Digital Product Development Analyst (Task Lead)
Yerevan, Armenia
JOB DETAIL
Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over the recent years, Armenia made good socio-economic progress and set forward ambitious reforms. However, recent crisis events, including COVID-19 and military escalations in the region and beyond threaten to reverse hard fought development gains, poverty reduction efforts, exacerbating vulnerabilities and disproportionally affecting various vulnerable groups and regions, at the same time making room for new types of vulnerabilities and inequalities. These crises have underscored – more than ever – the need for a robust and shock-responsive social protection system in the country. In alignment with these objectives, the joint Action pursued by UNICEF, UNDP and WFP under the strong leadership of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs aims to contribute to inclusive, resilient and sustainable socio-economic recovery and growth in the post-crisis period, in line with the EU-Armenia CEPA provisions. This will be achieved through the specific objective of the Action of putting in place an agile, integrated, human-centered and shock-responsive social protection system that builds a person’s resilience to vulnerability, deprivation, and crises across the lifecycle through four interlinked components, showing a sequenced logic of interventions across policy and legal framework development, administrative data system strengthening and integration, capacity building and prototyping. The digital transformation in social protection is pivotal in enhancing the effectiveness and accessibility of services for vulnerable populations. The project aims to develop user-centric digital tools that support social protection initiatives in Armenia. The tools are intended to streamline processes, improve user engagement, and ultimately ensure better delivery of social protection services.
To achieve this, UNDP SDG Innovation Lab is looking for a Digital Product Development Analyst who will manage and execute specific digital transformation tasks, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and to the required quality standards. This role requires a hands-on approach, strong organizational skills, and the ability to coordinate with various stakeholders.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Digital Product Development Analyst will contribute to SDG Lab’s activities by performing the following duties:
Task Management:
- Oversee the execution of specific tasks within the digital transformation component of the project, ensuring alignment with the overall project plan.
- Break down tasks into actionable steps, assign responsibilities, and monitor progress.
Research and Analysis:
- Conduct research on emerging digital technologies, trends, and best practices relevant to the project’s goals and perspectives in social protection sector.
- Analyze the potential impact of new technologies on the project’s and the Lab’s operations and identify opportunities for innovation.
Innovation Recommendations:
- Evaluate and recommend digital solutions and tools that align with the project’s and the Lab’s needs and objectives.
- Develop detailed proposals for new digital initiatives, including feasibility studies, cost-benefit analyses, and implementation plans.
Coordination and Communication:
- Collaborate with team members and other stakeholders to ensure seamless task execution.
- Provide regular updates to the project coordinator on tasks’ progress, challenges, and outcomes.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Work closely with internal stakeholders to understand their needs and gather requirements for digital innovation projects.
- Communicate findings, recommendations, and progress to stakeholders through reports, presentations, and meetings.
User-Centered Design:
- Work closely with UX/UI designers to create intuitive, user-friendly products.
- Support user research, testing, and analysis to inform design decisions and ensure that the products meet user expectations.
Technical Oversight:
- Lead the product development process, working closely with developers to ensure timely delivery of high-quality digital products. Monitor progress, address bottlenecks, and adjust plans as necessary.
- Provide technical guidance and support to team members involved in the execution of tasks.
- Ensure that tasks are carried out using the appropriate digital tools and technologies.
Performance Monitoring:
- Monitor and evaluate the performance of implemented digital solutions, gathering feedback and identifying areas for improvement.
- Develop metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact and effectiveness of digital innovations.
Training and Support:
- Work with the team and consultants to ensure that end-users have the resources and knowledge they need to effectively use the products. Develop product documentation and training materials as needed.
Risk Management:
- Identify potential risks related to the execution of tasks and develop mitigation strategies.
- Monitor risks throughout the task lifecycle and adjust plans as necessary.
Documentation and Reporting:
- Maintain detailed documentation of task activities, including progress reports, issue logs, and lessons learned.
- Prepare and submit task completion reports to the project coordinator.
- Perform other duties as required to ensure uninterrupted, timely, efficient, and effective project implementation.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Digital Product Development Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the SDG Lab Manager and the overall guidance of the Innovation, Acceleration and SDG Finance Programme Analyst/Portfolio Manager, collaborating with the SDG Lab team.
Competencies
Core Competencies
- Achieve Results:
- LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
- Think Innovatively:
- LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
- Learn Continuously:
- LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
- Adapt with Agility:
- LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
- Act with Determination:
- LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
- Engage and Partner:
- LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
- LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
- Systems 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.
- Knowledge generation
- Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
- Communication
- Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
- Design Thinking
- Solving problems by putting people at the centre, visualising ideas and making them tangible in order to improve them through and iterative process of developing and testing.
- Strong empathy skills, being able to put yourself “”in someone else’s shoes””, understand needs, abilities, preferences, motivations, (everyday) experiences from different perspectives as well as their cultural, social, economical and political contexts.
- Ability to identify and challenge assumptions, (cognitive and social) biases and dominant mental models by generating new perspectives and frames that help redefine the problem, solution and opportunity space.
- Being able to work with incomplete information, ambiguity and opposing views, needs and constraints and synthesise them into solutions that are viable, technically feasible and useful.
- Innovation Capacity Building
- Ability to define and create the conditions for trying out new ways of working or introducing new problem solving approaches to an organisation.
- Ability to develop, manage and evaluate a learning curriculum that raises awareness, builds confidence, strengthens innovation capabilities around a certain method, tool or technique; or helps develop an innovation mindset.
- Ability to create the authorising environment (mandate, incentives) to embed and spread new ways of working.
- In-depth knowledge of one or more innovation methods, broad knowledge of innovation processes and innovation management.
- Ability to align a learning and development strategy with broader innovation strategy.
- Prototyping
- Ability to make ideas tangible, at low costs early in the innovation process, to test and improve them through iteration.
- Using a “”build first”” approach, using visualising ideas and making things as a way of thinking.
- Ability to define what fidelity level is required for a test, define prototyping goals, or a hypotheses; evaluate results against these goals and reflect on unanticipated learning outcomes.
- Using prototypes to communicate a vision, develop shared understanding and create momentum around an idea.
- Relationship Management
- Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Project Management, Social Sciences, Data Science or a related field is required, or
- Bachelor’s degree in the areas mentioned above in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of master’s degree.
Experience:
- Applicants with a Master’s degree in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
- Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in managing tasks or projects related to digital transformation, IT, or similar fields.
Required Skills:
- Demonstrated experience in task management and coordination in a digital environment;
- Strong research skills and knowledge of digitalization or digital transformation methodologies & tools;
- Strong understanding of digital platforms, web technologies, and mobile applications. Ability to evaluate digital tools from a user perspective and identify areas for improvement;
- Familiarity with human-centered design principles and practices.
Desired Skills:
- Experience in relevant digital tools and project management software;
- Excellent collaboration skills, with ability to work in uncertainty and handle multiple activities and projects concurrently;
- Excellent ability to write and communicate orally with accuracy and professionalism;
- Creativity in problem-solving and transferring knowledge from one discipline into another;
- Agility in leading processes based on validated learning and testing assumptions;
- Ability to work independently and to participate effectively in team-based information sharing;
- High level of motivation to learn, ability to show initiative and work independently;
- Sound understanding of social protection in Armenia;
- Strong organizational and task management skills;
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Required Languages:
- Fluency in English and Armenian languages is required.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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