Background Information - Job-specific
UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.
Global Portfolios Office (GPO), New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.
Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.
UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations to implement defined activities in support of Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Innovation and Analytics Hub (IAH), which aims to strengthen the organizationโs culture of innovation.
In alignment with the OHCHR Management Plan 2024/2027 (OMP), the objective of the Innovation and Analytics Hub (IAH) is to strengthen the organizationโs culture of innovation. As a result of the organizational review (OE 2.0) in 2023, the High Commissioner endorsed the creation of a hub for โinnovation and data insightsโ to โinject new data, technology and innovative tools and thinking into OHCHRโ.
The work of the Hub is guided by a set of key principles: Connecting people, ideas and solutions as a service centre for OHCHR and beyond; Driving strategic alignment and value creation in all we do; Strengthening scalability, reusability, and interoperability of human rights data and technology; Fostering empowerment and participation through people & culture; and Upholding human rights standards through anticipatory approaches. This requires that the IAH deliver quickly on a range of tasks, including the formation of public-private partnerships, the procurement of new technologies and other equipment, and the recruitment of highly specialized consultants. UNOPS provides project management to fulfil the objectives and aims of the project.
Even though the duty station is indicated as Geneva, Switzerland, consideration will be given to allow the position to be home-based depending on the incumbent's personal situation. For home-based positions, a location-specific fee scale is applied in determining the contractor's fee. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
Under the supervision of UNOPS Project Manager and in close coordination with the Chief of IAH, the AI Engineer will support a variety of cross-functional digital and analytics initiatives that drive efficiency, insight, and innovation across OHCHR.
The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.
Under the supervision of the UNOPS Project Manager and in close collaboration with IAH, the AI Engineer will perform the following key functions:
1. Development of AI agents and custom Copilot-based end-to-end solutions
Implement custom Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines with vector search and document intelligence. Build function calling capabilities to trigger real-time backend services or frontend actions. Develop agentic AI systems that can reason, orchestrate multi-step tasks, and generate responses dynamically. Design AI solutions with Model Context Protocol to enable multi-step reasoning, memory retrieval, and agent-to-agent continuity. 2. AI solution integration with an enterprise data architecture
Engineer secure and scalable integrations between AI systems, OHCHRโs Data Foundation (Fabric/OneLake), APIs, and application layers. Build and deliver the OHCHR Data as a Service project, including AI-driven querying and interactive data visualization triggers. Use Azure AI Foundry and other orchestration tools to build multi-model, composable AI solutions. Develop and maintain APIs, microservices, and frontend code (JavaScript/React/Next.js) to support AI capabilities. 3. Responsible AI & Risk Management
Perform hands-on evaluation, testing, and benchmarking of AI models and frameworks across providers (Microsoft Azure/OpenAI, Google, AWS, open-source). Lead the implementation of red teaming, validation, and testing pipelines for AI solution safety, compliance, and robustness.
Monitoring and Project Controls
The successful candidate will directly contribute to OHCHR's digital transformation and data-driven decision-making. Their work will increase the efficiency of internal processes by integrating AI agent MVPs with OHCHR systems and improve acess to relevant and actionable insights across the human rights community by developing an AI-enabled interface for human right data as a service. The AI Engineer supports technical teams with specialized expertise, ensuring solutions successfully leverage AI technology for OHCHR's mission and operational needs. Education/Experience/Language requirements
*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY *CANDIDATES WITH NO UNITED NATIONS OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
Education
Required:
Relevant experience is defined as experience building multimodal RAG systems, function calling, and AI agent orchestration. Experience with AI context protocols, including prompt engineering, memory retrieval, and building agentic systems capable of context-aware reasoning and actions is required Deep hands-on expertise in Python (FastAPI, LangChain, Azure AI services), Nodejs, and JavaScript/TypeScript (React, Next.js) is required Strong knowledge of Microsoft Azure (Azure AI Foundry, Fabric/OneLake, API Management) and/or ability to work across multiple AI providers is required Solid background in cloud architecture, secure APIs, identity (Entra ID), and governance is required Ability to deliver working code, AI models, and deployed solutions independently and efficiently is requiredDesirable:
Familiarity with digital product development, agile methodologies, or human-centered design is an asset. Awareness of AI ethics, responsible AI, and human rights considerations is desirable Experience working with or within the UN system or similar international organization is desirable. LanguageFluency in English (read, write, speak) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Competencies
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above) Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground. Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA). Contract level: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA-2) or Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA-10) - ICS10. Contract duration: 31 December 2025 (renewed subject to good performance, availability of funds, organizational requirements and project duration).
Even though the level of the position is indicated as IICA-2, depending on the incumbent's personal situation ( candidate with national ID or resident permit), a local fee scale (LICA-10) might be applied in determining the contractor's fee.
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspxAdditional Information
Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.