, gender equality, and sustainable finance. All efforts are underpinned by a strong commitment to human rights and to leaving no one behind.
Within UNDP, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) brings together world-class policy expertise, flagship global programmes, and collaborative innovation and learning networks. BPPS ensures that UNDP is not only ready for the future but actively helps shape it with governments and partners. Working closely with the Crisis Bureau (CB), BPPS supports countries in navigating complex development and crisis contexts, integrating risk considerations into programming, and strengthening results-based management, innovation, and data-driven approaches.
The Global Policy Network (GPN) is central to this effort, mobilizing technical expertise to advance UNDP’s strategic objectives and signature solutions. Within the GPN, BPPS is responsible for developing policy and guidance, providing technical advice to Country Offices, representing UNDP in multi-stakeholder fora, and supporting UN inter-agency coordination across thematic areas.
The Italy Africa Digital Flagship initiative is implemented in close collaboration with national governments, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Italian public and private sector partners. It focuses on advancing digital public infrastructure, digital identity systems, agritech solutions, and data-driven governance, contributing to sustainable development and inclusive economic growth.
Within this framework, the Digital Transformation Specialist will provide senior technical leadership for the digital transformation components of the Italy–Africa Digital Development Flagship Programme. The role will focus on ensuring that digital solutions, feasibility studies, technical specifications, and implementation approaches are technically sound, interoperable, scalable, secure, and aligned with national digital priorities, international standards, and relevant donor and financing requirements. The incumbent will work closely with the Project Specialist, UNDP Country Offices, national digital counterparts, technical teams, and external partners, providing technical inputs and quality assurance to support coherent programme design and implementation.
The assignment is situated within a complex and evolving multi-stakeholder environment, characterized by tight timelines, advanced stages of project design, and the need to align diverse partner expectations and requirements. Additional challenges include the coordination of multi-country interventions, adaptation to specific donor formats and procedures (including AICS requirements), and ensuring consistency across projects developed in different national contexts together with the project team.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the strategic guidance and supervision of the UNDP Rome Centre Senior Advisor, and in close coordination with the Project Specialist, the r Digital Transformation Specialist will serve as the primary technical authority for digital architecture, digital strategy, and ICT systems design within the programme.
The role is responsible for ensuring that digital solutions developed under the Flagship are technically sound, interoperable, scalable, and aligned with international standards and the evolving digital regulatory environments of the partner countries.
The incumbent will work at the intersection of government policy, technology architecture, and development finance, providing senior-level technical advisory services to national governments, UNDP teams, and strategic partners. The Senior Digital Transformation Specialist will perform the following functions:
1. Preparatory and Feasibility Studies Technical Leadership
2. Lead Digital Strategy and Architecture
3. Lead Technical Management and Quality Assurance
4. Cybersecurity, Data Governance and Risk Management
5. Build Strategic Partnership, Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Development
6/ Innovation, Emerging Technologies and Facilitate Knowledge Management
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
4. Institutional Arrangement
The Digital Transformation Specialist will report directly to the Head of the Political Affairs and Strategic Initiatives. The incumbent will be embedded within the UNDP Rome Centre and will work in close coordination with relevant teams, as well as with UNDP Country Offices in participating countries.
Under the direction of the UNDP Rome Centre Senior Advisor, the Digital Transformation Specialist will conduct regular technical coordination with UNDP Country Offices including, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, and Mozambique, with the Italian Government (MAECI/DGCS), CDP, AICS, and with national digital counterparts.
Competencies
Core competencies
Achieve Results LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
Digital - Co-creation: Ability to design and facilitate a process that enables a diverse group of stakeholders to solve a common problem, develop a practice, or create knowledge together. Ability to embrace diversity, work with a diverse group of stakeholders understand their interests, perspectives and views and tap into to them as a source for creativity. Ability to facilitate processes and create conditions that are open for diverse inputs, stimulate collaboration and sharing.
Digital - Digital ecosystems: Knowledge of how they work, understanding of the opportunities and challenges for governments and society
Digital - Digital transformation design: Practical and strategic skills in digital transformation for governments and organisations.
Digital - Policy/regulations for digital and emerging technology: Ability to design or advise on regulations and policy for digital and emerging technology.
Digital - Portfolio design & management: Ability to identify leverage points in systems and design interventions that address them. The value of the interventions is determined not in isolation, but as part of the overall portfolio and their coherence. Ability to design processes that extract learning on an ongoing basis from existing portfolios, so that learning accrues over time and new options for action are continuously generated. Build a learning ecosystem around a complex development challenge: being able to mobilise a variety of stakeholders and help them learn and work together. Understand key principles of systems and complexity theory.
Business Direction & Strategy - System Thinking: 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
Business Management - Monitoring & Evaluation: Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Experience:
Languages:
Fluency in English is required.
Working knowledge in Italian is desirable.
Professional Certificates (Higly desirables)
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
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.
Use of AI by candidates
Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
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