Associate Project Officer- Solution Architect

The UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) is UNESCO’s first education-related Category I institute in Asia and the Pacific region, dedicated to advancing and promoting innovative approaches to education that foster a more peaceful and sustainable world. Recognised globally as a centre of excellence, the Institute leads in researching and implementing education for peace, wellbeing and sustainability, including social emotional learning (SEL) through pioneering digital pedagogies powered by digital learning and artificial intelligence.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the overall authority of the Director of the Institute, and direct supervision of the National IT Project Officer, the incumbent will serve as the Associate Project Officer – Software Architect, playing a pivotal role in developing and supporting the MGIEP’s digital technology strategy to fulfil the Institute’s objectives.

The incumbent will contribute to the Digital Technology functions to achieve the Institute’s goals.

Related to FramerSpace DevOps and Server Maintenance

• Continuous maintenance and DevOps activity of FramerSpace ecosystem products.
• Enhance and maintain auto scaling for FramerSpace, FramerSpace-Forms, and other FramerSpace ecosystem products.
• Enhancing Security
• Enhance serverless architecture

Related to FramerSpace AI and Analytics Development

• Under the supervision of NITO, develop and implement learning analytics and AI-based features for FramerSpace.
• Optimization/enhancement of existing FramerSpace analytics dashboard.
• Enhance intelligent tutoring capabilities
• Developing and maintaining data access pipelines and protocols
• Implement the AI features for a better learning experience.
• Develop/implement new features for FramerSpace and maintain existing features of FramerSpace if and when asked.

Providing guidance to developers engaged in FramerSpace-related tasks to maintain and enhance the platform’s overall performance.

• The incumbent will also need to assess and ensure compatibility with 3rd party add-ons and technical support, including bug fixes.
• Implementing performance improvements and code optimization as needed.
• Any other task assigned by the supervisor. 

• FramerSpace ecosystem services are maintained with high availability and reliable deployments through well-defined DevOps processes (monitoring, incident response, backups, and release management).
• Auto-scaling and serverless components are implemented and continuously improved to ensure performance, cost efficiency, and scalability under high-traffic conditions.
• Security posture is strengthened through regular reviews, remediation of vulnerabilities, and implementation of good practices for access control, and data privacy, and protection.
• Learning analytics capabilities are enhanced, including the enhancement and optimisation of existing dashboards and the delivery of actionable insights for programme teams.
• AI-enabled features (including intelligent tutoring and other learner-support capabilities) are designed, tested, and deployed to improve the learning experience in alignment with MGIEP priorities.
• Robust data access pipelines and protocols are developed and maintained to enable secure and dependable use of platform data for analytics and AI features.
• Technical guidance is provided to developers to ensure the quality, maintainability, and performance of code and integrations, including third-party add-ons.
• Clear technical documentation is produced and kept up to date (architecture, deployment runbooks, SOPs, and change logs) to support operational continuity and knowledge sharing.
• Regular progress updates are shared with the supervisor and relevant stakeholders, including risks, mitigation actions, and recommendations for continuous improvement.

The contract shall be for 1 year with a possibility of extension, subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory performance. There will be a probation period of 6 months.

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowlegde sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)

  For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework [link removed].

EDUCATION

• Advanced University degree (equivalent to a Master’s) in Information and Communication Technologies, Computer Science, and related fields.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 2 years of experience in web application development, cloud services, and NoSQL databases.
• Experience in developing and managing high-traffic enterprise web applications, ensuring scalability, reliability, and optimal performance, with expertise in big data ETL and generative AI integration. 

The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate the following competencies:

• Skilled in programming using R and Python
• Experienced in implementing off-the-shelf data analytics and machine learning algorithms using Python or R libraries
• Proficient in Node.js
• Proficient in MongoDB and other relational databases
• Experienced with maintaining digital learning platforms
• Experience with Git and GitHub
• Skilled in Docker and Kubernetes or AWS ECS
• Knowledgeable in cybersecurity best practices
• Proven ability to work effectively in team settings
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies and environments.

LANGUAGES

• Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken).
• Working Knowledge of Hindi.

EDUCATION

• PhD in Information and Communication Technologies, Computer Science, and related fields.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• At least 10 years of experience in web application development and Cloud Services and NoSQL DB
• At least 5 years of experience in developing and managing high-traffic enterprise web applications, ensuring scalability, reliability, and optimal performance
• At least 3 years of experience in bigdata ETL services and generative AI integration

Technical Skills:

• Experience in deploying and managing AI/ML models in production, including MLOps practices and Generative AI applications
• Familiarity with real-time data processing and big data technologies for learning analytics and user behavior insights
• Strong understanding of system performance optimization, monitoring, and observability tools
• Experience in implementing secure, robust APIs and integrating third-party services within complex platforms
• Knowledge of interoperability standards and technologies relevant to digital learning platforms (e.g., LTI, xAPI)

Sectoral Knowledge:

• Understanding of global education frameworks, especially related to peace, well-being, and sustainable development.
• Prior experience working in international or multicultural environments, preferably within the UN system or similar organizations.
• Understanding of global standards for digital education, accessibility, and inclusive learning.
• Awareness of data privacy, ethics, and responsible AI practices in education.

LANGUAGES

• Knowledge of another UNESCO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) or regional Indian languages is desirable.

UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits, which may include, if applicable: 30 days annual leave, reimbursement of medical insurance (up to 5% of base salary), pension plan (up to 10% of base salary), etc. The Starting Annual Salary for this position is INR 3,286,361. The salary for service contracts is taxable, and it is the responsibility of the contract holder to pay the taxes.

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website [link removed]. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted. 

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.  

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course. 

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of personnel shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
• lndividuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
• All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
• The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.